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  • February 2004 (Revised April 2005)
  • Exercise

Necessary Evils: A Diagnostic Exercise

By: Joshua D. Margolis and Andrew Molinsky
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:8
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Abstract

Central to the work of leaders and professionals are tasks that entail harming one party to deliver benefits or advance valued and worthy goals. Sometimes a person must, as part of his or her job, perform an act that causes emotional, material, or physical harm to another human being in the service of achieving a greater good or purpose. Examples in management include firing people, laying people off, delivering bad news, delivering negative performance feedback, and, in medicine, performing a painful procedure. Through a series of introspective questions, punctuated by small group discussions and concluding with a large group discussion of insights, students and practicing professionals are better equipped to manage the challenges of necessary evils.

Keywords

Decision Choices and Conditions; Leadership; Problems and Challenges; Ethics; Management Skills

Citation

Margolis, Joshua D., and Andrew Molinsky. "Necessary Evils: A Diagnostic Exercise." Harvard Business School Exercise 404-027, February 2004. (Revised April 2005.)
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About The Author

Joshua D. Margolis

Organizational Behavior
→More Publications

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More from the Authors
  • Darden Restaurants: The Nine Square Feet By: Joshua D. Margolis and James Barnett
  • Is This the Right C-Suite Role? By: Anne Donnellon, Joshua D. Margolis and Amy Gallo
  • Nayana Mawilmada: Transforming Urban Development in Sri Lanka By: Joshua D. Margolis and Mahima Rao-Kachroo
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