Root Cause of the Issue of Re-Selling the Hard Drives

Root Cause of the Issue of Re-Selling the Hard Drives
Understanding the importance of making effective decisions is essential for any leader. It allows him to have a clear insight into his organization’s problems and effectively address them. In this article, the author would like to focus on the first scenario faced by Rodger Richardson. As said in the problem, Rodger is the IT manager of a small accounting firm that handles sensitive financial information for a number of clients. It is also his actions which is the root cause of the issue of re-selling the hard drives of their previously used computers. Thus, it is clear that this problem poses a significant risk not only to the firm’s operations but also to the security and safety of its clients. 
The IDEAL Method
           As the manager of an accounting firm, Roger’s actions are unacceptable. His knowledge and experience should have made him exert utmost caution in handling data, primarily since he works for a company that handles sensitive information. Thus, because of Roger’s actions, he also faces the possibility of being prosecuted for what he did based on Data Protection laws in the United States, including both federal and state laws (Ropesgray.com, 2022). This may even be considered corporate espionage, given that when he appropriated the hard drives containing information from his employer for his benefit, he became guilty of theft, which is one of the instances covered by laws on corporate espionage. 
Nonetheless, although Roger is clearly at fault in this case, the fact remains that the issue must be resolved as quickly and effectively as possible. This can be done with the help of the IDEAL method.  
           The first step in the IDEAL method is identifying the problem. Clearly, the problem, in this case, is the security threat that Roger’s acts caused both to the firm and its clients. This includes the possibility of their client’s data being downloaded and used for nefarious means, which ultimately creates a series of risks that affects a lot of stakeholders. 
           The second step in this method is defining one’s goals. Given the nature of the security risks that this issue poses, the general o...