E-Commerce Business Ethics Case Studies

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Slim Pickens
Age: 46

Awards:

Honorable Mention Ribbon "Cutest Dimple Contest"

Education:

B. A. International School of Music, Oslo Norway.
B. S. Stamford University, Stamford CT.
MBA Place University

Work History:

Playwright for the production of "I am no stranger than the next guy".
U.S. Dept of Transportation, Originator of luminous print for Road signs.
Bar and Grille owner, opened the first Road-Kill Café in Butte, Montana.
Creative writer, coined the phrase "You know you're a red neck when....

Notable experience:

Slim Pickens is an entrepreneur, having developed a number of businesses over the years in a variety of industries. He is independently wealthy and works because he enjoys start up operations. He generally moves away from the business once it is up, running and self-sustaining. He enjoys mentoring younger associates, a selfless man seldom taking any credit himself for his contributions to their success. Slim is an experienced performer having worked his way through school as a member of the barbershop quartet, Holy Moses, playing such memorable tunes as, "Please help us part the sea" and "I’d rather be an angel". Slim suggested the formation of the E-Kin operation while at a basement party with his future partners, while in a meditative state and enjoying Bob Marley tunes.

Sales/Marketing Director
Ken E. Sellit
Age: 33

Vices:

Compulsive-perfectionist who does everything to the extreme

Hobbies:

Avid golfer and extreme skier

Awards:

Toastmasters Most Improved Award
Zig Ziglar Most Improved Award
Dale Carnegie Most Valuable Student
Kiwanis Citizen of the Year
Rotary Man of the Year

Education:

Undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado
MBA – Place University

Marital Status:

Married with 7 children (11, 9, 7, 5, 3, twins – 18 months)

Work History:

Front Range Auto – Boulder, CO Part/time Car Salesman
Republic Software – Boulder, CO Software Salesman
Grade A Heifer, mail order steak and liver shop, Omaha, NE, Director of Sales & Marketing.
Currently is Sales/Marketing Director for E-Kin: 2 full/time sales people located in Omaha, NE; and Lincoln, NE and 5 part/time sales people located in Ann Arbor, MI; Iowa City, IA; Ames, IA; Austin, TX; and Miami, FL.

Vice President of Production
Jennifer Valley 
Age: 27

Hobbies:

Golf, volleyball, bicycling

Education:

B. S. University of Iowa, emphasis in Management Information Systems
MBA, Place University

Work History:

Systems Analyst, Mutual of Perkins
When E-Kin started Jennifer was in charge of both Production and Information Technology. These tasks became an overwhelming responsibility, so 9 months ago E-Kin hired Cam as the new CIO. Jennifer is currently still responsible for all of the production decisions that are made, but is no longer the key player with regards to Information Technology at E-Kin.

Chief Financial Officer
CFO
Won Dour Trump
Age: 34

Hobbies:

Gambling, prairie dog hunting, sailing with no moon, and body surfing

Awards:

Pine wood derby champion
Voted most likely to fail – High School Class of 19xx,
Entrepreneur of the Year (Business Magazine)

Education:

BS in Accounting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas
MBA from Central idaho State

Marital Status:

Currently single, divorced while in Cancun

Work History:

Founder of The Blooming Onion Machine Company (CEO/CFO), Boise, id
Sun Beach Resort, Cancun Mexico – Bartender, Returned to the states to pursue career.
Current Position: CFO E-Kin

Chief Information Officer
CIO
Cam Crawford
Age: 27

Vices:

None, I’m perfect.

Hobbies:

Baseball, golf, and playing the drums

Awards:

Named Texas Male Athlete of the Year
Outstanding Drummer award from the Bammies
Rookie of the Year Award from IBM
Student of the Month

Marital Status:

Married, wife’s name is Cindy.

Education:

BS Creighton University
MBA Creighton University

Work History:

IBM Contractor
Currently CIO for E-Kin

Customer Service/
Distribution Manager
Maria Whinnor
Age: 35

Vices:

Perfectionist - Always trying to please to serve/deliver the product on time
Determination - never a quitter (despite my last name)
Dependable - you can always count on Maria to stay until the job is done - which explains why I'm still single (but I'm not whining)

Hobbies:

Bike Riding, Volunteer at Humane Society, cleaning up cat hair

Awards:

Community Service awards for Humane Society
Service Award for Lack of Whining

Interests:

Cat Lover - own two cats or maybe they own me.
Development of a line of custom T-shirts for dogs and cats - old college professor came up with the idea.
Customer behavior during full moon phases (Why do calls increase at this time?) Time for Whiners" to come out.

Marital Status:

Single (still trying to balance work and play but I'm not whining)

Education:

BA in Marketing Pennsylvania State University (great mascot)
MBA Creighton University

Work History:

Quality Assurance for "Foods are Us" specializing in consumer complaints (10-years experience with dealing with satisfied and dissatisfied customers).
Current Position: Customer Service/Distribution Manager for E-Kin

Purchasing Director
Eric Zachary "EZ" Cash
Age: 45

Vices:

Meticulous, penny pincher. People call him "Cheap" behind his back.
Wears outdated clothes and says no to almost everything, a true pessimist.

Hobbies:

Antique, stamp, and coin collector.
Golfs when others pay his way. Computer "Geek".

Awards:

Regional "National Association of Purchasing Managers" Ethical award recipient Nebraska's Cheapest Man of the Year (given by his coworkers)

Education:

Undergraduate degree from Wayne State College
MBA University of Nebraska Omaha

Work History:

Buyer for AT & T
Purchasing Manager at Computer World, Inc.
Current Position: Purchasing Director for E-Kin

External Consultant
Noah Tahle
Age: 35

Vices:

Mint chocolate-chip ice cream.

Hobbies:

Membership with an exclusive gym that he never uses.
International travel.

Marital Status:

Divorced, two kids ages 4 and 6.

Education:

B. A., Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
M. A., Oxford University, Mansfield College, Oxford, England.

Work History:

Worked for large International public accounting firm providing business development and risk management services to clients.

Worked in Strategy and Product Development department of large US retail company with traditional retail outlets and extensive catalog sales.

1998- present: Established partnership with Bob Talze and created business consulting firm (Tahle-Talze Consulting). Emphasis is on small/medium size business development and e-commerce.