Real-Life Decision Making
Since local museums represent the history of a particular community, they are also answerable to that community. Curators must ensure that their museum represents all the different aspects of the community equally.
Museums often depend, in part, on donations of money and artifacts from members of the community. While these donations are appreciated, they can create some problems for curators.
You are the curator of a small museum that is in serious financial trouble. Because of tough economic times, the community grants you have depended on in the past have not come through. You worry that you may have to cut back on the museum's hours of operation.
You send out requests for financial assistance to the community. One person comes forward with a large donation. You are grateful for the offer, since it is enough to solve the museum's financial woes, but you are uncomfortable with the conditions of the donation.
The person who made the offer comes from a prominent local family. He would like you to display several of his family heirlooms and dedicate an exhibit to his family's history.
You are uneasy with the offer. The museum really needs the money, but it has no exhibits of individual families. It might appear you are favoring this family. Still, that might be better than having to close the museum for half the day.
What do you do?