Abstract

US-based 1-Page, a talent management firm, which used proprietary software to connect employees with prospective employers was founded by Joanna Riley (Riley). Riley was of the view that the conventional Resumé was losing its reliability and significance and there was a need for an effective alternative method that promised a better strike rate and a reliable hiring solution. Inspired by a book authored by her father Pat Riley, ‘One Page Proposal’, Riley came up with business software, which promised a more emphatic, smart, and efficient way of presenting a job proposal to the employers. Riley then introduced a software-as-a-service platform, which presented the job seekers as innovators and idea-generators. In November 2014, 1-Page acquired Branchout from Facebook for $ 5.4 million. But it could not take advantage of the millions of profiles with Branchout as Facebook objected to it. This has led to problems in 1-Page, and the clients who subscribed for its services did not renew those. The existing software could not meet the clients’ expectations, which impacted the company’s business. While Riley wanted to come up with new strategies to revive 1-Page, the board had replaced her with a new CEO.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Examine the Traits of an entrepreneur
• Discuss the importance of Ethics in entrepreneurship
• Analyze the Role of ethics in the sustenance of entrepreneurial ventures

Keywords

Entrepreneurship; Ethics in Entrepreneurship; Recruitment; Technology in Recruitment; Governance; Role of Board; Backdoor listing; Silicon Valley Entrepreneur; Hiring Solutions; Proprietary Software; Sustenance of Entrepreneurial Ventures.