Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Case Notes
Chapter 5: Exercising Ethical Influence
Case Study 5.1: Moving Beyond Empowerment at Morning Star
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Morning Star, the world’s largest tomato processor, claims to go beyond empowerment by
eliminating managers altogether. Every worker is responsible for creating a personal mission
statement that furthers the corporate mission statement. Each employee negotiates an annual
Self-management at Morning Star encourages workers to take initiative and to develop their
expertise. Nonetheless, it takes new workers a significant amount of time to adjust and the
system breaks down if colleagues fail to confront poor performers. Self-management
experiments have failed at other businesses and may not work in very large corporations.
Learning Objectives
• Students will analyze the self-management system at Morning Star.
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Discussion Guide
Some might be enthusiastic about working at Morning Star; others might find it hard to work
there. Broaden the discussion to identify the merits and demerits of self-management, whether
Case Study 5.2: How to Win Friends and Influence People While Stealing Billions
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Low Taek Jho (better known as Joh Low) looted billions from Malaysia’s 1MBD development
fund. Low used his networking skills and image to carry out his thefts, building a relationship
Learning Objectives
• Students will identify examples of unethical impression management.
• Students will determine the moral responsibility of those who are deceived by unethical
impression management.
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
Discussion Guide
As the case notes, many observers were puzzled that Jho Low, young and inexperienced, could
carry off such a gigantic fraud. See if class members share that view. Then solicit examples of
others, like Bernie Madoff, who have created false images to defraud others. (Google “Ponzi
Case Study 5.3: “No One Calls to Say ‘I Love You’”: Emotional Labor at the Call
Center
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Customer service representatives at large call centers engage in more emotional labor than
personnel in other service occupations. They interact more frequently with the public and must
do their emotional work through their voices, all while being closely monitored. Worse yet, they
are more likely to encounter dysfunctional customers because callers generally have a problem
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Learning Objectives
• Students will identify the demands of service work at call centers.
Discussion Guide
Highlight the special emotional demands placed on call center operators and take examples of
other highly demanding emotional labor, like working in crowded restaurants and bars. Any who
have worked at call centers can confirm if their experience was similar to that described in the