Reference no: EM133561187

Problem

Sam over heard that Donna was leaving their reputable accounting firm. Donna had a private office down the hall and Sam wanted that office very badly. He was tired of being in a cubicle simply because his company was too big for the building they occupy. He needed a quiet space to work on the huge client audit he was assigned. This office would really help his productivity.

During a meeting, Josh was told by his boss, C.J., that Donna was leaving. He asked C.J. if he could take Donna's office when she leaves. C.J. said that she wasn't sure what they were doing with the office yet. Josh asked what he could do to get that office. C.J. put a huge stack of papers on Josh's desk and said that he could get started on this file and that she would see what she could do. She put her hand on Josh's shoulder, smiled and winked.

Sam ran into his friend Josh in the company kitchen. They exchanged their hellos. Josh asks Sam if he had heard that Donna was leaving. Josh then proclaims that he was promised Donna's office by C.J. Sam's face dropped. He wondered how this could happen? So, he decided to set a meeting with his boss, Charlie.

Charlie knew Sam was upset by the look on his face when he walked into his office. Sam made the case for getting Donna's office. He also told Charlie about Josh's claim on that space, that C.J. made Josh a promise. Charlie told Sam that it was an empty promise and that C.J. hadn't discussed anything at the manager's meeting about moving Sam into that space. Charlie told Sam not to worry. He mentioned that C.J. was in a lot of trouble for losing 3 clients in the last few months. Nobody takes her seriously and she's lucky she has a job. Charlie told Sam to just move his stuff into that office when Donna leaves and that he will vouch for him. Charlie told Sam that he should just take what he wants and stop being such a wuss about it. Charlie said to Sam "Be a man!"

Sam left Charlie's office conflicted. Josh stayed at work late all week to get all that extra work done so he could get Donna's office that C.J. promised him. Charlie emailed C.J. to set up a meeting to talk to her about this office situation once and for all. Charlie was going to tell C.J. that Sam was simply taking the office.

Question A. Morals are not ethics. What are ethics? Give me an example of what ethics means to you.

Question B. What are the four types of ethics/ethical reasoning discussed in the book. How would you apply some or all of that ethical reasoning to the scenario of Sam and Josh?

Question C. Will the meeting between Charlie and C.J. be more of an integrative negotiation process or a distributive bargaining situation? Please explain your answer.

Question D. In your opinion, what will be the outcome of this negotiation and why? Who's going to get the office?