Business Law Case Study

PART A

QUESTION 1

Answer: Rob’s predicament is to inform Sam he cannot use high quality reinforcing steel or he would use leftover reinforcing steel.

QUESTION 2

Answer: Ethical egoism states that one should act on the basis of self-interest. Under this psychology, Rob may choose to use the leftover reinforcing steel instead of high-quality reinforcing steel on the Hamilton contract. Rob’s self interest is to keep his job and earn money for his family. Hence, Rob will use the leftover reinforcing steel because he wants to keep his job and continue paying for his son’s treatment in the private hospital.

QUESTION 3

Answer: How Rob resolve his dilemma depends on what greatest good is in his mind. As stated by utilitarianism, people who use this theory seek the greatest good. If he thinks his job and his family are the greatest good, he may use the leftover reinforcing steel in order to keep job and earn more money for his family. Therefore, Rob and his family may also be happy. However, Sam and his company’s reputation will be adversely affected because of the use of the leftover reinforcing steel. It is also likely that Rob’s reputation as a builder will have negative influences. And the customers of the Hamilton project will not happy for unsightly cracking. On the other hand, if Rob tells the truth to Sam, he perhaps will lose his job and move his son out privative hospital. Sam and his company may be happy because they can protect their reputation and finish the Hamilton project well. And the customers of the Hamilton project will be happy because they gain high-quality residential complex.

QUESTION 4

Answer: The duty here for Rob is to be honest by reporting to Sam that he cannot find reinforcing steel. This duty does have universal acceptability. If he intends to use the leftover reinforcing steel, it means everyone can use low-quality things instead of high-quality things. Such a duty would not have reversibility because if Rob was Sam, he does not want to use the leftover reinforcing steel instead of high-quality reinforcing steel. In order to gain respect, Rob should tell Sam that he cannot find reinforcing steel. Hence, other people will respect him because of his ethics and professionalism.

QUESTION