The case study of Jacob Franklin, aged 25, offers a peek in to the day-to-day business yet serious ethical issues that a common man often faces. Starting off his career at a land that was still a stranger to him thanks to his love, Jacob inadvertently faced few ethical issues in the business scenario that forms the basis of this essay. Jacob had taken up a job in Richardson Drilling Equipment, Texas and had been a quick learner. He was at the receiving end of accolades in a very short span of the job and was conveniently promoted as well. Not only was his career that was going great, he also had some great news at personal front with his fiancé Margurete pregnant with his baby. To add to rosy picture, Jacob was also offered a job in another oil company with an attractive hike in Seattle. However, in his short journey, Jacob faced ethical issues that are discussed below.
The first test of ethics was met by Jacob during his learning curve in the Richardson Drilling Company. Jacob was introduced to the usual practices in the company including the bending of rules that the company adopted to do well in the competitive oil industry. One of the ethical issues was the difference in the quality of materials that were exported to countries like Brazil. U.S has laid quality standards that were followed to ensure safety to the users world-wide. However, the company chose not to follow all the rules to make a mark in the cut-throat competition by providing sub-standard materials to poor countries like Brazil where standards are lower. This was simple exploitation of the poor nations at the same time jeopardizing the lives of many innocents. This can be considered highly unethical as not only are the laws that were laid down for the safeguard of life and competition were broken, the employees actually followed it in an effort to keep up with the competition that thrived on such unethical practices. Jacob also, when made aware of the practice did question it, was mum on the situation. From a deontological point of view, Jacob violated ethics because he did not perform his duty of following the laid U.S laws. The Deontological followers call for ethics that “bind you to your duty” . In this situation, Jacob’s duty was to stop this malpractice and set the record straight. However, he chose to avoid the issue and get on with his job. A follower of deontological ethics considers this unacceptable and would take the step of informing the concerned authorities his/her duty irrespective of the consequences.
The Essay on Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making And Cases
People must make decisions that are both morally and legally acceptable to the community. In order to make ethical decisions, one must ensure that he behaves in a way that the majority in the society consider good. People should behave ethically without rules and regulations being imposed on them. The society imposes sanctions to those who fail to meet ethical standards and the law punishes anyone ...
Jacob’s next test was again concerning the defective materials that were used by the company seven years back which resulted in many accidents and loss of clients. A step that would be considered as a step towards preserving ethics by the deontologists, Jacob made an attempt to inform the higher authority, namely, his boss of the irregularity. When discussed, the issue was casted away and instead, Jacob was asked to keep away from the issue as they were expecting to bring new equipment in the following year that would replace the defective parts and would also charge the clients so that the company earns. The company was trying to hush up the whole matter and also, was thinking of sending the defective materials to nations like Brazil or Venezuela where are regulations are weaker. Once again there was a breach of business ethics. Jacob to choose to listen to his boss’s advice because he feared losing his job, a consequence that resulted in taking up a wrong stand on the issue. Jacob took the decision by considering the current situation which was a job that supported his family. A deontologist follower would dispute that. The ethics are always defined by the action that is taken irrespective of the good or bad situation in the scenario. For example, Jacob opposing the explanation of his boss and his consequent actions to correct the faulty equipment case would be the correct steps towards protecting the business ethics. The situation that this opposition by Jacob to his boss might result in his job loss does not count as it was a consequence of the right action that Jacob could have taken. Kant had argued that the highest good must be both good in itself, and good without qualification and this act would have justified the above. Jacob needed to inform even higher authority and get the faulty equipment replaced at the client base.
The Essay on Drug Companies and Ethics
After researching pharmaceutical companies, I quickly realized this is a very controversial topic. I’m not certain anyone in many of these companies have very many moral standards. Drug companies seemed to be very profitable from the researchers to the drug reps that deliver “gifts” and sample meds to the doctor’s offices that push their medications. Many activists will argue that drug companies ...
The next ethical problem that came to light was Jacob’s visit to the Seattle Company and the consequent discussions. Jacob’s visit to the competitor’s office on a business trip in the current organization led to discussions of policies and practices that may well be confidential. In fact, Jacob inadvertently relayed some sensitive information to the competitor that may have resulted in losses for the Richardson Drilling. In such a situation, Jacob had the option of not visiting the office or not having business discussions. If deontological ethics are applied here, Jacob was wrong in visiting a competitor’s premises when being on roll of another company. Jacob’s visit was to explore the option of changing jobs even though it was not something his fiancé would like to do. Therefore, the chances of doing the same were slim. Though we cannot dispute the decision of visiting, the decision to relay inside information makes Jacob fall out of line with the duty-bound deontological thought. Jacob was duty-bound to his company to help them make profits and in no way, affect the income if it was morally correct. Though Jacob’s decision to speak against the purchase of sub-standard materials is correct even though it would mean a loss to the company, his discussion of internal affairs was morally wrong and would never been done by any true deontological ethics follower.
Along with the various ethical issues that the case study offered, a clear view of the Richardson’s organization cultural issues have emerged. The employees of the organization have given an impression of disinterest in the moral or ethical consequences of the decisions taken at their workplace. Taking the example of Jacob’s boss, Hillary, we find a deep sense of moral bankruptcy when she suggested the idea of selling the sub-standard equipments at foreign land to dispose them off yet make money of the incompetent goods produced by the company. Also, when Jacob raised objection to the whole situation, he was threatened with the consequence of him being responsible of the cover-up. This reflects the fear culture in the organization that does not bore well for employees. A fear culture in any organization only results in crippled efficiency of employees who no longer will to take up morally correct stands or decisions. A much more supportive boss for Jacob would have meant an improvement in the materials and better customer service for the company.
The Term Paper on Managing In Today's Health Care Organizations Change And Culture
Organizational structure and culture are two major factors that directly impact the success of an organization. This paper addresses the most pressing theme concerning the leading of organizational change: adaptability. Whether dealing with individual departments or selecting an appropriate leadership style to communicate a change, it is important to know your audience and be aware of what works ...
Also notable is Jacob’s colleague’s attitude of talking of money when reminded of the low quality of material purchased and sold in foreign land to make profits. The organization culture seems to have inculcated the feel of making profits at any cost that is resulting in an employee base who are always pressurized to deliver goods irrespective of the route taken. Jacob consequently starting falling in line with others in the organization and in fact felt surprised when some of the acts performed in his company was being considered unethical by other companies.
Also, as a byproduct of the polluted organizational culture in Richardson Drilling, there was a particular foreign cultural issue that has been raised before in the paper. The poor nations of the world have been treated as dumps by the organization. There have been many a reference to the foreign lands as dumping grounds for bad goods produced by the company that can result in accidents and loss of lives. No concern has been shown by the organization in this regard which shows an organizational culture that is wanting in social responsibilities.
From the case study of Jacob, the various business ethics faced by him were discussed from a deontological perspective. In all the three ethical issues discussed, the action was unethical from the deontological perspective because Jacob’s decision always relied on the consequences of the situations rather than the inputs was what was the “duty” of the man in question. The aftermath of situations/future events are never in the hands of the actor and hence, it becomes even more important that the correct and moral actions are performed without any worry of the consequences. This gap in understanding on part of Jacob resulted in unethical situations in the organization. Also, contributing to the unethical decisions taken by Jacob was the organizational culture imbibed in the organization that actively suppressed righteous actions in favor of reputation and profits. The organizational culture inculcated fear in employees and a man under fear would rarely take morally correct actions.
The Essay on What Affect On "Organization Culture"?
Metaphor is a fundamental force through which humans create meaning by using one element of experience to understand another. Metaphor becomes a tool for creating an understanding about what we now recognize as organization and management. Gareth Morgan suggests a way of thinking and a way of seeing organizations as multiple of metaphors e.g. organizations as a machine (mechanistic approach), ...
Bibliography
Kant, Immanuel. 1785. ‘First Section: Transition from the Common Rational Knowledge of Morals to the Philosophical’, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals.
Kant, Immanuel. 1780. ‘Preface’. In The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics. Translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
Waller, Bruce N. 2005. Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Pearson Longman: 23.
