After suggesting that her work could be better recognized, Brown implied that he knew suppliers always had tickets to special things, and that it should be pretty easy for a sharp operator like Smith to get the 20 tickets for Jones from one of her salespeople friends working for a certified supplier. He explained that Lakeshore could expect some big sales if the party went well. Mary Smith, assistant purchaser for Lakeshore Boat Company, faces a professional dilemma common in closely held, family-run organizations. John Brown, assistant to the vice president for personnel, has placed her in a position in which she must choose to act counter to professional standards to avoid risking her job. Understanding the Corporate Culture Conflicting standards of conduct among departments are not uncommon in closely held, family-dominated corporations.
Most firms begin with an entrepreneurial spirit and evolve through a progression of cultural stages.
Lakeshore's current cultural stage is characterized by steady sales growth and stable management known for aggressive sales tactics in its industry. Each department performs its own function with minimal interaction with other departments. As long as the current prosperity continues, management has no compelling reason to question the culture of its organization. In this type of atmosphere, innuendoes about questionable practices by managers should come as no surprise to Smith. Brown is exploiting not only Smith's ambition as a capable employee but her financially challenging situation as a single mother of three.