Because of the poor economy, the executives of AGT Inc. were trying to decide whether or not to close one of the AGT manufacturing plants. Manuel Kant said that the company had a duty to the community and shouldn’t close the plant unless the company’s executives believed that all companies should simply close their plants in an economic downturn. Jerry Bentham said they should close the plant if the costs of keeping it open and running were greater than the economic benefits of keeping it open. Which of the following statements is true?

Manuel believes in critical thinking, but Jerry believes in ethics.

Manuel and Jerry are both believers in situational ethics.

Jerry believes in utilitarianism, while Manuel relies on duty-based ethics.

Manuel believes in the business stakeholder standard of behavior; Jerry believes in situational ethics.

Douglas was faced with an ethical dilemma about whether to close a plant and cut costs knowing that several hundred employees would lose their jobs. Douglas wanted to make an ethical decision. Which of the following are good methods of ethical decision-making?

A. Front Page of the Newspaper test

B. Blanchard & Peale three-part test (especially, would you tell your Mother?)

C. Wait & See approach (do nothing)

D. All of the Above

E. Front Page of the Newspaper test or Blanchard & Peale (would you tell your Mother) test, but not the Wait & See (do nothing) approach.