
Oliver Sparling and Bible Books, Inc.
Wicks, Andrew C.;N...
Oliver Sparling and Bible Books, Inc.
Wicks, Andrew C.; Neeley, Jonathan; Mead, Jenny
E-0355 | Published July 6, 2010 | 2 pages. Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Product Details
What happens when personal values and beliefs conflict with business decisions? This case, suitable for MBA, undergraduate, and executive learners, prompts engaging discussion of this issue. Oliver Sparling was a highly successful senior analyst at AFI International, a top consulting firm in Chicago with an open and tolerant workplace. He was also a gay man who had lived happily with his partner for over 10 years. Sparling encounters trouble, however, when one of the firm's clients, Bible Books, Inc., takes exception to his "inappropriate" openness about his sexuality (including wearing his commitment band). Sparling's boss calls him into the office and asks him to tone it down when he's at Bible Books, Inc. "These are not easy economic times," said the boss. "And this project is a big one for us. Basically, you're doing the company a favor if you lay low, and once the project is finished, it will be like it never happened. Besides, you know that you don't have anything to hide while you're at home here in Chicago. This is just for when you are in Birmingham." Sparling must decide what course of action to take.
Discuss and analyze how one's personal values and beliefs may conflict with business decisions. Examine the stakeholders in a particular business decision and analyze the costs and benefits of specific actions.
Products To Upsell

Global Medical Imaging, LLC
Hess, Edward D.; G...

Enchanting Travels
Hess, Edward D.; M...

Better World Books
Hess, Edward D.; G...

Valuation of "Plain-Vanilla" Interest-Ra...
Conroy, Robert M.;...

FindingFIT
Clawson, James G.

List Testing Exercise: Economic Selectio...
Pfeifer, Phillip E...

An Introduction to Case Teaching (Part 1...
Clawson, James G.

What Is Giving Voice to Values? (VIDEO)
Gentile, Mary

Giving Voice to Values: An Educators' Pr...
DARDEN, Darden

Digital Marketing Simulation: Media Attr...
Venkatesan, Rajkum...

Dr. Bronner's: Do Psychedelics Fit with ...
Freeman, R. Edward...

AMP - Strategic Innovation & Entrepreneu...
Gupta, Uday

Accounting for Owners’ Equity
Lynch, Luann J.; B...

Test Syllabus 45
Daren Business Sch...

Athlete Brands: How to Benefit from Your...
Whitler, Kimberly ...

What is Design Thinking? (VIDEO)
Liedtka, Jeanne M.

Copyright Permissions
Daren Business Sch...

Thinking Strategically About Communicati...
West, June A.

Optix Corporation
Powell, Elizabeth ...

Leaders Bank: Creating a Great Place to ...
Hess, Edward D.; G...

LG Investments, LLC: A Family Business i...
Hess, Edward D.

Finance People
Schill, Michael J.