Assignment

Case: General Motors and the Ignition Switch Recalls

Discussion Questions

1. Who or what was responsible for the ignition switch defect and the resulting deaths and injuries? In your response, please consider the roles of General Motors and its managers and employees, U.S. auto safety regulators, and the drivers of the vehicles themselves and their representatives.

2. If you were a GM employee, what would you do if you had knowledge of a safety defect? If your manager told you to ignore the problem, would you go outside the company to blow the whistle? What might be the cost of keeping silent to the employee and the employer?

3. If you were the CEO of General Motors, what changes would you implement to avoid similar problems from arising in the future?

4. What actions do you recommend that policymakers and regulators take to avoid similar problems from occurring in the future?

5. As a consumer, what can you do to ensure safety in your own vehicle, before and after purchase?

Textbook: Lawrence, A.T. & Weber, J., Business & Society 15th ed. (2016).