Empress Luxury Lines Antonio’s Ethical Dilemma In this case study, Empress Luxury Line’s manager Antonio Melendez faces an ethical dilemma which many managers have experienced in the corporate setting. Callahan (1990) supports this theory: Fifty-eight percent of the respondents to a recent poll believe that the ethical standards of American business executives are only fair or poor. The public outcry about business ethics is paralleled in legal journals. At the same time, an employee who is discharged for reporting or refusing to engage in illegal or unethical activity within the organization receives little or no legal protection in many U.S. jurisdictions”. This is controversial since employees must balance organizational loyalty with the potential benefits of solving a problem by shoving the organization in the spotlight (Travis, 2013).
Addressing the Situation at Hand To resolve this dilemma, Antonio should apply strategic methods like utilitarianism or individualism, to determine if reporting the fraudulent activity or remaining silent will be the best outcome for him and Empress. The two other ethical approaches Justice and Moral-Rights, may influence Antonio’s final decision in part.
However, Travis (2013) believes “many situations fall in between these two easily recognizable ends of the spectrum. To surmise, Antonio can choose from the following actions: 1).
To report the fraudulent insurance claim to Empress’ CFO; 2) To report the fraudulent insurance claim to the insurance company directly; 3) Allow Kevin to report the fraud or 4) Remain silent and let the insurance reimbursement pay for the computer upgrade he so desires. The Strategic Pros and Cons
The Essay on Ethical Dilemma As A Nurse Practitioner
A potential ethical dilemma that I may face when I become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) would be the impact of the insurance reimbursement on the healthcare delivery. As a registered nurse (RN) working in an acute care hospital, the main objective would be to deliver the best bedside care possible to the patients, insurance reimbursement is not a main issue a RN has to worry about on the floor . ...
Travis (2013) recommends ”before going public, potential whistleblowers need to ask themselves whether or not their actions prevent serious harm to an individual, such as repeated safety infractions, or to a group of people, such as fraud”. Based on the utilitarian approach, Antonio may select any of the above options however; he must decide which will bring about the greater good of the organization and his own self interest. Antonio may decide to use an individualistic approach. If he selects this option, Antonio could choose option four, if he desperately wants the computer upgrades, regardless of how they were acquired.
As a matter of self-preservation, Antonio also may elect not to report the fraud for fear of being fired in an act of retaliation. Antonio’s Final Decision and Rationale As a manager, Antonio is placed in the very difficult and awkward position of dealing with an ethical as well as moral decision which will have a significant impact on the company, regardless of the outcome. The term “whistleblower” refers to an individual who shines a public light on illegal or immoral acts that he witnesses within his own organization (Travis, 2013).
Experienced managers like Antonio are aware that Empress employee’s will not be covered by whistleblower protection under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) which is a United States federal law” (SEC. gov, 2013).
SOX was enacted in 2002 as a response to dramatic corporate and accounting scandals that led to the demise of firms such as Enron and WorldCom” (He, et. al, 2012).
The law institutes new, stricter guidelines for all US publicly traded companies (i. e. financial institutions, securities exchange firms, etc. ).
Companies are covered if it is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Dow Jones or other equity markets.
However, SOX does not apply to privately owned companies such as Empress. The overall evidence in the literature seems to point to the fact that the existence and enforcement of a code of ethics in an organization positively affects ethical judgment and behavior (Nwachukwu & Vitell, 1997).
The Research paper on Exploring Assisted Suicide; through the ethical frameworks of Act Utilitarianism and Kant’s Ethics
IntroductionThere is nothing more argued, explored and discussed in ethics than the value placed on human life. By using case study two this case study analysis will explore how two very different ethical frameworks of Act Utilitarianism and Kant's Ethics offer two unique ways of understanding and responding to the assisted death of Ms Griffith by Mr Mathers. Was it an act of selfless love or ...
Given that Antonio commended Kevin for refusing to remove the wires and circuits, Antonio demonstrates his own good moral character and integrity. Therefore, Antonio’s best option for resolving this dilemma is to report the incident directly to the insurance company himself.
First and foremost, Antonio must not forgo his own ethical beliefs, so leaving the ultimate judgment with the insurance company is the intelligent course of action. Secondly, Kevin’s claim of the insurance fraud is implied, since he did not actually see the other employee commit the act. Antonio receiving the information second-hand from Kevin is considered “hearsay” Daft, 2010).
Insurance agencies deal with claims on a regular basis and are responsible for determining whether this is a case of fraud or dismiss it. Finally, as a result of Kevin following the chain of command, Antonio’s actions will ultimately protect his subordinate and imself from retaliation by Phil and Roger. Antonio’s action should earn Kevin’s trust in him for taking an upstanding ethical approach and keeping Kevin’s identity confidential (Daft 2010).
Antonio’s decision is based in part on the corporate culture of Empress Luxury Lines and can be supported through the published literature as well. Travis (2013) offers this advice; for cases that are not as clear cut, [managers] have an ethical responsibility to consider whether or not the problem can be solved by their actions. “If the answer is yes, continue.
If the answer is no, the [manager] may have to live with the dilemma and decide if leaving the organization is the next step”. Nwachukwu & Vitell, (1997) suggest “corporate steps taken to improve ethical behavior clearly must come from the top and be part of the reward and punishment system”. The important components of organizational culture and ethics such as the existence of a code of ethics, enforcement of the code, and top management’s disregard for unethical behavior have all been incorporated into the “corporate culture” by direct meas References
The Term Paper on Enron Corporate Culture
Bench was founded in the Philippines by Ben Chan in 1987 originally selling men’s t-shirt in small retail stores. The brand is registered under the trademark of Suyen Corporation. The brand also grew on providing ladies’ line, underwear, fragrances, house wares, snacks, and a wide array of other lifestyle products, Kyle Marco P. de Vera, Justin Andrew Lawrence L. Rigor and Jolo Marco R. Tayag are ...
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Management, 9th Edition. Cengage Learning: Ohio He, E. , Miller, S. M. , & Yang, T. (2012).
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The influence of corporate culture on managerial ethical judgments. Journal of Business Ethics, 16(8), 757-776. Public Law 107–204,107th Congress. Retrieved May 1, 2013 from http://www. sec. gov/about/laws/soa2002. pdf Travis, E. (2013).
Ethical Responsibilities of Whistleblowing. Retrieved May 2, 2013 from http://www. ehow. com/list_6837080_ethical-responsibilities-whistleblowing. html#ixzz2ST8u0hGP
