Case Study: Is It Ever OK to Break a Promise?

Editor’s note: This fictionalized case study will appear in a forthcoming issue of Harvard Business Review, along with commentary from experts and readers. If you’d like your comment to be considered for publication, please be sure to include your full name, company or university affiliation, and e-mail address.

 

To: Patrick Fishburn, Asst. Manager, Operations

From: Sameer Hopskin, Asst. Manager, Operations

Date: January 20, 2012 20:41

Subject: RE: lunch today?

thanks for the burritos—and the advice. i’m totally convinced i need to go for the MBA and move into the business side of things. i’ve learned a lot here, but i can’t be a college-educated factory hand forever! but man the tuition is crazy expensive!

To: Ioana Romana, VP Operations

From: Sameer Hopskin

Date: January 23, 2012 14:18

Subject: Meeting with Mr. Baba

Dear Ioana,

I want to ask a big favor: I’d like a meeting with Mr. Baba to discuss the possibility of the company sponsoring me in an MBA program. I’m sure that I could add a lot of value if I had more business training.

In my time at BABA, I’ve had four promotions and consistently high evaluations. I can do the job of just about anyone in the factory and can work most of the software the engineering guys use. But I feel pretty far behind on the business side of things.

Please help me get a meeting with Mr. Baba. If he agrees to sponsor my MBA, I’ll be able to bring so much more to this company.

Sincerely,

Sameer

To: Sameer Hopskin

From: Ioana Romano

Date: January 23, 2012 14:42

Subject: RE: Meeting with Mr. Baba

Hi Sameer,

As I mentioned, Anil doesn’t think it makes sense for us to send people off to do MBAs. He thinks it’s best to have our employees “get their hands dirty” and give them the training they need here.

He’s also worried that they’ll leave the company if they get “fancy credentials.” Manufacturing is not the most glamorous business, and MBA recruiters are known for tempting people into more “prestigious” careers. Anil is big on commitment. He still talks about one senior manager—a man he’d spent years teaching the business to—who left a while back after taking an executive education program and being wooed away by one of our competitors.

I’ll try to get you a meeting, but I wanted to give you this background first. Anil started this company 20 years ago, and it wasn’t easy to get it where it is today. He’s really a committed boss, and he expects the same from his employees.

Regards,

Ioana

To: Anil Baba, CEO

From: Ioana Romano

Date: January 23, 2012 17:52

Subject: Sponsoring an MBA

Hi Anil,

Sameer Hopskin has worked for us for five years. He joined just after completing his BS in engineering and has had an excellent progression with the company. He’s part of my operations team now, and he hopes to transition to a management position. I think his real goal is to work more closely with you at headquarters?

He’s hoping we’ll give him a one-year leave of absence to do an MBA, and that we’ll cover his tuition.

I know you don’t like this kind of thing in general, but I think you should meet with Sameer. He’s a real asset to us. Will you do that for me?

Respectfully,

Ioana

To: Ioana Romano

From: Anil Baba

Date: January 23, 2012 18:37

Subject: RE: Sponsoring an MBA

Fine. Tell him to come to my office tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp.

To: Ioana Romano

From: Sameer Hopskin

Date: January 24, 2012 10:17

Subject: Never Give Up

Dear Ioana,

Thanks for arranging for me to meet with Mr. Baba. I really appreciate it.

Unfortunately, Mr. Baba was not keen on my idea. I know he is a very successful man, but I think he may not appreciate fully what I could add to this company with some formal business training. The landscape is getting more competitive and complex. Surely the company could benefit from a more contemporary perspective.

I know Mr. Baba really respects you. I would really be grateful if you would talk to him again. I am a loyal employee. Please help me get Mr. Baba to understand that.

Thanks in advance,

Sameer

To: Ioana Romano

From: Anil Baba

Date: January 29, 2012 05:02

Subject: RE: Sponsoring an MBA

You’re right about that Sameer kid. He reminds me of me. If he works hard for a few more years I can see him on my team. See what we can do to keep him around.

To: Anil Baba

From: Ioana Romano

Date: February 3, 2012 12:17

Subject: RE: RE: Sponsoring an MBA

Dear Anil,

I talked with HR, and we can structure a contract so that Sameer Hopskin will be obligated to work here for at least three years after finishing his MBA. If he leaves beforehand—and Legal says there’s nothing we can do to make that impossible—he’ll be required to repay us for his tuition.

Sameer is a good kid, and I think he’s right about the advantages of having a few more MBAs around here. This investment might not look so bad if you consider how much we paid those consultants last year.

Should I push this forward with HR?

All the best,

Ioana

To: Ioana Romano

From: Anil Baba

Date: February 3, 2012 12:27

Subject: RE: RE: RE: Sponsoring an MBA

Get HR to draft the contract, and have that guy with the Russian name in Legal look it over. He doesn’t miss a thing.

If this kid comes back in two years working for one of those consulting shops and charging us $10,000 a day, we’ll pay him out of your salary.

To: Sameer Hopskin

From: Ioana Romano

Date: February 6, 2012 13:42

Subject: RE: Never Give Up

Sameer,

I talked to Anil, and he’s open to sponsoring your MBA. I also talked with HR about how to formalize this. The deal is the company would pay your tuition and commit to a position (with a promotion) upon completion of the degree. You would be obligated to work here for three full years; otherwise, you would have to repay the tuition. It’s a pretty standard setup—more or less what the consulting firms do.

That’s the legal part of it. But I don’t want to offer you this unless we settle something more important. As you know, Anil’s main worry is that you won’t return after your MBA. It’s not about the money. It’s about the precedent. If you set a good example, Anil may see value in sending more of our people to get their MBAs, something I know several others, including your friend Patrick, are interested in. But if you violate his trust, no one else will get the chance. You have to promise that you’re going to bring all your new knowledge and skills back to this company.

Sincerely,

Ioana

To: Ioana Romana

From: Sameer Hopskin

Date: February 6, 2012 13:49

Subject: RE: RE: Never Give Up

Dear Ioana,

Thank you so much. I am fully committed to BABA. I will study hard and come back to really help this company grow.

Faithfully,

Sameer

To: Sameer Hopskin

From: Patrick Fishburn

Date: February 6, 2012 20:41

Subject: RE: MBA here I come

dude that’s amazing! you’re totally paving the way for the rest of us!

To: Raji Hopskin

From: Sameer Hopskin

Date: May 12, 2013 21:37

Subject: RE: RE: Back to School

Mom,

Tell dad I gave Mr. Baba the bottle of whisky he sent. Mr. Baba asked for your address; so I assume he’ll be sending you a thank-you note. He’s old school just like dad. Please thank dad again and tell him I did look Mr. Baba in the eye when I shook his hand today. (By the way, I don’t need any more lessons in “how to be a man.”)

Love,

Sammy

To: Sameer Hopskin

From: Lucia Baltimore, HR

Date: August 15, 2012 09:49

Subject: Tuition Payment Confirmation

Dear Sameer,

I confirm receipt of the signed contract. We have made a bank transfer, and your tuition is paid. Regarding your last question: Yes, your medical insurance will remain active. There is no cost to you.

See you in a year.

Lucia Baltimore

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Patrick Fishburn

Date: June 6, 2013 20:16

Subject: catching up

dude, how is b-school wrapping up? things are good here. they gave me your old job, and i’m learning a lot. i’m psyched to do an mba myself. peace, p

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Dana Knight, Principal, Zeisberger Assoc.

Date: June 8, 2013 07:12

Subject: Employment Opportunity

Mr. Hopskin,

I work with Zeisberger Associates, an executive search firm, and we represent a client who is interested in your profile. It is a startup in Silicon Valley with some serious VC backing. Your background in engineering and manufacturing, together with your stellar MBA performance, is really appealing to the company.

Can we arrange a meeting to discuss?

Cheers,

Dana Knight

To: Dana Knight

From: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

Date: June 8, 2013 07:22

Subject: RE: Employment Opportunity

Dear Ms. Knight,

I have class all day, but I can talk this evening after 6.

Sorry to ask, but how did you find me?

Thanks,

Sameer

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Dana Knight

Date: June 8, 2013 07:25

Subject: RE: RE: Employment Opportunity

Sameer, we looked through your school’s CV book. Your profile is clearly the best fit for this job. Trust me, it’s a very cool company. Silicon Valley, amazing office with a tennis court, gourmet lunches, jazz playing all the time, etc. I would so work there! Talk at 6. Cheers, Dana

To: Dana Knight

From: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

Date: June 8, 2013 19:21

Subject: RE: RE: RE: Employment Opportunity

Dear Dana,

I really appreciate your time today. The job does sound perfect. As I said, however, my company is sponsoring me, and I promised my boss I would return. I wouldn’t be here without their support. I need to think about this.

Thanks again,

Sameer

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Dana Knight

Date: June 14, 2013 19:26

Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Employment Opportunity

They loved you! But their investors are on their Board, so management is being pushed to fill critical vacancies ASAP. Sorry but they want a decision quickly. You said your contract requires you to pay back your tuition. I can try to arrange for WeDiggIt to cover those costs. As long as you honor the contract, you’re fine. Cheers.

From: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

To: Raji Hopskin

Date: June 14 2013 23:47

Subject: RE: RE: Tough Decision!

Mom,

I still can’t figure out what to do. I feel really bad about all this. I didn’t look for it. They came to me! I know how you and dad feel, but the new job is an unbelievable opportunity—with a salary twice what I’d be making at BABA. When I promised Ioana I’d go back, there’s no way I could have predicted this. Please make sure dad knows that the world is different these days. Things are more competitive now.

Love,

Sammy

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Ioana Romano

Date: June 15 2013 18:22

Subject: RE: Headhunter

Sameer,

That’s pretty common. Headhunters have approached me several times in my career. I appreciate the heads-up. (No pun intended.) I presume you told them you already have a job?

See you soon,

Ioana

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Lucy Vinapola, HR Manager, WeDiggIt

Date: June 22 2013 10:14

Subject: Offer of Employment

Dear Mr. Hopskin,

I have attached your offer, with an annual base salary of $146,000 and a sign-on bonus of 50% of your MBA tuition. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Yours,

Lucy Vinapola

To: Sameer Hopskin (MBA)

From: Ioana Romano

Date: June 23 2013 18:22

Subject: RE: RE: RE: Headhunter

Sameer,

The job sounds fantastic. I get it. I just want to remind you that you gave us your word you would come back. I want the person I supported then to make this decision, the one who swore to me he’d help the company that helped him. I trust you’ll do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Ioana

Question:  Should Sameer return to BABA or take the WeDiggIt offer?

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