The Fijian Experience-The Tau Experience

1. Case Summary

This case of “The Fijian Experience-The Tau Experience” tells us about that Brett Taylor was an American expatriate owner-manager of Shangri-La Fijian Resort (FIJIAN) at Yanuca Island and he faced a problem that happened at Lagoon Terrace Restaurant which involved Moala Tukana, an Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, also a supervisor of the restaurant and Salome Suacake, a trainee waitress of the restaurant.

The Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort (FIJIAN) is a world international hotel and has a strong reputation throughout the world for more than 30 years old. It has 450 rooms with more than 800 employees which most of them are from the indigenous Fijians and had served for the hotel for more than 10 years.

The incident happened when Salome worked at the restaurant for first three month. When Salome, an indigenous Fijian was caught red-handed taking money from customers by Mr Brett Taylor. According to Salome, she did it for church financial and not for herself. While at the same time, Moala could not do anything because of his Tau relationship with Salome and he has to keep it shut and pretend nothing is wrong.

As the owner-manager of FIJIAN Hotel, Brett Taylor acknowledges the complexity of local customs and practices. However felts that local staff shall not take advantage of management’s tolerance to such practices; and sees a need to address this situation.

2.0        Problem Statement

The local staff was involved in misconduct issue and took advantage on company policies’ tolerance towards local traditional practices and customs.

Salome, commits in fraud for the first two months. As she works with dedicative manner and performs well until the third month she started to misbehave and steal customer’s money. After that, rumours has been spread but no one take any action because of no proof of her doing that until she was caught red-handed by Mr Brett Taylor himself. Then, Moala also in silent action after he know that Salome’s misbehaviour on stealing customer’s money. After he was suspended by Mr Brett Taylor, he admits his wrong doing for not taking any action towards Salome even after he knew Salome’s misbehaviour as he was bounded with their custom belief in ‘Tau Relationship’. Mr Brett Taylor is facing the dilemma in decision making especially towards his right handed manager, Moala Tukana. His decision right now is involving the professionalism of his staff in work field and the local custom issue. He needs to make a right decision which will not hurt the Fijian as this is a very sensitive issue but at the same time his decision must also be firm and fair for the FIJIAN’s credibility and fairness so the staffs will not be able to repeat the same crime or mistake.