Answers For Reflection And Discussion Forum Week 2

Answers For 2reflection And Discussion Forum Week 2reflect On The Assi

Reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Identify what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding. Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

Marco Manager supervises three employees at a bank. Several times over the last three months, money has been missing from a specific employee’s till at the end of the shift. Marco Manager has worked with this employee for five years and considers this employee a friend. What ethical dilemmas does this present for Marco Manager?

Cash Right Now, LLC provides very high interest loans to people with poor credit scores that have a high probability of defaulting on the loan. Many people do in fact default on these loans; however, Cash Right Now, LLC does make a substantial profit overall, even considering these defaults. The people that borrow from Cash Right Now, LLC are unlikely to obtain credit elsewhere. Discuss if Cash Right Now, LLC’s business practices are ethical considering it charges much higher interest rates than traditional banks.

Week 2 - Short Essays Two (2) high ranking managers of Anrun Corp. know that the company’s revenue is rapidly declining. However, at a recent shareholder meeting, they tell the shareholders to expect record profits in the next quarter. Explain the three Blanchard and Peale questions that these two managers should have asked themselves before the shareholders’ meeting.

Paper For Above instruction

The assigned readings for this week emphasized critical ethical considerations and decision-making frameworks within business contexts. Among the key concepts discussed were ethical dilemmas in managerial responsibilities, the morality of business practices targeting vulnerable populations, and the application of ethical questions to corporate deception. Recognizing these themes is fundamental to fostering responsible leadership and sustainable business strategies in a complex marketplace.

In the case of Marco Manager at the bank, the primary ethical dilemma revolves around the conflict between personal loyalty and professional integrity. Marco has identified that money is missing from an employee’s till multiple times over three months, yet he maintains a close relationship with this employee, whom he considers a friend. This situation presents a challenge in balancing loyalty against the duty to uphold honesty and the bank’s policies. Ethically, Marco must consider whether personal relationships cloud his judgment and if his failure to act could enable ongoing theft, which could harm the institution's financial integrity and stockholder trust. The dilemma asks whether one should prioritize personal bonds or adhere strictly to professional standards and ethical conduct (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2015). An ethical approach would have Marco investigating thoroughly, ensuring fairness and transparency, and possibly involving impartial third parties, rather than allowing personal feelings to impair his judgment.

Regarding Cash Right Now, LLC’s business practices, the ethicality hinges on the company’s treatment of vulnerable borrowers and the fairness of its interest rates. The company provides high-interest loans to individuals with limited credit options—many of whom are unlikely to access traditional banking services. While the firm may operate profitably within the law, its high-interest rates can be viewed as exploitative, especially given the financial vulnerability of its clients. From an ethical standpoint, charging exorbitant rates that may trap borrowers in cycles of debt raises concerns about fairness, transparency, and social responsibility. Ethical business practices should prioritize fairness, non-exploitation, and providing opportunities for financial mobility rather than preying on individuals’ desperation (Crane & Matten, 2016). Therefore, even if legal, the business could be deemed ethically problematic if it perpetuates cycles of impoverishment, highlighting the importance of ethical review in lending practices.

The case of the two managers at Anrun Corp. underscores the importance of ethical reflection before public disclosure. The three Blanchard and Peale questions serve as a practical framework for ethical decision-making: Is it legal? Is it balanced? How will it make me feel? These questions prompt managers to evaluate actions from compliance, fairness, and personal integrity perspectives. Before the shareholder meeting, these managers should have internally questioned whether falsely projecting future profits aligns with legal standards (Is it legal?), whether it is fair to mislead shareholders about the company’s financial health (Is it balanced?), and whether such deception aligns with their personal sense of integrity (How will I feel?). Answering these questions would have alerted them to the ethical issues inherent in misleading shareholders, promoting transparency and honesty, which are crucial for maintaining organizational credibility and ethical standards (Trevino & Nelson, 2021). Ethical leadership requires diligent self-assessment and prioritizing truthful communication over short-term gains through deception.

References

• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Cengage Learning.
• Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2021). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. Wiley.