Business in Film

Week 4 Assignment: Ethical Dilemmas

Prior to Writing

· Read Chapters 18 through 24 in the textbook.

· Select a film from the BUS225 Approved Films List that was used in previous assignments or Discussion Boards.

· Use the e-book  Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach  (Links to an external site.) .

· Review Chapter 1.1, Tools for the Journey, pages 11 to 26 only.

· Review the Case Study Checklist: A Guide to Ethical Decision Making on page 16.

Step 1:

Choose one film from the  BUS225 Approved Films List . Watch the entire film.

Step 2:

Read about ethical dilemmas in film in Chapter 1.1 of the e-book  Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach , pages 11 to 26. Locate the Case Study Checklist: A Guide to Ethical Decision Making on page 16. Refer to the checklist as an ethical tool to conduct an analysis of the movie you watched. Below are the seven steps of ethical decision-making from this checklist, discussed by Teays (2015) in more detail on page 16:

1. Define the problem.

2. Set out the key players.

3. State the facts.

4. Clarify key concepts and values.

5. Settle on the criteria of assessments.

6. Get some perspective.

7. Make a plan and decide.

Write the Paper

Write a three- to four-page analysis on how ethical theories and concepts are portrayed in the film from a business perspective.

Part 1:

Summarize the ethical dilemma in the film by analyzing the business issues that led up to the ethical dilemma. Make sure you discuss a business ethical dilemma rather than a personal ethical dilemma.

· Refer to the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center’s  Summary vs. Analysis  (Links to an external site.)  if you need more information.

Part 2:

Discuss whether the character made an ethical decision using the Case Study Checklist: A Guide to Ethical Decision-Making criteria for evaluating ethical dilemmas.

Did the character:

· Define the problem.

· Set out the key players.

· State the facts.

· Clarify key concepts and values.

· Settle on the criteria of assessments.

· Get some perspective.

· Make a plan and decide.

Part 3:

Discuss the outcome of the ethical dilemma and decision from a business perspective.

· Justify your evaluation of the ethical decisions based on moral standards and ethics discussed in the text. You can reference one or more of the following or another standard found in your textbook:

· Duty Theory: All humans have moral standards that are grounded in our instinctive rational obligations, or duties. We are born with these duties and judge our own and other people’s actions based on them.

· Categorical Imperative: Philosopher Immanuel Kant – You have an obligation to treat other people as you would want to be treated. Individuals should be treated as an end, not as a means to that end. We should treat all people as beings that have value in and of themselves, and not treat anyone as a mere instrument for our own advantage.

· Absolute Command: Another name for the “Categorical Imperative.” This aspect of the Categorical Imperative tells us that before taking any action, we should ask ourselves if we would want that same action taken with regard to our own situation. Would we want someone to benefit from our difficulties?

· Trait Theory: Certain traits support effective leadership across various situations. The traits include dependability, cooperativeness, assertiveness, initiative, dominance, high energy, self-confidence, stress tolerance, responsibility, achievement orientation, adaptability, cleverness, persuasiveness, organizational and speaking abilities, risk taking, and originality.

· Theory of Utilitarianism: This theory states that an action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone. It is basically a decision-making approach that uses cost-benefit analysis (Fieser, 2015, 18.3).

· Virtue Theory: The view that morality is grounded in the virtuous character traits that people acquire.

Part 4:

· Discuss whether the decision the character made aligns with your world view.

· Discuss whether the concept of the universal truths makes the film better from a viewer standpoint. See 2.7 in your textbook or click here.

Writing Details

· Must be three to four double-spaced

· Must include a separate title page with the following:

· Title of paper in bold font

· Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.

· Student’s name

· Name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)

· Course name and number (BUS225: Business in Film)

· Instructor’s name (Harla Frank)

· Due date (August 8, 2022)

· Must utilize academic voice. See the  Academic Voice  (Links to an external site.)  resource for additional guidance.

· Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.

· Must use at least two scholarly sources including the course text.

· The  Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources  (Links to an external site.)  table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types.

· To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view  Quick and Easy Library Research  (Links to an external site.)  tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.

· Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s  APA: Citing Within Your Paper  (Links to an external site.)  guide.

· Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the  APA: Formatting Your References List  (Links to an external site.)  resource in the Writing Center for specifications.