Martha McCaskey case analysis

Background

McCaskey, 29, a HBS graduate, worked in the Seleris’s Industry Analysis Division (IAD), a consulting firm in San Francisco branch. Her jobs were to analyst and report the competitive advantages of competitor companies to her clients. The employees of this company were separated into two groups, old and new guard. The members in old guard such as Rendall and Kaufmann often paid ex-employees of target companies to obtain highly sensitive information. IAD’s top manager, Tom Malone, knew the company situation and knew how to play the game.

Issue

In Silicon 6 project, she had to get the secret information about the new chip manufacturing process and the cost structure for her biggest and oldest client. The only way to get this information was to pay off Devon, an ex-employee of the competitor company who perceived McCaskey as a representative from an environmental concerning company. Moreover, Malone offered her the promotion to be a group manager after finishing this project. However, she felt that getting information by telling a lie was unethical and compromised her integrity. Because the project was so important and the client really need these information, Malone increased the money offered for Devon and allowed McCaskey, if she need, to bring Kaufmann into the team.

Recommendations

I recommend that McCaskey should step down from the project and start looking for a new job. My recommendation bases on the value judgment. To lie individual is morally guilty. At this time, she should realize that the core business of this company is to spy the propriety information from the target company. To work and be successful in this company, she must be familiar with these sleazy ways. If she feels uncomfortable with the ways the company do the business, it is no benefit staying in the company. In addition, after promoting to be group manager, it is obvious that she has to do the dirty work again and again. This might hurt her...