Case: Balancing Mission with National Regulators
Leader: Lucia Shen
Topic: Making Ethical Decisions
Case Challenge
Leading a media company in China, Lucia must decide whether or not to release a story after being threatened by authorities who are working to censor the content because it reveals implications of invasions of privacy and government wrongdoing.
Summary
Leading a media company in China, Lucia must decide whether or not to release a story after threats from authorities who are working to censor the content because it reveals implications of invasions of privacy and government wrongdoing. Balancing the importance of revealing the truth of government actions and the survival of her media company, Lucia struggles with how to manage the threat. She creatively finds a way to reveal the truth while reshaping the story.
Context
Lucia Shen is the CEO and Founder of a media company in China that produces short form documentaries on how Chinese millennials and Gen Z are shaping social changes and business innovations. Running a media business in China she faces challenges of self expression as the messaging does not always align with the government’s interests. She must balance her commitment to the truth and not being shut down by government regulators.
Case Design
These leadership cases are designed to be discussed in a group so that divergent viewpoints can be debated. This enables participants to broaden their perspectives and gain insights into the values and instincts that drive decision- making. Each video pauses to allow for discussion at key points in the leader’s presentation.
Keep in Mind
The cases do not always provide the correct or ideal solution. Rather, they present one person’s experiences and judgment based on the circumstances faced at the time. Some critical facts may also have been unintentionally omitted.
Facilitation Tips
To help create a trusting, open atmosphere:
- Establish ground rules for the discussion, such as setting up a safe space
- Feedback should not be personal but directed at behavior
- Encourage participants to state and defend his or her opinion
- Refocus participants by raising broad questions and themes
- Reassure your group that leadership is an art that can be learned through practice, feedback, and experience
- In closing, provide a theoretical context for the discussion and takeaway lessons
Teaching Insight - Leadership Background Content: Balancing truth with government messaging
Building a culture of truth in an organization is critical for inspiring confidence and trust with team members and a public audience. A commitment to the mission of quality reporting is especially important in this media company which purports to report the truth. As a result, the CEO of a company whose mission is to report the truth to its audiences must build a culture that holds true to its mission. When threatened by government authorities to change the message or stop reporting a story that reveals a hidden truth, it becomes an ethical decision of how to proceed. When factors influencing the company mission and purpose present themselves, a leader's vision, values, and grit are tested since taking action may be problematic and even more damaging than not taking action. As a result, weighing the pros and cons of addressing ethical dilemmas is an important factor when decision making. This video case is about a young leader who faces a tough decision that has the potential to jeopardize the underlying values and culture of her company, bringing to question whether or not her company is aligned with its vision and if she is a leader others would want to follow.
Video Segment 1
Background and Challenge: Leading a media company in China, Lucia must decide whether or not to release a story after being threatened by authorities who are working to censor the content because it reveals implications of invasions of privacy and/or government wrongdoing.
Discussion Questions:
Ask these questions to the class at large or to particular students. Encourage everybody to participate by seeking a variety of different opinions.
- How would you react if personally questioned or threatened by a very powerful representative of a regulatory body monitoring your work or company?
- What would you do differently if you knew that everything you are doing is being watched by a regulatory office?
- What do you think of the options that Lucia is considering regarding how to proceed after the threat: (1) shut down the media side of business and not deal with the risk or (2) go ahead with the piece that is meaningful and shares the truth around what is happening with content and posting consequences; or (3) another option (Note: This dilemma raises the question of how you might navigate as a business leader if your core values stand in the way of what the government wants to see or hear?)
- How would you involve your team in the decision making process?
Video Segment 2
Decision: Rather than completely complying with the government directive to not release the story, she works with her team to find a way to still share the essence of the story about the government wrongdoing while veiling it in a story that speaks to a topic important to the public the public.
Discussion Questions:
Ask these questions to the class at large or to particular students. Encourage everybody to participate by seeking a variety of different opinions.
- Do you think the importance of telling the true story outweighs the risks of disobeying directives from government regulators? Explain your answer.
- When Lucia meets with her team to talk through next steps, what are ways she can engage their help to find creative solutions to issue and/or address the threat while still releasing quality reporting about the danger of the monitoring technology?
- What is your reaction to Lucia when she says she is proud of her team to stand together and still have faith to produce controversial stories in spite of the risks? Explain your answer.
Video Segment 3
Results: Lucia and her team found a compromise by releasing the story about the surveillance technology in a story of teenage suicide, finding a nice balance of sharing the message while appeasing the government regulators eventhough it was not as direct as they had hoped. Their message was received positively by viewers, giving her a sense of success in spite of the circumstances.
Results Discussion Questions:
Ask these questions to the class at large or to individual students. Encourage everybody to participate by seeking a variety of different opinions.
- How do you think the compromise she found was able to balance competing interests and restrictions? Explain your answer.
- Why is it especially important when she says “the piece is still alive?
- Do you agree that Lucia ‘s message was successful even though it was measured by feedback that was qualitative, direct and timely? What other metrics would be important to consider?
- What are your metrics for success when you must compromise on something that matters to you?
Lessons Learned:
- You need to be honest and firm about the core values you are unwilling to give up and be flexible with how you proceed.
- Recognize your core values and find a way to keep doing what you believe in when faced with roadblocks or regulators
- When constrained, consider doing what is important to you, maybe in a different way while realizing you may have more freedom in the future.
Lessons Learned Discussion Questions:
- Do you agree with the lessons learned here? (Note: An instructor will need to mention the above lessons learned.)
- What is the danger of compromising your core values?
- When would it make sense to comply with government regulators and sacrifice of your core values?
Considerations
The lessons shared by this leader are based on his own experiences. These lessons are not necessarily substantiated by academic research but are shared to spark consideration and insight.