Decisions in Paradise Part One

Decisions in Paradise - Part One

Paula Moore

MGT 350

November 21, 2011

Jeffrey McNickle

Decisions in Paradise - Part One

My name is Nic and I recently graduated from University of Phoenix. I was lucky enough to land a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) within a few weeks of my graduation and my first assignment is to travel to Kava - in the South Pacific - to investigate and analyze the firm's potential for establishing a presence in that area. Although I was briefed on PwC policies, such as HR and organizational, as well as given an overview of Kava, I had no clue as to exactly what was expected of me once I got there. Admittedly, I really thought that I could combine my purpose for being there with fun, sun, and lazy days on the beach. Was I ever wrong?

Upon arriving, I quickly realized that my first perception of an island paradise could not have been any farther from reality. The island was an indescribable mess. This included my office and the area around my office. My supervisor, Alex, explained to me that Kava had been hit recently with multiple natural disasters including tidal waves, hurricanes, and floods, as well as not so natural threats of HIV outbreaks, petroleum spills, and avian flu. It quickly became evident that my first job would be to begin cleaning up my office as well as the area around the office. I would begin by contacting Kava's local government office to see what resources, such as community, church and business, were available locally to begin with the cleanup. I remember from my many college courses that areas involved in their own clean-up and rebuilding after disasters developed lasting pride and bonds to their community.

As we continued our tour, Alex explained to me some of the diversities that made up the culture of the island. I learned that the ethnic mix includes indigenous South Pacific tribes, Asian, African, French, Spanish, and Americans. Kava was also made up of a variety of religions, as well as...