Buddygate... Fool the Bull, but Not the Owner

Buddygate: Fool the bull, but not the owner

Knox’s case is a classic case of profit oriented management vs. socially responsible management, case of stewardship vs. agency management. The global financial crisis and economic melt-down is nothing but a collision between profit-oriented forces and socially responsible forces. Knox’s case is a miniature manifestation of such collision.

Studies have shown over and over that the motives to make profit as an end and sales as a mean to make profit, all have to be in line with ethics. If one component gets out of line, the whole process is corrupt. Knox’s motive is corrupt, his tactic is corrupt; thus, the whole transaction is corrupt.

Knox’s flagrant violation of the above-mentioned code of business ethics calls for immediate dismissal for Knox and Jeremy and that is what I would do. Closing a big deal does not justify chicanery and deception under no circumstances.

If I were another manager at CFS, I would be marching into the GM’s office for damage control meeting. My position would be to call Armadillo’s GM and advise him of what transpired and how CFS handled Knox’s affair. I would ensure him that Knox is not a reflection of CFS ethics or its staff. Thus, he was fired due violating CFS code of conduct. I would offer to release Armadillo of any liabilities stemmed from Knox’s deal.

I would hold a meeting to address Knox and his manager misdeeds and how devastating to CFS’ reputation. How their actions can damage what the company has been building for years. I would be stressing on being ethical while pursuing customers and how closing a deal does not justify unethical practice. I will be highlighting how ethics are everybody’s business and sales force to serve the interests of everybody.

Managers should be concerned about every step of the business process and they should be concerned about motives, means and ends in their organization. It is known in any business that every policy or practice...