Culture

‘Culture’ is a funny thing isn’t it? It means many things to many people. I am thinking of the ‘big picture’ culture – the way people live and interact in different countries. Not the more refined ‘fine arts’ opera going, cocktail party type of culture. As an example I give you the following – this is an actual (but slightly amended to avoid any identification) ethical case that was presented to me some years ago:

Imagine you are a manager in an organization with strong Middle Eastern connections.
You learn that the CEO has been requested to instruct the Human Resources Manager to endorse a senior staff appointment that would satisfy the Middle Eastern Connection.
You also learn that the person to be appointed is a locally born relative of the Middle Eastern Connection. The concern is that this is blatant nepotism, and that a person with better qualifications and experience (from within the organization) will be overlooked.

A number of management and staff members come to you to express their dissatisfaction with the proposed appointment. You are asked to approach the CEO to point out that what is happening will cause resentment, may even cause resignations and will have a negative impact on staff morale, and to find out what action could be taken to stop the appointment.

The CEO makes you aware that in the culture of the Middle Eastern Connection no ‘family’ member would ever do anything to dishonour the family name – particularly so in this case, as the appointee would ‘owe’ a favour. This appointment would therefore be considered as something of an ‘insurance’, to ensure that the Middle Eastern Connection’s local interests are protected and as such they would not think of it as being unethical.

You are told that there is nothing that can be done about the appointment.
What should you do? What are your options? Does it really matter?

While the ‘locally born relative’ had some experience in the industry concerned, being parachuted in at the top, as it were, would not have been condoned in a purely Australian context. I know that many sons of owners are employed in senior positions but they generally had to work their way up through the ranks. Think of James Packer or the Murdoch children.

I suppose it is a case of different horses for courses, but it is odd how different people can observe the same problem and come up with a totally different solution – based on their cultural back ground. It just shows that there is not just one ‘correct’ way of doing anything.