Project 1
ginapaul
DetseProject1.docxRunning head: HOW WOULD PHILOSOPHERS HANDLE THE SITUATION 1
How Would Philosophers Handle the Situation 7
How Would Philosophers Handle the Situation?
Name: Ama Detse
Date: 02/04/2018
Introduction
An ethical dilemma in business has everything to do with moral situations that require one to make a choice between two alternatives that are equally not desirable. According to Schwartz (2017), the decisions made at this particular juncture boil down to a basic sense of what is wrong or right within a societal context. In business they are decisions that align within these societal contexts but also within the precincts of the law. Klikauer (2012), explains that there are a number of contexts that constitute ethical dilemmas in business and what workers are likely to face in the business environment. Application of the ‘right’ or best ethical practices in business when faced with dilemmas is very important (Schwartz, 2017). Organizations are duty bound to have benchmarks on how to deal with dilemmas since this would make it easier for them to be able to deal with some of the issues faced by the decision makers.
This paper will try and delve into the dynamics of ethical practices in business when faced with a dilemmas and which corporate governance tools one would use in the resolution of ethical dilemmas. A case scenario will be used to illustrate how to apply these best practices with a view to enlighten the reader on how to best deal with ethical dilemmas in a business setting.
Business Dilemmas Presented by the Scenario
The second dilemma presented is the selling of papers to other students and passing them as their own. This presents a number of challenges; first it goes against the code of conduct of the organization that states that the tutors are not encouraged students to cheat through the creation of materials that would be presented as their own, with no input from the student. The dilemma is also presented through the fact that it goes against the moral code of cheating in assessments. The new model encourages the presentation of work as a student’s own after payment of a subscription. The new model also infringes on the copyright law since it encourages the presentation of another party’s work as one’s own. Comment by Robert Hyatt: There is no violation of copyright if the work copied has not been registered.
Role of the Code of Conduct
The code of conduct plays an important role in the organization. It is used to articulate the values, principles, vision and mission of the organization thus setting the required of professional standards of the organization (Schwartz, 2017). It is the benchmark in which an individual’s business ethics is weighed upon. Comment by Robert Hyatt: delete
In the issue of Tutoring University the code of conduct created an ethical dilemma for the business this is because the new business model that was being marketed contravened on various ethical codes in the code of conduct. Storchevoy (2018), states that the code which was done in the years of inception was meant to be used to operate within the bounds of the moral, statutory and ethical tenets. The role of the code of ethics in light of this process is as follows; it is used to ensure there is compliance with the statutory laws of the land, thus when an ethical dilemma like the one faced by the organization the code exposed the shortcomings of the new position (Klikauer, 2012). Comment by Robert Hyatt: delete
The code of ethics also served as a template to be used in good business conduct, thus when the conduct that was being proposed was contravened the laid down code of ethics, it showed the shortcomings of the proposed changes (Storchevoy, 2018). Comment by Robert Hyatt: delete
The code of conduct is put in place to protect the members of staff from any form of litigation (Schwartz, 2017). Thus when the proposed services being touted by the Tutoring University management were being proposed they exposed the members of staff of the organization to litigation that would have been costly and dangerous to the organization. Comment by Robert Hyatt: Litigation means legal. Nothing illegal is occurring. Unethical yes, illegal no. Comment by Robert Hyatt: Not litigation
Ethical Categories of the Business Dilemma
There are two issues which are revealed to be contravened by the new service charter being marketed by the Tutoring University. The essential ethics issues or fundamental ethics issues faced by the business like trust and integrity (Klikauer, 2012). This is a basic tenet of business conduct since it is required that one conducts business in a manner that is honest and fair (Schwartz, 2017). When Tutoring University decides to have a service that allows tutors to sit for assessments on behalf of the students, then it violates the fundamental ethical issue of integrity since that goes against ethical business practices. Allowing students to present papers of other students as their own is also not fair to the students as they may not get the knowledge required for them to pass exams, thus exposing the economy to half-baked graduates. Comment by Robert Hyatt: that Comment by Robert Hyatt: in violation of the code of conduct Comment by Robert Hyatt: This is not a sentence. Comment by Robert Hyatt: Required by whom? Comment by Robert Hyatt: assignments
All businesses are required to operate within the confines of the necessary legal and statutory requirements (Storchevoy, 2018). When Tutoring University sells papers done by other people to students who then pass of the papers as their own then it infringes on the copyright laws and this breaking of the law would constitute criminal proceedings against the student, tutor and organization. Comment by Robert Hyatt: Unethical conduct is not necessarily illegal conduct. Comment by Robert Hyatt: No laws are broken if the works are not registered.
‘Tutors for Hire’ Dilemma Explained by Jeremy Bentham’s Ethical Theory
Bentham’s theory is ethical hedonism. It posits that anything that leads to pain is bad and anything that leads to pleasure is good. It states that human beings are pursuers of pleasure in order to avoid pain, thus pleasure is the ultimate good (Schwartz, 2017). Thus he believed it was unnatural not to seek pleasure for any human being.
Thus when the above dilemma is presented against this theory, one would argue since hiring a tutor would mean passing assessment which would lead to pleasure then it makes sense to a tutor (Storchevoy, 2018). Thus hiring of a tutor would lead to pleasure which is the apex of the ethical hedonism theory. In the social application of hedonism part of the theory, the dilemma would present an opportunity for the tutor organization to seek pleasure for students thus being able to produce the greatest level of happiness. It would bring utmost pleasure for the students to pass assessment by virtue of the tutors sitting for the exams and the organization making money on top of everything.
Tutor for Hire Dilemma Explained by Kant’s Theory
Kant’s theory holds that the standard of morality is duty. Duty in this case is defined as strict adherence to moral law in total disregard to the results caused by the action. It posits that if something is black its black (Storchevoy, 2018). If the thing is white its white, not off white or egg white. The emphasis of this theory is in the notion that some actions are good or positive in themselves. Kant states that it is of utmost importance to adhere to moral law that is applicable to everyone every time.
Thus when the dilemma of the tutor is presented against this theory, it falls short against the required ethical and moral law (Klikauer, 2012). One cannot sit for another person’s assessment just because they have received money it is morally and ethically wrong and goes against the acceptable universal moral code of ethics of education (Storchevoy, 2018). This is because it also amounts to cheating which is against the Judeo-Christian ethics which is the basis of this theory.
Tutor for Hire Dilemma Explained by Rand’s Theory
The Rand theory posits that anything that enhances the life of a man is good and anything that does not enhance or negates the life of a man is evil (Klikauer, 2012). It states that the standard of life is value and this is encapsulated by living beings. The theory states that a human being’s life is the goal of ethics. That anything that helps one survival is the benchmark of value (Schwartz, 2017). The theory is objectivist since in encourages an individual to seek their own self-centered or selfish end. It is encapsulated in the laisezz-faire principle that everyone can pursue their own interest (Storchevoy, 2018).
When the dilemma is presented against the theory, one can decide to pursue the option of hiring a tutor if it makes them happy or not if it does not make them happy (Klikauer, 2012). What matters is the best interest of the individual thus there would be no need to sacrifice on behalf of anyone if it propagated one’s own interests.
Conclusion
The dilemma would be best solved using Kant’s theory since it would be morally wrong to hire a tutor as it would negate the Judeo-Christian ethics. This is supported by the notion that one is duty bound to do the right thing and the basis should not and can never be pleasure as posited by Bentham or inclination as stated in Rand’s theory (Storchevoy, 2018).
References
Klikauer, T. (2012). Seven management moralities. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schwartz, M. S. (2017). Business ethics: An ethical decision-making approach. Chichester : Wiley.
Storchevoy, M. (2018). Business ethics as science: Methodology and Implications. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
