You Are a Manager for a Large Financial Services Firm

Multiple Choice

You are a manager for a large financial services firm whose brokers trade stocks and bonds for individual customers. Your boss has provided you with your team's sales goals for the following six months. You know that the fastest way to achieve the lofty numbers is to recruit experienced brokers from competitor firms to join your firm. These professionals are likely to bring loyal clients who initiate a lot of trades, making you a clear winner in the eyes of top management. The current brokers in your department are good. They've worked hard and done everything you've asked of them. But they are young and inexperienced. There is a good chance they can achieve the sales goals, but it's not a sure thing. If you seek to recruit new brokers, your current brokers will move down in the ranks and will earn smaller commissions. Which of the following statements best describes this situation?

A) This demonstrates how a manager should always consider his current team of employees first otherwise these employees will be disgruntled and perform poorly.
B) This action is certain to have legal consequences, so you should clear it with your human resources department.
C) This describes an ethical dilemma between your personal goals and your responsibility as a manager of others.
D) This is an example where your values and top management's values are clearly in sync. You should follow the easier route to achieving your sales goals because profit is the highest ethical goal in any organization.