Describe a real or hypothetical ethical dilemma within an organizational setting
ID: 386057 • Letter: D
Question
Describe a real or hypothetical ethical dilemma within an organizational setting (business, civic, religious, academic, medical, media, or environmental arenas). If you are having trouble coming up with an idea, you may check out some of the articles at Business Ethics:
Explain how you would handle the issue, describe the rights or obligations of stakeholders affected by your decision, and give reasons why you chose your particular approach to resolve the issue.
Apply an ethical theory covered within the unit reading or in previous units to justify your course of action for resolving the issue.
Explanation / Answer
Right / Right dilemmas
It is the people, and, not organizations that make decisions. This is done within the standards, and, norms of the organization. Ethical dilemmas relate to individual, and, collective decisions. Much of the attention is directed at right wrong ethical dilemmas. One denounces individuals engaging in organizational misconduct. In the right wrong dilemma, right is idolized, and, wrong is shunned. Ethical dilemmas center on right right rather than right wrong.
Dilemmas present situations in which we tend to accept the two options.
Example - Safety study suggests that a product is unsafe for public use; dilemma is that of truth vs loyalty to the organization
This is Kidder's theory exploring the personal dimension of ethical decision making. The stakes involved in organizational decision making are high. Products should be safe; should not have a negative effect on users; decisions need to be made on training, hiring, and, firing of employees. Should wealth be accumulated or distributed?