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Harmony Case Study

harmony case study and solution

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54 views3 pages

Harmony Case Study

harmony case study and solution

Uploaded by

ayeshasiddique850
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Last Name 1

Ayesha Siddique

Professor’s Name

Course Number

Date

The Ethical Dilemma of Overstating Sales Revenue: A Case Study of Harmony

In this case study, I found Harmony, a senior accountant at a bank, in a tough spot. She

realizes that two branches of the bank have failed to meet their sales targets for the second

quarter in a row, which puts them at risk of closing. Concerned about the potential job losses,

Harmony considers overstating the sales revenue to make it seem like the branches have met

their goals. While I understand her desire to protect her colleagues, I believe her choice to

manipulate the numbers brings up serious ethical concerns.

From an ethical standpoint, Harmony’s decision to inflate the revenue figures is highly

problematic. I believe that accountants, including Harmony, are expected to uphold professional

standards such as integrity and transparency, as set by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

By inflating the numbers, Harmony would not be providing truthful information to the bank’s

leadership, and I think this is a direct violation of her duty. John C. Maxwell’s words resonate

with me: “Integrity is not a switch you can turn on and off. It is a way of life” (Maxwell 89). If

Harmony follows through with this, I think she would be damaging her professional reputation

and betraying the trust placed in her.

In my opinion, the consequences of her actions could be severe. If discovered, Harmony

could face disciplinary actions, such as losing her job, or even legal consequences for fraud. The

bank itself would likely suffer a loss of trust from customers and investors. I agree with financial

expert Howard Schilit, who says, “The price of a company’s stock is ultimately driven by its
Last Name 2

reputation for honesty and integrity” (Schilit 112). I believe that by manipulating the sales

numbers, Harmony risks not only her career but also the bank’s financial health.

Instead of falsifying the data, I think Harmony should consider other options. For

example, I would suggest she work with management to come up with a plan that supports the

struggling branches, like offering additional resources or training. I believe this would be a more

ethical approach and help maintain the trust of her peers and supervisors. As Peter Singer once

said, “We are responsible not only for our actions but also for the consequences of our

inactions” (Singer 27). I feel that taking ethical action, even if it’s hard, is the best way for

Harmony to move forward.


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Works Cited

AICPA. "Code of Professional Conduct." American Institute of CPAs,

www.aicpa.org/research/standards/codeofconduct.html. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Schilit, Howard. Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in

Financial Reports. McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Singer, Peter. The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty. Random House,

2009.

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