Society for Case Research MBAA 2023

6
Experience level: 
Beginner
Intended Audience: 
Faculty
Authors: 
Kimberly R Shannon, CPA PhD, Teo Shannon, MFA, Marcy A Faircloth, JD, Malgorzata Plecka PhD

What does it mean to be a partnerr?

The embryo case study considers the dynamics in a professional services environment surrounding the promotion of women to top management (partner). The case study presents three perspectives to help students understand that although comments and attitudes might not be wrong, they may create barriers for certain people (women, people of color, other marginalized identities including an intersection of identities). The case helps students to recognize that many perspectives about work/life priorities and many understandings for what it is to be a “leader” exist. Moreover, students will consider how these differing understandings might create ethical dilemmas, misunderstandings and toxic work environments. Students will be asked to identify various leadership styles, analyze organizational behavior, consider ethical impacts, and suggest possible interventions for business cultures such as the one presented in the case. The case study is grounded in actual data collected but has been fictionalized so any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.