Conflicting Loyalties: Friends Helping Friends? (A)

As a senior project manager for the Colombian office of a consulting services firm, Lucia is responsible for hiring decisions regarding junior consultants. During a recent recruitment process, Lucia found out that a candidate who achieved a perfect score on the written test had cheated, with the help of Lucia’s subordinate and close friend. She further learned that this candidate was motivated to commit fraud because of the medical needs of his young daughter.

This A case asks students to step into Lucia’s shoes and figure out an action plan that is both developmental (rather than merely punitive) and true to her values.

This case set is intended for undergraduate students taking leadership, human resources, or ethics courses. The approach is based on the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) curriculum authored by Mary C. Gentile.