Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Case 15.1: Choosing a Research Assistant
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Dr. Angi Dirks must select a summer research assistant. Four candidates were identified, and
Dr. Dirks seems to prefer Roberto and Michelle because they both have flexible schedules
over the summer. Roberto is an international student who receives high course evaluations, is
well-liked, and needs a job to help pay for school. Michelle is an exceptional graduate
student who plans to pursue a PhD, but does not seem to need the income from the summer
work as much as some of the other candidates. Carson receives excellent grades, is high
achieving, cares for his family, and works outside of school. He could use the income, but
Angi seems unsure about his flexibility due to other demands on his time. Finally, other
Learning Objectives:
• Students should be able to evaluate an ethical issue in hiring by applying
utilitarianism, egoism, and deontology.
Answers to questions in the text:
1. Of the four options available to Angi, which is the most ethical?
This is a difficult question, perhaps best answered by applying different ethical
theories or lenses.
Ethical egoism states that a person should act so as to create the greatest good for
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
2. Using the principles of distributive justice, who would Angi choose to become the
research assistant?
3. From Heifetz’s perspective, can Angi use this decision to help her department and
faculty face a difficult situation? Should she?
According to Heifetz, leaders should use authority to get people to pay attention to
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
4. Do you agree with Burns’s perspective that it is Angi’s responsibility to help
followers assess their own values and needs in order to raise them to a higher level that
will stress values such as liberty, justice, and equality? If so, how can Angi do that
through this situation?
Most students will agree that a leader should help followers assess their own values
Potential Teaching Approaches:
This case study is conducive to group discussions and exercises. Below is a way to structure
a class based on Leadership Ethics and Case Study 15.1:
• Hold a lecture on Kohlberg and ethical theories.
• Read Case Study 15.1 and answer Question 1, applying the theories.
Exercises for This case Study:
1. Break the students into four small groups. Each group is assigned a candidate and
2. Students should develop a framework for hiring that could assist in Angi’s
decision and for future decisions concerning the selection of research assistants.
The list must address what should be considered in the selection of a candidate.
3. Role-Play: Assign students roles for each character from the case and let the case
play out as outlined. At the end of the role-play, ask the student playing Dr. Dirks