Khoa Nam Nguyen

SP2901

Thursdays, Section/CNR21846

Assignment5Dilemma3
To:KaiJohannson,ManagingDirectorofProcessTechnologies
From:Ms.Andersen,ConsultantatIntegrityInc.
Date:November13,2014
Subject:Themostsuitablecandidateforthenewposition

Introduction
Asyourequested,IamgoingtopresentmyviewonwhetherMarthaKolbergorFredrik
MoenshouldbegiventhepositionofBusinessDevelopmentDirectoratProcess
Technologies.Iamalsogoingtopresenttheargumentsforwhyoneofthemisqualifiedfor
thepositionbyspecifyingthedecisivestrengthsofthemostsuitablecandidate.Finally,Iam
goingexplainwhythisissueisconsideredasanethicaldilemma.
Themostsuitablecandidate
EventhoughMoenhasmoreexperiencethanKolbergatthecompany,IbelievethatKolberg
isthemostsuitablecandidatetofillthepositionofBusinessDevelopmentDirector.Thenew
positionrequirescompetencyforrelationshipbuildingandorganizationskills,whichKolberg
hasshownduringherperiodinthecompany.SheiscurrentlymanagingtheKeyAccounts,
whichisabusinessunitinNorthAmerica,withitsofficelocatedinHouston,Texas.Asa
matteroffact,shedisplayedgreatinterpersonalskillsinestablishinggoodworking
relationshipswiththecompanyskeyaccounts.Intermsofinternationalexperienceand
relationshipbuilding,KolbergisamorefavorablecandidatethanMoen,consideringthatthe
positionstasksaretoidentifypotentialnewmarketsandcustomers,andtodevelop
relationshipsofmutualtrust.

Whythisissueisanethicaldilemma
Iunderstandthatyouholdfirmlytotheprinciplethatpromotionshouldbebasedonmerit.
However,thereasonwhyIbelievethatthisissueisanethicaldilemmaisbecauseProcess
Technologieshasrecentlybeenheavilycriticizedforfailingtopromotewomenintosenior

Khoa Nam Nguyen

SP2901

Thursdays, Section/CNR21846

managementpositions.Inotherwords,thecompanyhasapoorgenderprofile.Informal
conversationswithmanyemployeeshaverevealedawidespreadperceptionoftheexistence
ofthesocalledglassceilingoperatingatthecompany.Thiswouldbeverydamagingfor
thecompanysfuture,duetotalentedwomeninbothjuniorandmiddlemanagementleaving
thecompanywiththebeliefofnothavingthechancetoreachthetopposition,asthese
womenareavaluableresourcetothecompany.Inaddition,thenegativepublicitywill
continuetoharmthecompanysreputation.
Conclusion
IbelievethatKolbergismorequalifiedforMoentofillthenewpositionastheBusiness
DevelopmentDirector,duetoherrelationshipbuildingattributesandinternational
experience.Inaddition,thecompanysreputationwillimproveandthegenderprofilewill
becomeabitmorestable,asaresultofthepotentiallyemploymentofKolberg.However,itis
uptohowyouseethisissue,whetherthisissueisstillanethicaldilemmaornot.

Ms. Andersen
Ms.Andersen
ConsultantatIntegrityInc.