Temperatures Rising
Characters:
Zara: Actuary, Team Leader – Has risen rapidly within the company to her new role of Team Leader. She’s still finding her feet and is very aware she heads up a team where the other members have more experience than her. She is very driven and career-minded and keen to please Senior Management.
Lee: Actuary – A bit older and jaded. His focus is about company profitability (and ultimately his bonus!). He’s dismissive of what he considers fads and distractions (even if they are, in fact, formal regulations and requirements), and doing the bare minimum.
Serena: Actuary - An environmental activist, who loves that the company is ‘finally’ taking action on the topic. However, she can take this too far, and would gladly throw the company ‘under the bus’ and break the law to achieve her aims. As a result, she can also be equally dismissive of regulations.
Synopsis:
This scenario features a discussion about a risk framework to handle climate change within an insurance company. This gets out of hand, with neither of two extreme points of view (expressed by Lee and Serena) providing a worthwhile solution to exasperated Team Leader Zara. Both Lee and Serena are passionate about their personal opinions on the subject and how it relates to Actuarial work. Each think the other is being totally unrealistic. This scenario focusses on heated opinion driven discussions rather than climate change.
Discussion points:
The focus of this scenario is about the professional conduct we've witnessed, and not the merits of what action on climate change should be taken.
- What areas of the Actuaries’ Code (the Code) should Lee and Serena be mindful of?
- How do you remain professional in a heated discussion?
- How should the team react to the instruction handed down from the senior management?
- What do you think about Lee’s approach?
- What do you think about Serena’s approach?
- How can you resolve conflicts between personal and professional morality?