Please look at the three case studies below, and answer the relevant questions. It is important that you bring to the forefront of all of your answers the ethical dimensions of the issue-that is, bring it back to discussions of wrongness and rightness/ good and bad and reasons as to why the various activities and practices are to be evaluated in this manner. Remember also to appeal to the normative theories and there conceptions of right and wrong in order to determine if the behavior is ethical or unethical.
1. Case study one: employee obligation, specifically relevant are topics of conflicts of interest. Please read the following case study: A Right or Wrong Way to Sell? By Jessica Silliman .
A. Describe, or point to the facts, that make this issue an instance of a conflict of interest.
B. What is it that makes a conflict of interest a moral concern?
Describe in full, relating your answer back to the different types of "obligations" we have, and our obligations as employees.
C. What do you think of the action of Ilene? Do you think what she did was ethical or unethical? Describe in terms of the obligations that you discussed in the answer to B.
D. What about the actions and practices of her boss, and the company overall? How might what they are practicing be seen as unethical? What might they do to reform their behavior?
2. Case study two: ethical vs. effective leadership, corporate culture. Please read the case below, and answer the questions that follow.
John Smith, CEO of Dynamic Inc., is faced with a terrible political dilemma.
His corporation desperately needs a federal tax break that would allow him to write off a significant debt burden, which is undermining cash flow and access to new capital. Without the targeted tax break, the business is likely to go under.
Congressman Bill Bridge, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is powerful enough to include the needed tax break in a large tax bill going through his committee. Bridge, however, is an infamous right wing conservative, who represents the political opposite of everything Smith believes in as a lifelong liberal Democrat.
Fortunately, Bridge is not familiar with Smith's political beliefs. The Washington lobbyist for Smith's corporation has met with Bridge, and they agreed that Bridge would include the needed tax break on the condition that Smith donate $100,000 to the Bridge campaign fund.
Such a political contribution is beyond anything Smith has ever done and would certainly attract press attention in the next Bridge campaign fund report. Nevertheless, no other member of either party can deliver on the tax break except Bridge.
Tom Tully, the Democratic congressman representing Smith, has heard of the Bridge deal. Because both parties are locked in a struggle for control of the House, Tully tells Smith that such a large contribution could jeopardize Democratic hopes in November to beat Bridge, and he threatens to publicly reveal the agreed-upon political buy-off. Instead, Tully, a junior member of the Agriculture Committee, proposes that if Smith will just wait until he and the Democrats control the House, he will personally deliver Smith's tax break in the next Congress.
If Smith raises the money for Bridge, he saves his corporation but risks his reputation and beliefs, and becomes a target for legal and political investigations. If he refuses, the chances are good his business will fail, with the loss of 600 jobs.
Welcome to Washington, Mr. Smith!
Leon Panetta, former White House chief of staff, presented this case for the Ethics Roundtable for Executives.
A. What is the difference between an ethical leader and an effective leader? Which of these do you consider John Smith? Explain with examples.
B. What is the ethical dilemma faced by Mr. Smith? Why is this an ethical matter, and how does it relate to his being a good CEO and boss to his company? What do you think his obligations are?
C. To what extend you can given the above narrative, discuss whether you think the company to which John Smith is CEO is one that has an ethical corporate culture. How might the decision faces by John Smith have an impact on the overall corporate culture?
3. Case study three: an evaluation of an episode of either (a) South Park-marketing ethics or (b) The Office-ethical leadership/employee rights.
South Park: watch either "Margaritaville" or "Freemuim Isn't Free."
A. Discuss the moral dimensions of marketing with respect to the plot of the episode.
B. If there are issues relating to consent, being informed, or autonomy, discuss those as related to events in the episode, and designate these as either ethical or unethical according to the normative theories.
C. Do you think that the behavior of those who are considered "producers" should be considered ethical or unethical? Why?
The Office: watch either "Diversity Day," "Sexual Harassment," or "The Meeting."
A. Discuss Michael as an ethical leader, specifically commenting on his virtues and vices as a boss. Explain why his practices are possibly ethical or unethical.
B. To what extent might the "rights" of the employees be violated in the episode you chose? Explain exactly what type of rights violation occurs and how this is also one's failure to fulfill an obligation/duty they have to another person.
C. If you were in the position of one of the main employees in Dunder-Mifflin, what would you do about the unethical practices that are going on in the office? Do you think you have an obligation to do anything? Why or why not?