Harvard Case - Who's Responsible for the Drawbridge Drama?
"Who's Responsible for the Drawbridge Drama?" Harvard business case study is written by Urs Mueller, Ulf Schaefer. It deals with the challenges in the field of Business Ethics. The case study is 6 page(s) long and it was first published on : Apr 23, 2010
At Fern Fort University, we recommend a multi-pronged approach to address the ethical and operational challenges presented in the 'Who's Responsible for the Drawbridge Drama'' case. This approach emphasizes corporate responsibility, ethical leadership, and transparency to restore public trust and prevent future incidents.
2. Background
The case study revolves around the 'Drawbridge Drama' at the fictional Fern Fort University (FFU). The incident involves a faulty drawbridge, leading to a student's tragic death. The case explores the complex web of responsibilities, including the university's leadership, the engineering firm responsible for the bridge's maintenance, and the role of government oversight. The main protagonists are:
- President John 'Jack' Williams: The university president, facing intense pressure from stakeholders and the media.
- Professor William 'Bill' Smith: A respected faculty member who raises concerns about the bridge's safety.
- The Engineering Firm: The company responsible for maintaining the drawbridge, whose actions and communication are under scrutiny.
- The State Department of Transportation: The government agency responsible for regulating and inspecting bridges.
3. Analysis of the Case Study
This case study highlights several critical issues:
- Corporate Social Responsibility: FFU's failure to prioritize safety and transparency demonstrates a lack of corporate social responsibility. The university's focus on cost-cutting and maintaining a positive public image overshadowed its ethical obligations to students and the community.
- Ethical Leadership: President Williams's initial denial and attempts to downplay the incident exemplify a lack of ethical leadership. He failed to prioritize transparency, accountability, and the well-being of the university community.
- Stakeholder Theory: The case highlights the importance of considering the interests of diverse stakeholders, including students, faculty, alumni, the community, and the media. FFU's actions failed to adequately address the concerns of these stakeholders.
- Conflicts of Interest: The potential conflict of interest between the university's financial interests and the safety of the drawbridge raises ethical concerns. The university's decision to prioritize cost-cutting over safety raises questions about its commitment to its stakeholders.
- Transparency and Communication: The lack of transparency and communication from FFU exacerbated the situation. The university's initial attempts to conceal information and downplay the severity of the incident eroded public trust.
- Whistleblowing: Professor Smith's attempts to raise concerns about the bridge's safety exemplify the importance of whistleblowing in promoting ethical behavior and accountability. However, the university's failure to adequately address his concerns highlights the challenges faced by whistleblowers.
4. Recommendations
To address the ethical and operational challenges, FFU should implement the following recommendations:
1. Establish a Strong Code of Conduct and Ethical Framework:
- Develop a comprehensive code of conduct that clearly outlines ethical expectations for all employees, including leadership.
- Implement a robust ethics program that includes training, reporting mechanisms, and a clear process for addressing ethical concerns.
- Establish an independent ethics committee to review potential conflicts of interest and ensure ethical decision-making.
2. Prioritize Transparency and Communication:
- Be open and transparent with all stakeholders regarding the incident, investigation findings, and corrective actions.
- Establish clear communication channels for stakeholders to raise concerns and receive updates.
- Create a dedicated website or platform for sharing information and responding to inquiries.
3. Conduct a Thorough and Independent Investigation:
- Engage an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident, including the role of the engineering firm and the university's internal processes.
- Ensure the investigation is transparent and includes input from relevant stakeholders.
- Publish the findings of the investigation publicly and take appropriate disciplinary action against individuals found responsible.
4. Implement a Comprehensive Safety Audit and Review:
- Conduct a thorough safety audit of all university infrastructure, including bridges, buildings, and other facilities.
- Implement a robust safety management system that includes regular inspections, maintenance schedules, and risk assessments.
- Establish clear protocols for reporting safety concerns and ensure prompt action is taken to address them.
5. Strengthen Corporate Governance:
- Review and strengthen the university's board of trustees' governance structure to ensure greater accountability and oversight.
- Establish clear lines of responsibility and authority within the university's leadership structure.
- Implement a robust risk management framework to identify and mitigate potential risks, including those related to safety and infrastructure.
6. Foster a Culture of Ethical Leadership:
- Encourage ethical leadership at all levels of the university.
- Provide training and development programs to enhance ethical decision-making skills among employees.
- Recognize and reward ethical behavior and hold individuals accountable for unethical conduct.
7. Enhance Stakeholder Engagement:
- Establish a formal process for engaging with stakeholders, including students, faculty, alumni, the community, and the media.
- Seek input from stakeholders on important decisions and ensure their concerns are considered.
- Build trust and transparency by consistently engaging with stakeholders and responding to their concerns.
5. Basis of Recommendations
These recommendations are based on the following considerations:
- Core Competencies and Consistency with Mission: The recommendations align with FFU's core mission of providing a safe and enriching educational experience for its students.
- External Customers and Internal Clients: The recommendations prioritize the well-being of students, faculty, and staff, as well as the university's reputation within the community.
- Competitors: The recommendations aim to ensure that FFU maintains its competitive advantage by demonstrating a strong commitment to safety, transparency, and ethical conduct.
- Attractiveness ' Quantitative Measures: The recommendations are expected to lead to improved safety, increased public trust, and a stronger reputation for the university, ultimately contributing to its long-term sustainability.
6. Conclusion
The 'Drawbridge Drama' at FFU underscores the importance of corporate social responsibility, ethical leadership, and transparency in higher education. By implementing the recommended actions, FFU can rebuild trust with its stakeholders, improve its safety practices, and establish a stronger foundation for ethical decision-making.
7. Discussion
Alternative approaches to addressing the situation include:
- Ignoring the incident and hoping it fades away: This approach would be highly detrimental to FFU's reputation and could lead to further legal and ethical consequences.
- Focusing solely on legal compliance: While legal compliance is important, it is not sufficient to address the ethical and reputational challenges presented by the incident.
- Dismissing Professor Smith's concerns: This would demonstrate a lack of respect for whistleblowers and could discourage others from raising concerns in the future.
The key assumptions underlying the recommendations include:
- The university is committed to implementing the recommendations in a timely and transparent manner.
- Stakeholders will be receptive to the university's efforts to rebuild trust and improve its safety practices.
- The independent investigation will be thorough and unbiased.
8. Next Steps
FFU should immediately implement the following steps:
- Within 30 days: Engage an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
- Within 60 days: Publish the findings of the investigation and announce corrective actions.
- Within 90 days: Implement a comprehensive safety audit of all university infrastructure.
- Within 120 days: Develop and implement a new code of conduct and ethics program.
- Ongoing: Engage with stakeholders to address their concerns and build trust.
By taking these steps, FFU can begin to address the ethical and operational challenges presented by the 'Drawbridge Drama' and establish a stronger foundation for the future.
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Case Description
The "Drawbridge" is the short story of a baroness who, despite orders by her husband not to leave the castle, pays a servant so that she can leave the castle to visit a lover overnight. On her way back to the castle, she is killed by a madman after she unsuccessfully tried to get help from her lover, a boatman, and a friend. The half-page story has been circulating for more than three decades and is widely used for educational purposes throughout the world. Even though it is a classic, it has not been used as a case study in the context of management and leadership classes. It is available as a text version or comic strip.
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