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Ethical Dilemma Essay, 2014/15.pdf
Applied Business Ethics (SM0381)
Northumbria University
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University Of Northumbria
Newcastle Business School
Applied Business Ethics – SM
Contents
Part A (Ethical Dilemma Essay)
• Ethical Dilemma Description
• Justify why it is an ethical dilemma in business situation
• Ethical solutions proposed by student to this dilemma.
Part B (Portfolio of Evidence Contents)
• Appendix A (The ethical Leadership debate)
• APPENDIX B (THE SEMINAR CASE)
• Appendix C (Interpersonal and team working skills)
Reference
Part A (Ethical Dilemma Essay)
- Ethical Dilemma Description
Currently I’m working in a printing company and am run by family members. There is some sort of ethical issue within the company. After a few months of observation during my probation period there is some issue which had been there since day one. I would like to discuss this dilemma in this case study. Because I believe that this is a classic real life case currently happen to myself.
The company since to have a lot of people smoking in the production area and all those area which are able to smoke example like walkway, storage of raw materials and worst still they smoke near the chemical storage area.. This was very shocking when I saw with my own eye. I immediately confront the worker and they seem to ignore my advice and continue to smoke. Later than I realize that the big boss was also a smoker. So that why they was so brave and doesn’t bother about health and safety awareness what puzzle me that for all these years how they managed to past the ISO audit with all this events happening but I was not able to ask the auditor as I afraid of losing the job as I have family to support hence I just keep quiet and continue to work until I managed to find a better job and leave this health hazard workplace.
Some of the senior management are aware about this and the answer given was big boss was also a smoker and he seem don’t bother about other health and safety. And even worst that some of the employee saw the cigattte butt was on the floor with the fire still on and advise boss about it and was scolded by him. Hence it is not a very good place to work in. I ask some of the employee why don’t leave this place and they said due to some other personnel reason but to stay.
Part A (Ethical Dilemma Essay) Justify why it is an ethical dilemma in business situation
In this case which had been highlighted regards to the smoking issue in the company. There are serials approaches to this like smoker and non-smoker point of view. We can use non-consequentialist approach as each individual have their right and justice (Jacques Maritian (20 th century, French) what they deserve. Because they smoke all over the place accept main office. We do know that for smoker not to smoke is very tough for them. Smoking brings up the image and style in them. As what we can call them egoism (Ayn Rand 20 th century , American). Which bring out the moral right that they deserved? Hence that why they keep on smoking during normal working hours. Just image whenever walk around the walkway and you can smell the smoke all over your body which make you not very nice. And worst still people might think you are also a smoker due to the smell which surrounds your body.
But in non-smoker point of view is unpleasant and uncool act towards them and also create health problem as 2nd hand smoker. So they will try to minimize the movement within the company. In order not to have any contact with the smoker smell. By using a deontology approach (William of Ockham 13-14 th century, English). Which as a company management repreasentive it my duty to discuss with the boss and isn’t any solution to this matters. As all the while they are practicing this way and why sudden need to change. The reason I given to them that MOH might just spot check on company without and prior notice and if got caught it might be very troublesome. As company image will be affected and also fine will be impose to the company. Worst still company will be
the smoke from spreading within the company. The other shareholder will speak to the boss regards to this suggestion as for the good to the company. As base on right and justice (Jacques Maritian (20th century, French) the employee will able to work and contribute towards the growth of the company in future. This is call sustainable jobs in the workplace.
After further discussion the boss finally agree to some point. The arrangement will be smoking will be allow during lunch break. Which the employee smoke outside and during tea-break time which half an hour will be at toilet. By doing so we can minimize the smoke within the company and also not afraid on the spot check conducted by the MOH.
Part B (Portfolio of Evidence Contents)
- Appendix A (The ethical Leadership debate)
Mike Overall I feel that for mike character is slightly confuse as a lecture in business school which teaches business ethics and saw her daughter mind set was change due to the work environment. Hence by using Non-consequentialist approaches on Deontology (William of Ockham (13-14th Century, English) he got the duties to correct back her daughter thinking before it too late to reverse back. But on the other hand he is an activist on the Greenpeace. And this will do things worst by going protest against her daughter company. Which I feel that it is a double-cross person which I believe to be post-modern ethics (Jacques Derrida (20th Century, French) that he don’t know what to do by seeing her daughter going towards the path of just making money and forgotten the moral ethic of a person.
Jan Overall she is a good human being if she is working in a social worker company. As the among of work she had been contribute to the world. She is a Non- Consequentialist approach as she had a rights and justice to help people. But on second taught I believe that her employee was forces to do this kind of social work. And for the rest feel that butter and bread is the most important in life first. Help will come later stage in life.
Mei-Hua She is a well successful Accountancy graduate of a leading UK business school. She is a strong believer on the code of conduct as a person and also profession itself. As this will somehow keep them out of trouble especially in this Accountancy field. Overall she is a well discipline individual as she sticks to the rule and regulation as long as don’t cross the grey line is legal. She is using the Non-consequentialist of Deontology (William of Ockham (13-14th Century, English).
Deshi Overall he is more of practical guys due the facts that he came from a poor family and everyday worry about butter and bread in order to survive. Hence he is using Act Utilitarianism (Francis Hutcheson (17th-18th Century, Irish) to create happiness whatever it takes for the best outcome.
Summary of 4 Characters
In Summary of the above characters Jan and Mike will not survive in this part of the world which is Eastern region as people are talking about realistic point of view which is doing business and make more money and also worry about daily butter and bread in order to muscle around with the
ever changing world. Non-Consequentialist can be used as both characters shows that one of them have the duty to help those in the third world country and as for the other is that he had the duty to educate people about the propose of ethical issue in the business world. But in contrast to western point of view they might survive as western are more open to all the ethical theory to a certain view point as the union in western country are much stronger rather eastern side of the world. So in term of protest activities might able to work out. For Mei-hua and Deshi both are living in the eastern part of the world and they know how they work in term of business. Here they don’t believe in western ethical theory as every day is about butter and bread especially for Deshi as he is from a poor family and money is the upmost important priority. Who cares about ethical theory over here and doesn’t mean this theory can bring him money? Same goes to Mei-Hua as long as don’t cross over the grey line and not involved in legal activities is fine. But both are using different theory like Non-consequentialist of Deontology (William of Ockham (13-14th Century, English) for Mei- hua and Act Utilitarianism (Francis Hutcheson (17th-18th Century, Irish) for Deshi.
Part B (Portfolio of Evidence Contents)
- APPENDIX B (THE SEMINAR CASE)
Borries was in dilemmas as he had to choose cancel holiday or go as per plan. As one of this project had brought forward to launch. And if he cancel the holiday and have to wait for another year due to the fact that her girlfriend is currently going back for studies after the holiday. But base on this case Borries have the duty to finish his project from the start. We can use this kind of approach as Non- Consequentialist under the Deontology which required the agent to finish whatever job is undertaken. And base on the case study he is that kind of person which listen to all opinion before making any decision to a particular outcome. Finally he decided to cancel his holiday and the company reimbursed his costs in full.
For the case of swee lan ethical dilemmas was she have the chance to introduce Borries to her parent since they all at Hong Kong and she will be returning to Germany for her study after the holiday. But sad to say that her dream was short-lived. After he heard from borries that they have to wait for another year due to the work. Well base on the case study I can say swee lan use a feminist approach to this matters as she quite reasonable to deal with this case. But no doubt the parents will be upset. But if swee lan is going to accept borries as future husband than she have to learn to cope with this kind of environment and also a test to their relationship. Meeting parents can be done other time after she had completed her study.
What was the shocker was his best friend Marcus reaction to this matter. Borries was expecting that Marcus will think the same as he does. But turn out to be otherwise. Non-Consequentialist Ethics on Right and justice can be used on Marcus. He strongly feels that he should go ahead with plan holiday and not to jeopardize the relationship with Swee lan. The boss can re-assigned this project to other people in the company. I believe Marcus is up to something no good in his sleeve.
Overall I feel that to tackle this issue is not so simple in real life. Especially when you were caught in between career and relationship. Lucky that for borries case swee lan quite understood as she ready put herself in his shoe when get stuck in between. Why I said that because if she is unrealisable she had create problem with Borries by disagree with him cancel the holiday and insist on the plan to go ahead. As for this friend Marcus was very disappointed with the way he handle this case. He didn’t see in a much broader picture to this issue as will borries lost his job or not. He should approach in this way saying I think you should cancel the leave and finish the job
Ethical Dilemma Essay, 2014/15.pdf
Module: Applied Business Ethics (SM0381)
University: Northumbria University
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