Case Study: Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up?

Sandra J. Sucher; Matthew  Preble

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Article | Harvard Business Review

Case Study: Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up?

by Sandra J. Sucher and Matthew Preble

Abstract

The article discusses an intern for the technology security company Zantech addressing her concerns about her boss in Seoul, South Korea, regarding an inappropriate suggestion on misrepresenting her identity. An overview of the ethical aspects of addressing her concerns to the company’s management, including in regard to corporate culture and the ethical behavior of Zantech’s competition, is provided.

Keywords: Ethics; Labor and Management Relations; Organizational Culture;

Format: Print

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Citation:

Sucher, Sandra J., and Matthew Preble. "Case Study: Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up?" Harvard Business Review 95, no. 4 (July–August 2017): 139–141.

About the Author

Sandra J. Sucher

MBA Class of 1966 Professor of Management Practice

General Management

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Technical Note | HBS Case Collection | January 2013 (Revised October 2019)

Guide to ISDL Reflections

Joshua D. Margolis and Sandra J. Sucher

Citation:
Margolis, Joshua D., and Sandra J. Sucher. "Guide to ISDL Reflections." Harvard Business School Technical Note 613-077, January 2013. (Revised October 2019.) View Details

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Case | HBS Case Collection | March 2018 (Revised September 2019)

Chewy.com (A)

Jeffrey F. Rayport and Matthew G. Preble

In late 2013, Ryan Cohen, cofounder and CEO of online pet products retailer Chewy.com, faces a “bet the company decision”—whether to stay with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for all of its e-commerce fulfillment or to take the function in house. Cohen worries that the existing 3PL may not be able to scale with Chewy’s projected growth or maintain the company’s performance standards for service quality and fulfillment. While Cohen is convinced that achieving scale is essential to making the business work, he is also keenly aware that neither he nor his cofounders have any experience in managing logistics. In addition, any move they might make to in-source fulfillment would likely destabilize the existing 3PL relationship, on which the viability of the fast-growing business depends. Cohen’s board members are concerned enough about the situation to pressure him to throttle back growth and maintain the 3PL. Cohen sees four possible options: stay with the current 3PL, add another 3PL to handle additional volume, stay with the 3PL and add a company-owned fulfillment center in a new region, or fully insource fulfilment as quickly as possible. In light of Cohen’s goal of reaching $500 million in sales by 2018, the board is divided about what to do, and the CEO is left with what appears to be a choice between two risky options as he attempts to move Chewy forward.

Keywords: Pet Food; Pet Products; retail; e-commerce; Growth and Development Strategy; Service Operations; Decision Choices and Conditions; Retail Industry; Service Industry; Florida; United States;

Citation:
Rayport, Jeffrey F., and Matthew G. Preble. "Chewy.com (A)." Harvard Business School Case 818-079, March 2018. (Revised September 2019.) View Details

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Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2019

Gina Wilcox

Leslie Perlow, Jeff Steiner and Matthew Preble

Citation:
Perlow, Leslie, Jeff Steiner, and Matthew Preble. "Gina Wilcox." Harvard Business School Case 420-045, September 2019. View Details

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Case Study: Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up?

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