Business Ethics in a Scenario

Scenario: You are the first person to arrive in your classroom and as you sit down you notice an iPod on the floor underneath the adjacent seat. You pick it up and turn it on. It works fine and even has some of your favorite music listed. You realize that you are the only one in the room and no one will know if you keep it. You see other students entering the room so you place the iPod on the floor next to your belonging. You will have the whole class period to decide what to do.

What are the key facts that you should consider before making a decision, as either the person who discovered the iPod, the friend, or the judicial board member?

Is this an ethical issue? What exactly are the ethical aspects involved in your decision?

Who else is involved, or should be involved, in this decision? Who has a stake in the outcome?

What alternatives are available to you? What are the consequences of each alternative?

How would each of your alternatives affect the other people you have identified as having a stake in the outcome?

Where might you look for additional guidance to assist you in resolving this particular dilemma?