Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Case

Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma

BSAD 460

Franklin University

Professor Bethany Poore

Janelle Brown

June 26, 2015

Throughout this course we have learned a plethora of ways organizations can handle ethical situations.  Utilizing Trevino & Nelson’s Managing Business Ethics, we have learned step by step techniques that are invaluable to maintain or even work at any organization.  We learned corporate social responsibility, sound ethics in decision making, ethical approaches, and how to apply these techniques in real world situations which I will give an example of in the subsequent paragraphs.

        Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is outlined by Trevino and Nelson as a four tier pyramid that breaks down types of responsibility that must be considered simultaneously in an organization.  They are economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).  

 Economic responsibility is defined as the responsibilities of a business where its primary function is producing goods and services that consumers need and want (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).  Legal responsibilities in the pyramid are to carry out current laws and government regulations especially since laws are ever-changing.  Next ethical responsibilities encompass the more general responsibility to do what is avoid harm and do what is right.  So many times organizations choose not to do what benefits their most valuable stakeholders which are the customers.  Incorporating CSR is a great way to ensure all stakeholders are being treated fairly.  Philanthropic responsibilities are last on the tier.  They center on the corporation’s participation in activities that promote human welfare or goodwill generally through donations of time and money or products and services (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).  

Sound ethical decision making is a great way and my favorite way to check whether your organization is making the right ethical decisions when dilemmas arise.  The process consists of eight steps which they are following:

• Gather the facts.  Ask how did the situation occur and are there facts concerning the current situation that I should know about?
• Define the ethical issues and identify points of values conflict in the dilemma.
• Identify the affected parties (Stakeholders)
• Identify the consequences.  Look for the consequences that have a relatively high probability of occurring and those that would have a particularly negative consequence if they did occur.
• Identify the obligations involved and the reasons for each one.
• Consider your character and integrity.  Ask yourself what a person of integrity would do in this case.
• Think creatively about potential actions and don’t force yourself into a corner.
• Check your gut and be in tune with your emotions (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).

These steps can be applied to any ethical dilemma within an organization.  They make you stop and think rationally rather than making hasty decisions.  

We also learned about ethical approaches.  They are practical principles that can guide us in making the best ethical decisions (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).  Trevino & Nelson outline the major contemporary approaches as consecquentialist, deontological, and virtue.  The consecquentialist approach is focused on the consequence or the results of the action while the deontological approach focuses on what is right using broad abstract principles like trust, honesty, promise keeping etc (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).  The virtue approach focuses more on integrity of the person and to be a “good person” (Trevino & Nelson, 2014).