You’ve got to be kidding me, Fatima thought to herself as she received the e-mail from her boss. She reread thee-mail hoping that something would change on the screen: “Fatima, I need you to prepare a presentation of what our company has done in the past year for Mrs. Jorgensen. She’s old, keep it simple. Leave out any of the complex material because it will probably just bore her anyways.—John.”Fatima joined R & R Consulting right after Anthony Jorgensen, the founder and CEO, had passed away. WhilePenelope Jorgensen inherited the major stake in the firm and was still listed as the firm’s CEO, the day-to-day running of operations was given to John Preston, the chief operating officer. Fatima stared at her screen and wondered to what extent she should follow John’s advice and “keep it simple.”She’d only met Mrs. Jorgensen twice, but she’d always seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about the inner workings of the firm. Sure Mrs. Jorgensen wasn’t an expert in the field, but should she be treated like a helpless little old lady? Not only is that sexist, but it’s also completely ageist! On the other hand, John’s words may have been chosen poorly, but maybe all Mrs. Jorgensen really wanted was a quick snapshot of what’s going on here? Fatima sat in silence for a few minutes, opened up PowerPoint, and just stared at her monitor trying to figure out the best way to proceed.
1. Do you think John’s e-mail to Fatima expressed unethical audience analysis? Why or why not?
2. How do you think Fatima should proceed?
Guide On Rating System
Vote
1. Yes, John's email to Fatima expressed unethical audience analysis. By asking Fatima to leave out complex material and assuming that Mrs. Jorgensen would be bored by it, John is making assumptions about her intelligence and capabilities solely based on her age. This is both ageist and disrespectful towards Mrs. Jorgensen.
2. Fatima should approach the situation by treating Mrs. Jorgensen with respect and assuming that she is capable of understanding more complex material. Rather than simplifying the presentation, Fatima could provide a balanced overview of the company's achievements that includes both high-level information as well as more in-depth details for those who have a deeper understanding of the industry. This way, Fatima will cater to a wider audience and show respect towards Mrs. Jorgensen's knowledge while still providing an accessible presentation. Fatima should also consider discussing this matter with her boss, John, to voice her concerns about his email and ensure a fair approach towards Mrs. Jorgensen.
Got a question with my answer?
Cheapmath.com is completely free!
Asking question is free.
Getting answers is free.
+99