DECISION REPORT

HOLMESAFE LTD.

SITUATION ANALYSIS

 Holmesafe Ltd is an emerging start-up in the security space.

 It was a started as a single product company by an engineer, George Holmes in his personal
workshop.
 Over the year this company has grown significantly and added an advisory services vertical too.
 There is significant demand for the company’s products and the business has been profitable in both
the years.
 Things are looking good with business prospering.
 Holmes has had some of his old friends join him in his business which they operate part time.
 Holmesafe also recently recruited fulltime employees and shifted to new premises.
 Holmes has invested significantly in networking and has maintained personal relationship with his
clients and till a certain extend relies on these relations to push his sales too.
 Most prominent of these, is his relationship with Jackson, who is a procurement manager at Smith’s
Ltd., Holmesafe’s largest client.
 During the course of these years, Jackson was also offered a job at Holmesafe but refused to take it
up as there was a conflict of interest.
 One day, Holmes finds himself in a tricky situation when Jackson calls him and hints at his bleak
cash situation and how a little more cash will help him.
 Jackson also subtly threatens Holmes that Smith’s might start buying from Browns instead of
Holmesafe.
 Although there is enough demand in the market and the security segment is growing, Holmes still
has to think whether he can afford to lose the contract with Smith’s.
 Holmes has to evaluate this situation carefully and weigh his options of how to deal with Jackson.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
How should Holmes respond to Jackson?

OPTIONS
1. Offer Jackson a part time consultant role in Advisory Services
2. Help Jackson find a part time job in an external unrelated business
3. Offering Jackson 5% commission so that Smith's doesn't switch to Brown's
4. Not providing Jackson any assistance

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

1. Holmesafe’s survival
2. Sales
3. Conflict of interest
4. Ethics
EVALUATION OF OPTIONS
Survival of Impact on Sales Conflict of Ethical
Holmesafe Ltd. Interest (Y/N)
Offer Jackson a Y No change or ? Y
part time increase
consultant role
in Advisory
Services
Help Jackson Y No change or N Y
find a part time increase
job in an
external
unrelated
business
Offering Y No change or ? N
Jackson 5% increase
commission so
that Smith's
doesn't switch to
Brown's
Not providing ? Decrease N Y
Jackson any
assistance;
concentrate on
sales with other
buyers and
advisory
services

RECOMMENDATION
Help Jackson find a part time job in an external unrelated business - This will benefit everyone
involved as Holmes will help Jackson in the capacity of a friend and Holmesafe’s survival will also not be
affected. Jackson will find an alternate stream of income and his relationship with Holmes will continue to
be cordial. Moreover, it will be the most ethical choice and there would be no conflict of interest. This way
Holmesafe will be able to continue their sales to Smith’s.

PLAN OF ACTION
 Holmes should explain Jackson how a Job at Holmesafe would be counterproductive for everyone and
how he will help find him a job at an external business.
 Holmes by nature maintains good personal relationships with people around him. He would have
significant personal contacts that he can leverage and recommend Jackson to them for a Job.
 Also, he is joined by several of his friends at Holmesafe who can help Jackson find a job. Together they
can help find Jackson a job in their personal network.