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Warning Lights on the Dashboard

Author

Listed:
  • Ian Burt
  • Sally Gunz
  • John McCutcheon

Abstract

Many businesses operate legally while pushing the ethical values of society. This case follows the actions of a manager who uses particular metrics to improve his business at the cost of increasing the community's ethical concerns. The objectives of the case are to have students recognize ethical concerns arising from the metrics, assess how these impact business strategy, propose improvements while understanding the ethically sensitive environment in which the business operates, and devise an effective approach to persuade others to implement proposed changes. This case demonstrates to students the complexity of many ethical issues in business and challenges them to consider the interaction between ethical boundaries and a profitable corporate strategy. It highlights the importance of ensuring that both qualitative—here, ethical—and quantitative considerations are incorporated in any management accounting decision‐making tool. Résumé Maintes entreprises exercent leurs activités dans le respect de la loi, tout en défendant les valeurs éthiques de la société. Le présent cas porte sur l'étude des agissements d'un gestionnaire qui se sert de paramètres particuliers pour assurer l'essor de son entreprise, au prix d'une exacerbation des préoccupations éthiques de la communauté. L'analyse de ce cas a pour objet d'amener les étudiants à observer les préoccupations éthiques que soulèvent les paramètres utilisés, à évaluer en quoi la situation influe sur la stratégie commerciale, à proposer des améliorations compte tenu de la sensibilité éthique du milieu dans lequel l'entreprise exerce ses activités, et à imaginer une méthode efficace pour persuader son entourage de mettre en application les modifications proposées. Cet exercice permet aux étudiants de constater la complexité de nombreuses questions éthiques qui se posent dans l'entreprise et les met au défi d'analyser l'interaction entre les frontières éthiques et une stratégie commerciale rentable. Il met en relief l'importance de veiller à ce que les facteurs qualitatifs — éthiques dans le cas présent — et quantitatifs soient, les uns comme les autres, pris en considération dans l'utilisation d'un outil décisionnel en comptabilité de gestion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Burt & Sally Gunz & John McCutcheon, 2014. "Warning Lights on the Dashboard," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(3), pages 189-195, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:accper:v:13:y:2014:i:3:p:189-195
    DOI: 10.1111/1911-3838.12031
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