Could someone help me with an reply to my classmate response. Here is the questi
ID: 383065 • Letter: C
Question
Could someone help me with an reply to my classmate response.
Here is the question:
Learning Activity #2
In reviewing this week's readings, a major theme is "When good people do bad things". Do you think it is possible for this statement to be true in light of all the support mechanisms that are available in today's society? Make sure you support your answers. Students should plan on having initial postings completed by Thursday evenings, and submit responses to at least two other student postings by Sunday evening.
Here is their reponse
The Manville case, as mentioned in Why “Good” Managers Make Bad Ethical Choices, outlines how ordinary people at this company made the decision not to disclose information about the danger of asbestos, that potentially hurt thousands of innocent people (Gellerman, 1986). The company eventually filed bankruptcy in 1982, after class action lawsuits were filed by sick employees and their families.
What may have been tolerated prior to the 1980s regarding disclosure of potential harm from chemicals or other products has now evolved. Cases like Manville resulted in stricter regulations on disclosures. Today, tobacco companies are now required to spend millions to educate the public on the dangers of cigarettes – the very product they are trying to sell.
Employees earning a salary have their own self-interest at heart, as do corporate officials. Therefore, making bad ethical choices will still happen, even with stricter enforcement and regulations. Also, repetitive tasks on the job can result in errors and ethical lapses (Moberg, 2015). Manufacturing jobs often require minimum outputs for assembly workers. Reporting a defect could slow the line, and potentially cause an employee to be fired. Such policies can hinder reporting for fear of reprimand or worse.
Reference:
Gellerman, S. (1986). Why “Good” Managers Make Bad Ethical Choices. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/1986/07/why-good-managers-make-bad-ethical-choices [Accessed 12 Dec. 2017].
Moberg, D. (2015). When Good People Do Bad Things at Work. [online] Scu.edu. Available at: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/business-ethics/resources/when-good-people-do-bad-things-at-work/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2017].
Explanation / Answer
REPLY to CLASSMATE's RESPONSE:
After going through your response I have developed an opinion that the statement i.e. "When good people do bad things" has been given a meaningful backup. As highlighted in Manville case, first management ignored employees health for making profits and than when sick employees filed lawsuits against company, the company filed bankruptcy.
Also I agree with the other example of tobacco companies given in your response. However, I respectfully disagree with the fact that policies like id defect is observed it will lead to an employee to be fired can improve the situation. As there is a big pool of opportunities in this changing business scienerio.Fear of loosing job will not make much impact on improving ethical believes. Ethical issues will keep on arising till the time employees and business owners have the self realization of their moral responsibilities. This can be made possible by providing necessary training to business owners and employees.