Learning focus: defining ethical dilemmas, ethical theories and their application to decisions, possible consequences of decisions
LAs 1 and 2 are directly related to the same scenario this week, so please read LA 1 and LA 2 instructions before proceeding.
Learning Activity #1: (LA 1)
Watch the video: "Business Ethics: Ethical Frameworks" (for decision making) (9:51)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7sPDHrHj8c
This is a clear, comprehensive presentation re: how to approach making a decision in an organization. Please watch it completely - it is applicable to the entire course and assignments that require you to develop solutions to ethical dilemmas.
Read the scenario below and answer the questions following it.
Scenario: Company A has been approached by the Ozland government to consider manufacturing and selling a pesticide called Grow 2 in Ozland. Grow 2 is a very effective, low cost way to eliminate pests and thus, substantially increase crop production and crop yields per acre. Ozland has a high % of poverty and hunger among its fast-increasing population and desperately needs to produce more food. Use of pesticides is the lowest cost and fastest way to increase crop production and yields.
Pesticides are heavily regulated in the US. It is illegal to sell Grow 2 in the US, as it has been proven to increase the risk of cancer in humans after long term exposure, and to create potential danger to livestock and others animals contacting or eating products treated with Grow 2.
There are no laws regulating manufacture or sale of any pesticides in Ozland, so Grow 2 could be manufactured and/or sold in Ozland legally and at a high profit for Company A.
COMPANY A has to decide whether to manufacture and sell Grow 2 in Ozland.
- Define the either/or dilemma COMPANY A faces. Start the answer with Dilemma: A can either.........................................with the possible result that......., or A can ...... with the possible result that.............
- Which 1 ethical theory discussed in the assigned materials would be the best approach/guide for A in making the decision whether to manufacture and sell Grow 2 in Ozland? Why?
Learning Activity #2 (LA 2)
Refer again to the LA 1 scenario and answer the following:
- Assume you are an employee stakeholder of Company A. Identify 3 moral values/ethical issues that you as an employee would want Company A to consider in its decision whether to sell Grow 2 to Ozland and discuss/explain why these 3 values/issues are important to the decision. (3 separate paragraphs)
- What decision would you recommend Company A make in this case and why?
Address ethical theory(ies) to justify your decision and consider the consequences for, and interests of, both A and Ozland in the decision whether to sell Grow 2 to Ozland. There is not a correct/incorrect answer, as there are valid arguments for either decision.