You are the secretary for a large church. You have a database with over 5000 names, addresses and telephone numbers.
A local merchant approaches you with a request for accessing the database. A very substantial donation is offered at a time when the church is facing cash flow problems.
Make two ethical arguments to support each of two major options: sharing or not sharing the data with the merchant.
Four Step Case Analysis Process
Step I. Understanding the situation.
A) What are the relevant facts?
B) Which of these facts raises an ethical issue? Why? What is the potential or resulting harm?
C) List the stakeholders involved
Step II. Isolating the major ethical dilemma.
What is the ethical dilemma to be resolved NOW? State it using the form: Should someone do or not do something? Note: Just state the dilemma here; leave the reasoning for Step III
Step III. Analyzing the ethicality of both alternatives in Step II
Consequentialism
A. If action in Step II is done, who, if anyone, will be harmed?
B. If action in Step II is not done, who, if anyone, will be harmed?
C. Which alternative results in the least harm, A or B?
D. If action in Step II is done, who, if anyone, will benefit?
E. If action in Step II is not done, who, if anyone, will benefit?
F. Which alternative results in the maximum benefit, D or E?
Rights and Duties
G. What rights have been or may be abridged? What duties have been or may be neglected? Identify the stakeholder and the right or duty. When listing a right, show its corresponding duty and vice versa.
Kant's Categorical Imperative
H. If action in Step II is done, who, if anyone, will be treated with disrespect?
I. If action in Step II is not done, who, if anyone, will be treated with disrespect?
J. Which alternative is preferable, H or I? ?
K. If action in Step II is done, who, if anyone, will be treated unlike others?
L. If action in Step II is not done, who, if anyone will be treated unlike others?
M. Which alternative is preferable, K or L?
N. Are there benefits if everyone did action in Step II?
O. Are there benefits if nobody did action in Step II?
P. Which alternative is preferable, N or O?
Step IV. Making a decision and planning the Implementation
A. Make a defensible ethical decision
Based on the analysis in Step III, answer the question in Step II. Indicate the letters of the categories that best support your response. Add any arguments justifying your choice of these ethical principles to support your decision. Where there are conflicting rights and duties, choose and defend those that take precedence. (Note: Just make and justify your choice here; leave any action steps for parts B and D)
B. List the specific steps needed to implement your defensible ethical decision.
C. Show how the major stakeholders are affected by these actions.
D. What other longer-term changes (political, legal, technical, societal, organizational) would help prevent such problems in the future?
E. What should have been done or not done in the first place (at the pivot point) to avoid this dilemma?