40. A licensee is the property manager for a shopping center. The shopping center owner tells the licensee to avoid internet marketing because the owner distrusts the technology. The licensee discusses this with the owner, but eventually complies. The licensee's compliance is due to the duty of
Answer: C
Compliance is due to the duty of obedience.
The licensee's action of complying with the owner's directive to avoid internet marketing is a reflection of the duty of obedience. This duty requires licensees to follow the lawful instructions of their clients or principals.
A) care.
The duty of care involves the responsibility of the licensee to act in the best interest of the owner by exercising reasonable skill and diligence. However, in this scenario, the licensee is not demonstrating care but instead is following the owner's instructions, which is not aligned with the definition of care.
B) loyalty.
The duty of loyalty requires the licensee to act in the best interest of the principal, avoiding conflicts of interest. While the licensee should prioritize the owner’s interests, the situation revolves around compliance with specific instructions rather than loyalty itself.
C) obedience.
The duty of obedience mandates that the licensee follows the lawful instructions given by the principal. In this case, the licensee complied with the owner's request to avoid internet marketing, illustrating the correct application of this duty.
D) fair dealing.
The duty of fair dealing focuses on the obligation to engage in honest and transparent practices in dealings with clients. Although important, it does not directly relate to the licensee's compliance with the owner’s specific directive regarding internet marketing.
Conclusion
The correct answer is clearly the duty of obedience, as it directly addresses the licensee's need to comply with the owner's instructions. Other duties, such as care, loyalty, and fair dealing, do not specifically pertain to the act of following directives in the same manner as obedience does. Thus, the scenario exemplifies the importance of obedience in the relationship between a property manager and a property owner.