Assignment

Sethi, S., Veral, E., Shapiro, H., & Emelianova, O. (2011). Mattel, Inc.: Global manufacturing principles (GMP) - A life-cycle analysis of a company-based code of conduct in the toy industry.Journal of Business Ethics, 99(4), 483-517. Retrieved from ProQuest.

In a well-written, 4- to 5-page paper, apply the Utility Test to the Mattel case study.

1. Choose an ethical issue raised by the Mattel case study (e.g., you might choose to analyze Mattel's treatment of employees).

2. Apply the Utility Test: http://ethicsops.com/UtilityTest.php

3. Be sure that you follow each step of the Utility Test (use a separate section heading for discussion of each step of the test):

1. Introduce the test.
2. Briefly discuss why utility ethics is a valid way of deciding right and wrong.
3. Apply the test

Step 1: Identify the alternative actions that are possible and the persons and groups (the stakeholders) who will be affected by these actions.

Step 2: For each of the most promising alternatives, determine the benefits and costs to each person or group affected.

Step 3: Select the action in the current situation that produces the greatest benefits over costs for all affected.

Step 4: Discuss what would happen if the action were a policy for all similar situations.

4. Draw a conclusion. If the same action is selected in Steps 3 & 4, then the action is an ethical one. If different actions are selected, decide whether the individual action will produce the greatest good and the least harm, for all affected, over the long term.

4. Be sure to use at least two sources from the library to support your discussion and analysis (choose sources that are not included in the Background)

Utility ethics are often referred to as "consequentialist" ethics, because it is the outcome-or theconsequences-of an action or behavior that is important. Read the section on "Consequentialism" and the section entitled "Utilitarianism" at this link:http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/consequentialism.html

Then read the following discussion of Utility Ethics:

https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/calculating-consequences-the-utilitarian-approach/

For purposes of the Case Assignment, we will focus on the Utility Test:

Hamilton, B. (2012, June 7). Utility test. Ethics Ops. Retrieved fromhttp://ethicsops.com/UtilityTest.php

The Utility Test may be best understood with a review of the following examples-also from Ethics Ops. Be sure that you review both examples thoroughly, as we will be using the Utility Test in the Case assignment:

http://ethicsops.com/LessSugarMarketing.php
http://ethicsops.com/PhantomExpenses.php