Case Study on Joe and Bill Battle of Interest

Introduction

The nature of the relationship between Joe and Bill is not an ethical breach. Joe has pressure on the decisions he has to make with the friendship almost pushing him to the wrong decision. Joe's relationship with Bill defines a conflict of interest. The battle of interest between the relationship of Bill and Joe is depicted from the request of Bill to meet Joe. Since they have been friends, from Joe's elaboration on their business history with Bill, why then should Bill invite him. Given the fact that Joe has won several contracts for the Peninsula Chain while underbidding the competitor, Threads4U, why then should they meet in Bill's hotel? Since Bill has already hinted out that he would like to have a better deal than the Threads4U, then it is a questionable act that is deemed as an ethical misconduct act. Since this where it will be decided if Bill's offer will be accepted, and since Joe and Bill are real friends, then this could be postponed for the appropriate time.

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Joe agrees that Bill has been a great guy and he offered to buy an entire case of high-end cabernet for Joe's wife birthday wife. The invitation of joe and his family to his Yacht is another form of gift that Bill is using since the final decision is about to be made. The giftings, therefore, have the hidden agenda and may act as a form of bribery(Stenmark& Mumford, 2011). Therefore, Joe should reconsider before accepting the gift since this relationship might be strained. Bill is using the awards as a form of bribe to get a better deal by making Joe feel obligated by the extra friendly nature of Bill.

The care theory is most appropriate in this scenario. Joe is using the care theory based on the fact that Bill has to like his decisions since he has been a great guy, invited him and the family at his yacht and bought his wife a birthday gift(Dai, 2012). On the other hand, Bill is using the egoism theory that is based on oneself. He is doing everything possible to have a close friendly relationship with Joe to get a better deal since the final decision day is approaching.

Since business meetings should be held within the office of the business, then the invitation of Joe to the Peninsula Hotel has a hidden agenda hence termed as not ethical. Also, the request of Joe's family to his yacht and going for social events as well as staying at the hotel for several times are the means used by Bill to entice Joe in the final decision making. If it could be of their interests, the invitations could be postponed. Therefore, Bill's trustworthy as well as respect that pertains dignity and autonomy are questionable due to the unethical approaches; he is using to entice Joe to get better deals. Joe's look at Bill's accommodating style implies he is collaborating as well as compromising with Bill's idea for a better deal.

Since decisions have to be made both at the personal and organizational level, Joe has to consider the ethics as well as the business guidelines to close the loopholes Bill want to use to get better deals. Joe's focus should not just be on their relationship with Bill but accounting to every one of the decisions made.

References

Dai, J. (2012). A Review of the Empirical Literature on Ethical Decision-Making: 2004-2010. SSRN Electronic Journal, 12(2), 112-213. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2344521

Stenmark, C. K., & Mumford, M. D. (2011). Situational impacts on leader ethical decision-making. The Leadership Quarterly, 22(5), 942-955. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.07.013