Full Version: Lying On or Padding a Resume
Radio Shack is a Fort Worth corporation founded in 1919 by David L. Tandy, father of the late Charles Tandy. In recent days, the company’s CEO, Dave Edmondson, has come under attak for lying on his resume.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/13886160.htm
The questions for debate are simple:
1. Should Radio Shack fire Edmondson?
2. Is Radio Shack’s support for Edmondson really the kiss of death? Do you think they will fire him?
QUOTE
FORT WORTH -- RadioShack Chief Executive Dave Edmondson acknowledged Wednesday evening that he misstated his academic record, prompting the board of directors to seek independent legal counsel to investigate the matter.
<snip>
Edmondson told the Star-Telegram last week that he spent the 1977-78 academic year as an on-campus student at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College and finished a Th.G. program in theology by correspondence while working at a church in Colorado. He said his pastor at the church advised him in his studies and was his liaison to the school during the two years he took correspondence courses.
Edmondson's former pastor, Ron Hoover, who is now retired and living in Missouri, said Tuesday that he did not recall Edmondson working to finish his degree at Pacific Coast Baptist when the two men worked together at Security Baptist Temple in Colorado.
<snip>
Edmondson told the Star-Telegram last week that he spent the 1977-78 academic year as an on-campus student at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College and finished a Th.G. program in theology by correspondence while working at a church in Colorado. He said his pastor at the church advised him in his studies and was his liaison to the school during the two years he took correspondence courses.
Edmondson's former pastor, Ron Hoover, who is now retired and living in Missouri, said Tuesday that he did not recall Edmondson working to finish his degree at Pacific Coast Baptist when the two men worked together at Security Baptist Temple in Colorado.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/13886160.htm
The questions for debate are simple:
1. Should Radio Shack fire Edmondson?
2. Is Radio Shack’s support for Edmondson really the kiss of death? Do you think they will fire him?
1. Should Radio Shack fire Edmondson?
Not purely for the resume inaccuracy, no. If he were claiming to have an MBA specialising in economics retailing, and it turned out to be a mail-order diploma in home economics, then he should be fired on the spot.
However, I don't see how even the B.S. in Theology he originally claimed is remotely relevant or useful to his job as CEO of a consumer electronics retailer, so in simple qualifications terms, I don't think it matters.
What is more concerning is his history of dissembling about it (not to mention his DUI conviction, which I'd say was grounds for disciplinary proceedings on it's own; if he was drunk in charge of his car, maybe he was drunk in charge of the business too.). His certificate got burned in a fire? That's one step away from claiming that the dog ate his homework.
The core question for the Radio Shack board should be, in my mind, whether or not Edmondson was an effective CEO. If he was, his diploma could be in Circus Clowning and it wouldn't much matter.
If he wasn't, this route may simply be a way to get rid of him without having to honour the clause he's probably got in his contract that he has to be paid his full year's salary, plus all the bonuses and share options.
The only required action would be to sack the recruitment consultancy or HR manager that hired him, since they clearly didn't do their homework. If you have to fire someone within a year of hiring them, then your own recruitment and selection processes are at least as much to blame as the poor schmuck who has risen to his or her level of imcompetence.
2. Is Radio Shack’s support for Edmondson really the kiss of death? Do you think they will fire him?
This reminds me of the kind of "they have my full confidence" statement so beloved of British Prime Ministers the day before they fire the Minister in question.
You may well be right. Put it this way, I would not be very surprised if he was fired. And despite any board failings revealed by their choice of hiring someone so unsuitable that they have to fire him less than a year later, at least they recongnise their mistake early on and didn't do an Enron and collude in the deception.
Not purely for the resume inaccuracy, no. If he were claiming to have an MBA specialising in economics retailing, and it turned out to be a mail-order diploma in home economics, then he should be fired on the spot.
However, I don't see how even the B.S. in Theology he originally claimed is remotely relevant or useful to his job as CEO of a consumer electronics retailer, so in simple qualifications terms, I don't think it matters.
What is more concerning is his history of dissembling about it (not to mention his DUI conviction, which I'd say was grounds for disciplinary proceedings on it's own; if he was drunk in charge of his car, maybe he was drunk in charge of the business too.). His certificate got burned in a fire? That's one step away from claiming that the dog ate his homework.
The core question for the Radio Shack board should be, in my mind, whether or not Edmondson was an effective CEO. If he was, his diploma could be in Circus Clowning and it wouldn't much matter.
If he wasn't, this route may simply be a way to get rid of him without having to honour the clause he's probably got in his contract that he has to be paid his full year's salary, plus all the bonuses and share options.
The only required action would be to sack the recruitment consultancy or HR manager that hired him, since they clearly didn't do their homework. If you have to fire someone within a year of hiring them, then your own recruitment and selection processes are at least as much to blame as the poor schmuck who has risen to his or her level of imcompetence.
2. Is Radio Shack’s support for Edmondson really the kiss of death? Do you think they will fire him?
This reminds me of the kind of "they have my full confidence" statement so beloved of British Prime Ministers the day before they fire the Minister in question.
You may well be right. Put it this way, I would not be very surprised if he was fired. And despite any board failings revealed by their choice of hiring someone so unsuitable that they have to fire him less than a year later, at least they recongnise their mistake early on and didn't do an Enron and collude in the deception.
1. Should Radio Shack fire Edmondson?
On the basis of having a Th.G instead of a B.S., no they shouldn't fire him. But the bigger question is, how does a Theologian end up being a Corporate CEO. The slight inaccuracy on his resume is nothing compared to the Grand theft that people like Ken Lay and Jimmy Swaggert have committed.
Now if he just happens to be an incompetent CEO, then he should get demoted to a position of less responsibility and accept a more modest salary.
On the basis of having a Th.G instead of a B.S., no they shouldn't fire him. But the bigger question is, how does a Theologian end up being a Corporate CEO. The slight inaccuracy on his resume is nothing compared to the Grand theft that people like Ken Lay and Jimmy Swaggert have committed.
Now if he just happens to be an incompetent CEO, then he should get demoted to a position of less responsibility and accept a more modest salary.
This has played out in a predictable way. Dave Edmondsaon has resigned.
Somehow, I would guess he had a little encouragement from those in the organization.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/13923262.htm
Somehow, I would guess he had a little encouragement from those in the organization.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/13923262.htm
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