Take the IMC USA Consulting Ethics Challenge! 1.) Read this case study;  2.) read the IMC USA Enforceable Code of Ethics; and 3.) comment below.

The Consulting Ethics Situation

A management consultant in your network refers you to their client, GreenWell. Your referrer has completed a comprehensive strategic plan approved by the client. The new strategy calls for quickly launching their “green” product to an industrial market instead of to consumer box stores.

Several weeks into your engagement, the consultant who referred you mentions he’s working on a new plan and slide deck to pitch to investors. The new product is a green consumer online marketplace. You just heard an investor say that if a company is already established  in an online market, do not pursue it. At a glance, you can see that there are multiple competitors in this new product space. You also sense the consultant who brought you to this client is adding significant hours to their engagement.

What Would an Ethical Consultant Do?

Is there an ethical question or potential violation of the enforceable IMC USA Code of Ethics? 

What, if anything, would you do?

Calls to Action:

If you’d like to learn more about ethics in consulting, read more Ethics Case Studies on the Consulting to Management Blog.

And, begin to follow a Code of Ethics by joining IMC USA. All members are required to adhere to the IMC USA Code of Ethics as well as our Consultant’s Code of Conduct.

About the Author Liz Weber CMC, CSP

The author of this post, Liz Weber, is a Strategic Leadership Advisor, Certified Management Consultant® (CMC®) and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). Liz currently serves as IMC USA’s Ethics Chair. Liz holds an MBA in International Business. She has taught for Johns Hopkins University’s Graduate School of Continuing Studies and Georgetown University’s Senior Executive Leadership Program. Liz has supervised business activities in 129 countries and consulted in over 20 countries. She has written ten leadership books and currently writes a monthly blog and posts on social media daily. For more information visit her website and connect with Liz on LinkedIn.