Download Panel Discussion Outline

Impact 2006 Panel Discussion Outline
Panel Discussion Topic: Winning At Any Cost?
Panelists:
• Lisa Abe, Senior Partner, Fasken Martineau
• Paul Doherty, Interim Director, CBET, UW
• Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, President, WellPoint Health Services
Audience: All 300 Leadership Conference Delegates
Date & Time: Saturday, November 18, 9:00AM-10:00AM
Purpose:
To educate prospering entrepreneurs, the minds of our future, on the secrets of a
corporation’s success. Further, this session will hopefully provide delegates with various
perspectives on the ethical issues underlying key business decisions.
Introduction:
Barry Bisson, President of Shad International will introduce all panelists.
Opening Question:
Which of the three elements would you consider to be key success factors for an
organization’s success and why?
a) Effective Marketing
b) Customer Attainment
c) Talented Employees
(Allow for each panelist to answer the question. Then ask specific questions that relate to
what each panelist answered. ie: if Greg Brill, CEO of Infusion, chose “Talented
Employees” – ask him a question which pertain to that then open the floor to other
panelist who would like to answer the question.)
Ethical Questions Regarding Key Success Factors Regarding…
a) Effective Marketing:
¾ As effective marketing strategies build strong images of a company, its’ products,
or services…
- It is right for firms to use provocative advertisements to capture the audience’s
interest? An example would be the WSIB where they employ graphic
commercials to grasp the attention of viewers.
¾ More often than not, marketing has based its effectiveness by placing a strong
emphasis on certain stereotypes to help drive their products. (Find an example of
an Axe Commercial).
-
Do you feel that corporations have a social responsibility not to promote
negative stereotypes?
How far do you feel companies should go in promoting healthier social
values?
¾ As large corporations have the competitive advantage of having a more
established financial standing, what marketing strategies can smaller, even newly
established companies, adapt in order to compete with these rival giants?
b) Customer Attainment:
¾ A business’ very means of survival and prosperity depends on its ability to attract
consumers and attain them. With that being said…
- Do you feel that is it right for a firm to spy on rival firms in order to develop
strategies to steal their clientele?
- If you have a potential large client, would it be justified to lavish them with
gifts? Have you found it was worth it?
¾ With smaller companies starting out, each client can be pivotal to its success.
- What should an entrepreneur do if an opportunity arises where the client has a
misapprehension about the product, or terms of the agreement, and clarifying
this misapprehension would probably result in a loss of their business?
c) Talented Employees:
¾ Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “If a man can write a better book, preach a
better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor,…the world will
make a beaten path to his door.” Emerson’s lesson is clear – there is always a
demand for talented workers, if a firm fails to embrace his stars, someone else
will.
- Is it ethical for firms to steal top performing stars from competing
organizations?
(If time permits – open the floor to delegates to ask questions.)
(Summary of key points/closing remarks)