IMC USA promotes  sensitivity and capability of consultants to recognize, evaluate and act on ethical dilemmas. The following cases are presented for use at IMC USA chapter programs to keep ethics top of mind.

Note: in each case the copy in regular font is provided in advance to those who indicate they are attending the program. The text in italics is used at the program for discussion and may or may not be handed out when attendees arrive.

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CASE #1  

Mary Thompson is responsible for a church event. Church members and others are participating The small cost to assemble this was paid via voluntary collections among the church members. The day before the evening the three same performance event was to open, the "nonmembers" asked for time before each program to pitch their various individual endeavors which were small business franchise and similar efforts.  

Initially, after contacting some participating church members she decided to "give them time." This was expressed to them. The longer Mary had to think about this and get input from more church members,  the more convinced this was not a good idea.   Within a short time she approached to "leader of the non church participants and indicated this was not going to work. Whereupon the whole outside group withdrew. Themes including  birth control, abortion, population stresses, free will living and cohabitation living would not be heard.  

What do you think Mary and her team should do?  

At the IMC program the following could be passed out as people checked in:  

Possible solutions for Mary Thompson  
1. Redo the program and proceed on adjusting the starting date
2. Change the entire theme pulling in more church members
3. Cancel the whole event
4. Go back and ascertain if any of the subjects of others could be incorporated  

Discuses each alternative (OK to add more)

Be prepared to summarize for your table what Mary and friends should do      

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CASE #2  

The Southeastern Companies (a holding company) just purchased (sight unseen) a patent from the owner via a business broker. This is an electric personal product; no samples just drawings and the actual patent accompanied the purchase. The buyers assumed the product was portable, however, as patented it must be plugged into a 110 volt AC outlet and sucks power. Interesting no one checked for the tooling has been acquired and the initial run of 50,000 units will be available in two weeks.   Based on the portability assumption, marketing plans were created and print copy prepared and distributed to  a considerable number of their retail outlets. The copy looks terrific and the artwork is beautiful.   The UL application is ready but has not been submitted  

If you were the Director of Marketing of one of these companies with ongoing product responsibility what would you do?    

At the IMC program this could be passed out as attendees checked in:  

Possible solutions  

1. Dump the entire package on a distributor in a foreign country but factor in how the product is employed and the reaction(s) of the consumers
2. Save a few as remembrances of something that should not have occurred
3. Plan to obtain data but seek no net profit from this event. Careful of liability
4. What are you VP marketing expecting to do with those who screwed up
5. What is the ethical dilemma of seeking to force this product on the market to fulfill the existing copy?
6. Define the lessons learned    

Armed with these ideas and all yours assemble your thought and be prepared to present when  your table is called upon    

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CASE #3    

The CEO and CFO of the Amory Company are scheduled to appear and present at the first Fall meeting of the Regional  South Bend Chamber of Commerce.  The meeting includes a  presentation of the URUS a personal item to assist anyone with a hearing deficiency. Each person who is reserving will be provided one as part of the registration.   Twenty four hours before the event the US Securities commission rules that since the URUS has not been made available to equity holders of the financial market that it cannot be given away at this session   A tough challenge for here are the two top executives who are blocked from what seemed to be such a simple offering..

How would you handle this without not making it appear the people attending are being let down?  

At the IMC program this could be passed out as attendees checked in:  

Possible solutions:  

1. Of course, each person is assured they will be sent a unit when available How about an extra per table...let the table decide to whom this extra one should go What else do you believe the executives and company should do to ultimately pacify the attendees.
2. If you were part of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce...what else would you expect the company to do for you?
3. For any other reason what do you think the ramifications would be if the meeting were simply cancelled?  

Assemble your thoughts...these and your others and be prepared to make a statement when your table is called upon.