You have received the following email from Marcus Svenson, Finance Director:
From: Marcus Svenson, Finance Director
To: Senior Finance Manager
Subject: News reports
Hi,
I have sent you a link to a news site on the internet. Things are getting complicated in Bravador.
Every Board member has been asked to attend a brainstorming session this afternoon, before the CEO flies out to Bravador this evening. We will be considering the following four matters:
* Is it acceptable for us to develop this forest, given the commitment that we have made with respect to indigenous peoples' rights? They have been quoted at the end of the news article.
* Is it fair for the environmental protestors to complain that our operations are unsustainable?
* Would it be unethical to offer to build a village, with a proper school and medical clinic, for the tribe and to offer them work in our forestry operations?
* Is it really a good idea for the CEO to fly to Bravador just to appear on the television news in his boots and overalls?
Please email me your thoughts on each of these matters before I leave for the meeting this afternoon.
Marcus
Press clipping from today's Financial News:
Yesterday's announcement of yet another major oil find by Slide should keep everybody happy. Nobody will be happier than the directors of Fouce Oil, whose continuing ownership of one quarter of Slide's shares continues to confuse industry insiders. Perhaps there are hidden depths to the relationship between Slide and Fouce Oil.
You have received the following email from Peter Sorchi, CEO:
From: Peter Sorchi, Chief Executive Officer
To: Senior Finance Manager
Fwd: Tax avoidance article
Hi,
I am forwarding you an email from a journalist. It came in via our press office, who passed it up the management chain and it ended up in my inbox.
Some of the basic facts stated in the draft article are correct:
* We do have arrangements in place with leading tax advisers for referrals of potential clients. We pay a commission for all such referrals, which the tax adviser is required to disclose to the client.
* Barry Crauder has been one of our largest clients for many years. He owns significant forested land and we manage that in return for our usual fee.
* We do not offer tax advice, or promote forestry as a tax-efficient investment. We simply offer a forestry management service as a paid service.
I would like you to address the following issues and I need your reply as a matter of some urgency.
Could we be accused of behaving unethically with respect to this aspect of our forestry management service?
Please draft a response that we can submit to Sonia Jones. Please also give an explanation for the Board as to how you will address the fact that the draft newspaper article clearly makes us appear to be unethical. We will consider your draft and related comments at a meeting this afternoon, before submitting anything.
Peter
To: Press Office, Wodd
From: Sonia Jones, reporter, Daily Gazette
Re: Tax avoidance article
I am seeking a response from Wodd concerning the activities of the celebrity Barry Crauder. We have established that Mr Crauder has been investing heavily in forestry in order to avoid paying tax on the considerable wealth that he has amassed from his show business career.
We believe that a significant part of this story is the relationship between forestry companies such as Wodd and professional tax advisers. When researching this story I posed as a wealthy investor and approached several firms that specialise in offering tax avoidance advice to high net worth individuals. Four of the firms whom I approached recommended a forestry scheme and specifically recommended Wodd to manage it for me. I believe that Wodd has a close relationship with these firms and possibly others.
I have attached a draft of my story. I have sufficient evidence to support every fact stated. I am writing in order to give Wodd the opportunity to respond if it wishes to do so, although the story will run regardless. I will require your comment within 48 hours, otherwise, I will run the story as it stands.
Sonia Jones
Chief reporter, Daily Gazette
It is now three days since the start of the oil spillage crisis.
You have received the following email from William Seaton, Director of Finance:
From: William Seaton, Director of Finance
To: Finance Manager
Subject: Crisis management issues
Hi,
A quick update on the latest developments.
We have brought Block Associates in to lead the operations on dealing with the oil spill. It has assigned one of its leading consultants to take charge of this for us. We have paid Block Associates an annual retainer for many years, but we have never actually had to call on its services because we have been able to contain any environmental problems using our own resources.
Using Block Associates is going to be expensive. It insists on being free to bring in whatever equipment and personnel are required to resolve matters and to charge that on the basis of cost plus 25%. Our annual retainer is simply the cost of ensuring that it will respond on this basis if required.
We have had some murmurings of discontent already because our own engineers and geologists have made significant progress in identifying the cause of the spillage and they believe that they are capable of bringing it to a successful conclusion. They have suggested that it would be both quicker and cheaper to leave them in charge, while retaining the option to bring in Block Associates at a later date if they fail.
* Firstly, what factors should we take into account in deciding whether to leave our own experts in charge of this operation rather than using Block Associates?
* Secondly, how should we manage our relationship with Block Associates if we decide that it should be used?
* Thirdly, two things: The Board is concerned that Slide's engineers and geologists have already become disillusioned by the decision to consider calling in Block Associates. We cannot afford to lose their commitment or to see them decide to leave Slide in the longer term. I need you to provide me with some ideas as to how we can motivate them to give their best performance for the duration of this crisis AND to inspire them to remain in Slide's employment after the crisis has been resolved.
William
Three months has passed since the discussion concerning Fouce Oil's proposal.
You have received the following email from William Seaton, Director of Finance:
From: William Seaton, Director of Finance
To: Finance Manager
Subject: Fouce Oil's proposal to collaborate on exploration
Hi,
After deliberating at length on the various discussions that we have had with Fouce Oil since its initial approach, we have decided to proceed.
We need to work out some important details, otherwise this venture will be a disaster.
Please draft a report that covers the following matters:
* Should we create a formal coaching and mentoring scheme, whereby members of Fouce Oil's exploration staff will receive guidance from their counterparts at Slide? Please explain the advantages and disadvantages of doing so very clearly.
* Please explain how best to organise a formal coaching and mentoring scheme, if we decide that we should create one.
* How should we manage the business relationship between the two companies' exploration staff for the duration of this arrangement?
* What are the difficulties associated with decision-making on exploration issues and how should we address those?
The collaboration goes live in a few weeks and so I need your input urgently so that I can get things moving.
William
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