...A whistle-blower’s lawsuit alerts Galvatrens to deep flaws in its system for uncovering misconduct. How should management and the board respond? HBR CASE STUDY Why Didn’t We Know? by Ralph Hasson COPYRIGHT © 2007 HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It was 9:30 in the evening of what had been a very long Friday when the phone rang in Chip Brownlee’s home study. On the line was Arch Carter, the lead director of Galvatrens, the Houston-based consumer products company that Chip had led as chairman and CEO for the past ten years. “I just got your voice mail,” Arch said. “The parts about a lawsuit and accusations that we manipulated our sales numbers certainly got my attention. What’s going on?” “At this point, I don’t know much,” Chip responded, “but I wanted to give you a heads-up. A former divisional sales manager has filed a lawsuit against the company, charging he was wrongfully terminated because he tried to report an illegal scheme to inflate sales.” Chip had received a copy of the lawsuit that afternoon. As he’d read through the complaint, he’d gotten a whole new perspective on the multiple departures that had rocked Sales dur- ing the past four weeks. The plaintiff was Mike Fields, who had left Galvatrens three weeks earlier. He claimed that he’d come across a plan devised by Greg Wilson, another divisional sales manager. According to Mike, Greg had proposed shipping goods to a few of his bigger customers, billing them, and booking the sales—...
Words: 3262 - Pages: 14
...Why Didn’t We Know? Table of Contents Problem Identification ……………………………………………………………….…… 3 Ineffective Communication Ineffective Listening Abilities Ineffective Development of project team Situation Analysis …………………………………………………………………….…… 4 Ineffective Communication Ineffective Listening Abilities Ineffective Development of project team Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………..... 6 Ineffective Communication Ineffective Listening Abilities Ineffective Development of project team References ……………………………………………………………………………..…... 8 Problem Identification In the Harvard Business Review Case Study, “Why Didn’t We Know?” Ralph Hasson describes circumstances where communication, listening, and the development of a sales team could have greatly circumvented a lawsuit against the Galvatrens Company. Three of the problem areas that affect this case are, ineffective communication skills, ineffective listening abilities, and the ineffective development of the sales team. Ineffective Communication Engleberg & Wynn identifies communication as an instrument used by members of a group to share information and opinions, make decisions, solve problems, and develop interpersonal relationships. (Engleberg & Wynn, 2013, p. 5). The managers and employees of Galvatrens lack these communication skills and have caused major issues throughout the organization. In this article, it shows Galvatrens lacking in effective...
Words: 1494 - Pages: 6
...CD 177 November 27’09 How has violence affected me? When we were told at the beginning of this semester that we were going to write a paper on how has violence has affected us to be honest I was okay with that even though I don’t like writing essays, but when you gave more details about the paper I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write this paper. I didn’t think I was prepared to let go a big part of my past; a horrible past. When I made the decision to stay in this course I knew it was time to let go to the horrible things I had to go through as a child and teenager. I know that when you write or speak about your experiences it helps you but for some reason even though it’s a healthy thing to do it’s so difficult for me to express, tell, speak of what has happened to me. Big part of me I guess is scared, full of shame; I know, I know you mentioned it in class that there’s no reason for us to feel this way but at least I do. I feel embarrassed and I guess I do care about what others have to say about me. My story goes like this…. You see my grandfather used to live with us and he was the one that used to take care of us, feed us take us and pick us up from school. He was like a father to me. To this point I still don’t know if it really happened or if it just part of my imagination. When my grandpa molested me I was like 3-4 years old. This is why I am not sure if it really happened or not. The image that I have is that my grandpa and I were watching television in the living...
Words: 3211 - Pages: 13
...Why would someone fight if he knows he is going to lose? Why would someone fight if he knows he is not going to make a change? Why would someone fight if he knows he is going to die in the fight? For black sailors during World War II, this fight was worth it. Courage under fire is what they didn’t need because they had more than enough. Courage under fire means having courage, no matter what. That is what Small and his squad had in the book The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin and in the audio recording, “The Port Chicago 50: An Oral History.” These sources describe the events that happen before and after the explosion at Port Chicago. The book is a more effective source for showing the fight for African American’s rights that seemed that they couldn’t win. In the long run they were willing to fight even to the cost of their lives, but to be heroes or to free their...
Words: 680 - Pages: 3
...Shields Many times, I wondered why I was the way I was with men and I decided to write this story to help others who may think they are alone. I was very young when my life began to change with men. At the age of four, my male baby sitter did something that would change my life forever. He raped me and touched me in a way that an “adult” should never touch a child. He took something away from me, that night. And, when my parents did nothing that was even worse than what he had done. I didn’t know at that age why my parents, who were supposed to protect me, did nothing. I learned as an adult, that the boy’s father had passed away and that is why my parents didn’t do anything. Even though, that was not a good reason and they should have protected me, I have forgiven my babysitter. About a year or so later, my father started to do things to me that no father should ever do. He molested me and once again took more away from me. This time, I thought it was something that I’d done to deserve this sort of treatment from him. He said, “You’re my special little girl.” Of course to a young girl, that sends all type of mixed signals and causes her to feel different about her daddy. This sort of thing went on until I was 10 years old; every night that my father would come into my room, he would do the same thing. All this time, no one knew about it. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was also doing the same to my little brother. We lived with my father alone, after...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...“Why do you have to be so quiet” was one of the things I learned to get used to hearing or “Why do you have to act so miss pretty perfect”. Not all people were this way, but the people that weren't would just stand back and watch, until that one day… “Why can't you just sit down anywhere else!” he nagged acting like he was the big stuff. As I was staring up at him on the hard cold lunchroom bench. “Were not allowed to move it's too late now” I argued intimidated but hiding back a smirk waiting for him to explode. Just as he was about to come back with something else to say She tsunamied around stopped him and even though he towered over her like the Eiffel tower, she wasn't going to back down because he was bigger and stronger. “She can sit there if She wants...
Words: 690 - Pages: 3
...March 27, 2015 Time Check July 21, 2014. It was another Monday and it was a school day. I woke up early and drove to Ateneo de Manila University where I took up chemistry with materials science engineering. It was my first year in college and the semester just started a month ago, so I was only beginning to get to know the people in my course. On that Monday, my first class was chemistry and good thing that it was only a 50-minute class. I cannot take in all the formulas that Dr. Valera just discussed. My stress level was already too high. It was 8:20 am. My blockmates, Mariel, Diego, and Magin wanted to eat first before their next classes start. They have class at 9:30 while my next one was at 10:30, so we all headed to JSEC which was a cafeteria. After choosing a table, I volunteered to reserve the table and keep guard of their bags while the three of them went to food stalls to order. I checked my phone and it was 8:30 already but still I see no sign of him. Magin was the first one who got back and sat down with his bacon and eggs with fried rice. I expected that he would have mentioned his name, but he didn’t. Instead, he talked about how difficult it was to remember all of the dates in our upcoming history exam next week. I agreed and started asking him what the coverage of the exam was, so that he wouldn’t notice that I wasn’t paying much attention to what he was saying. The truth was I just wanted to go home and cry myself to sleep...
Words: 1837 - Pages: 8
...a boy my age would live right across the street. And when they first showed up, I couldn’t wait to go over and help them unpack and meet them. I mean the boy looked so sweet and just made my heart flutter. I couldn’t wait to go over and see them. 2. What was it like to find out Bryce was dating a girl you didn’t like? - I was very angry. I mean why didn’t he like me how I liked him. I mean I did everything for him. And they girl is just really mean and she is a bunch of drama. She is so mean and everyone only learns that when they actually meet her. 3. What was it like to have Bryce’s Grandpa help you out with the yard? - At first it was really weird and awkward. I thought he just felt bad for me and I didn’t want him helping me for that reason. But after he told me about his wife, I felt like there was a connection. And I really liked talking to him. 4. When you found out Bryce was throwing your eggs away, how did you react? - I was really sad and disappointed. I didn’t understand why at first. Then he explained to me and I was so angry and sad and all these other feelings. I mean Salmonella? I didn’t see why. Like I know my lawn but why did they have to lie. I was just really disappointed. 5. What was it like in the Sycamore tree? - I was unexplainable. It was like I was above the entire world and nothing could touch me or hurt me. It was beautiful up there. I was really sad when they took it down. I mean that was my place to think...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010). Unfortunately, we were at the wrong place at the wrong time because we become one of those statistics. What started off as a couple of teenagers having fun, clubbing, dancing. Doing things we weren’t supposed to do (drinking). Well, my friend Kimberly and I weren’t drinking because one we were the designated drivers; two Kimberly was pregnant. I know you’re wondering then why are you clubbing? Well, to answer that no one knew about her unplanned pregnancy and we didn’t want to tell anyone until after she graduated. So, just to make sure no one catches on to what we had planned we told everyone that she wasn’t drinking because I didn’t want to be the only sober one and have to take care of drunk people. Everyone bought it...
Words: 1381 - Pages: 6
...3/340 THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Text copyright © 2011 by David Levithan Jacket and interior photographs copyright © 2011 by Jonathan Farmer All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. Knopf, Borzoi Books, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Visit us on the Web! randomhouse.com/teens Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at randomhouse.com/teachers Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Levithan, David. Every you, every me / by David Levithan ; photographs by Jonathan Farmer. 5/340 p. cm. Summary: Evan is haunted by the loss of his best friend, but when mysterious photographs start appearing, he begins to fall apart as he starts to wonder if she has returned, seeking vengeance. ISBN 978-0-375-86098-0 (trade) — ISBN 978-0-375-96098-7 (lib. bdg.) — ISBN 978-0-375-89621-7 (ebook) [1. Mental illness—Fiction. 2. Emotional problems—Fiction. 3. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. High schools—Fiction. 6. Schools—Fiction.] I. Farmer, Jonathan, ill. II. Title. PZ7.L5798Ev 2011 [Fic]—dc22 2010048723 Random House...
Words: 31775 - Pages: 128
...Roosevelt knew the attack was coming and, people think that he provoked Japan into bombing Pearl Harbor. Influences (traditional, cultural, historical) historical Listener background knowledge: They didn’t know much about what was happening at that time. See the “Types of Arguments” table on page 412 for more information. Arguments Evidence/Support Possible flaws 1. President Franklin Roosevelt provoked the war with Japan. A. We might have been at peace with the Japanese, but that didn’t stop them from bombing the United States. B. Would we have went to war if the bombing didn’t happen? He...
Words: 764 - Pages: 4
...Do we all know the meaning of sin? Do we know God and his purposes? Can we differentiate without help what is right or wrong? Would it be fair to be sentenced for not knowing? I believe that a person who does not have knowledge or help to differentiate between good and bad, it would not be fair to sentence him without mercy even when the person demonstrates changes after understanding the mistakes he made. Tsotsi commits crimes that make him guilty, but not 100%. His experience when he was young made him unfamiliar to what was right or wrong. Tsotsi regretted his mistakes and was changing once he comprehended what he had done that was bad. Tsotsi is guilty but deserves alternative sentencing: counseling and community service. According to the book, when Tsotsi's friend, Boston, ask him personal questions, Tsotsi was mad because he didn't know any answers, he...
Words: 923 - Pages: 4
...protagonist’s point of view. For instance, what makes sense for Marder doesn’t necessarily make sense for Bubba or the Injuns. And conversely, what makes sense for the heathens doesn’t make sense for the Yuk Yuks. Let us study what’s the conception of “making sense” for the baddies (the white men) and the goodies (the Indians, the black man). Paragraph 1 In God’s Country, Everett uses the western genre to demonstrate the absurdities inherent in racism. God’s Country‘s revision of the mythic West and the western genre is seen through the myopic eyes of an ignorant white man: Marder. When Happy Bear gives a horse to Jake, Marder is amazed “I was fit to be tied. Didn’t make no sense, a free horse. And for a child. What was wrong with these people? Heathens.” (64) According to him, this didn’t make sense and was necessarily a misdeed “it was no doubt an attempt to corrupt his young mind and trick him into trusting the savages.” Everett places his story in 1871; six years after the American slaves were emancipated. According to Marder’s good sense, two hundred years of oppression and dehumanization should be overcome in six short years “Christ, man, it‘s 1871, ain’t you people ever going to forget about that slavery stuff” (24). Bubba is demonized in a number of ways in the eyes of Marder because of nothing more than his skin...
Words: 2701 - Pages: 11
...Why do people call Christmas? The word “Christmas” derives from an Old English term that dates back to 1038: “Cristes Maesse.” The term literally means “the mass of Christ,” which is evidence of its Catholic roots.[1] “Mass” comes from the Latin missa, and refers to the service of Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. To the Protestant ear, Mass is best understood as a daily service of prayers in which Christians partake of the Lord’s supper, and the “mass of Christ” was specially devoted to the celebration of Christ’s birth. Christian celebrate Christmas because it is jesus birthday and jesus die for us. These days, one of the questions I often receive about Jesus has to do with his marital status. This question didn’t just drop out of heaven, however. It was born of the popularity of Dan Brown’s controversial novel, The Da Vinci Code. This novel advocates the thesis that Jesus was in fact married to the woman we know as Mary Magdalene, that they had a child together, and that this “truth” was covered up by the church for self-serving reasons. Many readers of The Da Vinci Code, believing the fictional history of the novel to be true, have been buzzing about the possibility of Jesus’ having been married. The people in the story is Joseph Adam Jesus god David eve ibraham lkdsjasjssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss [pic] 0 Why do people call Christmas? The word “Christmas” derives from an Old English term that dates back to 1038: “Cristes Maesse.” The term literally...
Words: 2497 - Pages: 10
...grandmother who taught me that one tea bag makes as many cups of tea as you’re serving, and that every part of the apple is edible. Her obsession with food wasn’t an obsession with money. (Many of those coupons I clipped were for foods she would never buy.) Her obsession wasn’t with health. (She would beg me to drink Coke.) My grandmother never set a place for herself at family dinners. Even when there was nothing more to be done — no soup bowls to be topped off, no pots to be stirred or ovens checked — she stayed in the kitchen, like a vigilant guard (or prisoner) in a tower. As far as I could tell, the sustenance she got from the food she made didn’t require her to eat it. We thought she was the greatest chef who ever lived. My brothers and I would tell her as much several times a meal. And yet we were worldly enough kids to know that the greatest chef who ever lived would probably have more than one recipe (chicken with carrots), and that most great recipes involved more than two...
Words: 3714 - Pages: 15
