Centurion Media: Doing the Right Thing

Complete "Centurion Media: Doing the Right Thing" Case (NA0005-PDF-ENG) from your Harvard Case Studies Course Pack. Please answer the following questions specifically regarding this case:

1. What was the problem facing Richard Bennett (if any)?

Richard Bennet is an employee that is completely rooted in his ethics over a long period of time. He has worked in the company for a long time during which he rose in position from a small junior employee right to a top executive regional administrator. Richard is one of the six vice presidents of the Centurion Media headed by Joseph Fowler. In all his years at the company, Richard Bennet had upheld his ethics and ensured that everything under his control was ethical. As one of the six vice presidents, Richard Bennet headed the southeastern region. His sales region had had significant sales increments over time. He had worked hard with the support of Vicky Porter to come up with overwhelming sales in conjunction with other members of staff. According to the contract signed by Joseph Fowler, current president for Centurion Media at the time when Richard Bennet was the vice president in charge of the southeastern region, it would be more profitable if the company sold some of its inventory to Northpark. The idea of the sale of inventory to Northpark is not invited by Richard Bennet because it would lead to decrease in revenue for the southeastern region as well reduce revenues and profits for the entire company. Richard Bennet is in conflict because this step is likely to compromise his ethics that he has upheld over a long time working ethically for a long time.

The bigger problem facing Richard Bennet was the idea that he could not blow a whistle or risk retirement which would affect several people in his life such as workmates and family as well as friends. Personally, Richard found it hard to blow a whistle following the fact that Joseph Fowler and Chuck Reilly had been good college friends and Fowler might have possibly convinced Reilly of the huge profits that would come from the contract. It is clear to Richard Bennet that Joseph Fowler has some conflict of interest in the contract that would benefit himself.

2. Do you agree with Bennett’s assessment of the problem he faced? Explain why you agree or disagree with him.

I completely agree with how Richard Bennet handles his issues as well as assessing the problem he is faced with. Richard Bennet acts within ethical boundaries which are acceptable in corporate practice from time to time. Richard Bennet did not take advantage of the people who knew him to rise at his workplace but ethically earned his position in the company. As a vice president, Richard Bennet acts in accordance with the provisions of ethics in taking control of his region for the good of Centurion Media. Richard Bennet evaluates the contract from