Raising the ante Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Raising the ante - Essay Example If as one other board member said, the price of Phyllis' proposal will damage the company's profit picture, this eventuality would not only hurt the company but all its employees as well. Businesses should consider all stakeholders' interests if this may be affected by a business practice. Stakeholders include owners, employees, customers, suppliers and other groups affected by the business. I do not think Phyllis Warren was unfair in taking advantage of the board's implied admission of salary discrimination on the basis of sex. She saw the opportunity present itself for her and other women employees to earn more than what they were currently receiving. Usually, employees will not have an exact profit picture about the companies they work for. If the company could well afford back pay to correct the discrimination practiced in the past, then Phyllis had the right to at least bring this to the board's attention. However, it is another issue if the board's decision should be for or against Phyllis proposal. The entire matter of accountability of the company for a previous board's policies and actions may have to be decided in a legal forum. Corporations and other institutions are increasingly being held accountable for their decisions, actions, behaviors and performance by a wide range of external and internal stakeholders - employees, customers, stockholders, media, gove rnment officials, capital markets, civic leadership, the judicial system, advocates and activists (G&A, 2007). 4. Do you think Phyllis was wrong in giving the board the impression that her proposal enjoyed broad support Why I think there are two answers to this question. From the point of view of persuasive communication, I do not think Phyllis was wrong in giving the board the impression that her proposal enjoyed broad support. Phyllis had gone to the board with an objective that she of course wanted to accomplish and giving the impression of broad support for her proposal was merely a tool she used in order to persuade the board to agree with it. An impression is a feeling retained as a consequence of experience (AHD, 2000). It may not be reality. However, from the point of view of sincerity both to the board and Phyllis' fellow women employees, I think Phyllis was wrong in creating the impression mentioned above, especially since she hinted that her group was prepared to pursue legal action. Considering that Phyllis actually did not have broad support for