During the foul-mouthed film Clerks, a bunch of overgrown adolescents huddle around the counter of a convenience store, grappling with the ethics of Return of the Jedi. Was it moral to blow up the second Death Star, even though it wasn’t yet completed? As one says, “All those innocent contractors hired to do a job were killed — casualties of a war they had nothing to do with.” The banter continues until an actual contractor enters the shop and joins the conversation. “Speaking as a roofer,” he intones, “I can say that a roofer’s personal politics come heavily into play when choosing jobs… any contractor willing to work on that Death Star knew the risks. A roofer listens to this [he taps his heart], not his wallet.”
Consulting for the Evil Empire
During the foul-mouthed film Clerks, a bunch of overgrown adolescents huddle around the counter of a convenience store, grappling with the ethics of Return of the Jedi. Was it moral to blow up the second Death Star, even though it wasn’t yet completed? As one says, “All those innocent contractors hired to do a job […]
March 04, 2011
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New!
HBR Learning
Ethics at Work Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Ethics at Work. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.