Case Analysis: Lehman Brothers, British Petrol

Case Analysis: Case Studies: Lehman Brothers, British Petroleum, Monsanto, Merck, Goodyear, Perdue Farms In the Week Three Discussion, you selected your work on the case analysis using selected components of an argumentative essay as described in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zàºà±iga y Postigo, 2015). This written assignment will include a revised and polished version of your discussion work, the presentation and support of two premises, and an analysis of how your chosen ethical theory offers the best moral solution to the business problem in your case analysis.

Using the components of the argumentative essay located in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zàºà±iga y Postigo (2015), your assignment should include the following: An introduction. This is the “Problem” portion of the essay that is covered in Section 9.1: The Argumentative Essay (Hardy, Foster, & Zàºà±iga y Postigo, 2015). This should be an improved version of the introduction in your initial post, revised on the basis of your professor’s feedback and additional research. In this introduction, you will need to (a) identify the specific issue or problem that you want to address and give an impartial presentation of the controversy, (b) articulate briefly the characteristics of the economic system that serves as the setting for the business, and (c) examine the laws that affect the operations of the business.

The introduction should be one paragraph of around 200 words in length. A thesis. Start a new paragraph with a precise and clear sentence in which you state your moral position with regard to the case that you presented in your first paragraph. This is known as stating your thesis. (See the “Thesis” passage in “The Argumentative Essay” in Hardy, Foster, & Zàºà±iga y Postigo, 2015). The thesis you state here should be an improved version of the thesis in your initial post in the discussion, revised on the basis of your professor’s feedback and your reading of “The Argumentative Essay” indicated above.

A thesis is only one sentence, so do not write a series of sentences, or a complex sentence with explanatory clauses (e.g., “because…” or “since…”, or “according to Dr. Mary Expert, an economist with the Bureau of Labor statistics…” or “a law that was ratified with 80% votes in favor…”). An example of a precise and clear thesis is this: “Factory farms are not morally justifiable” or, of course, the opposite point of view: “Factory farms are morally justifiable.” Keep in mind that your thesis in this assignment will be the basis for the argumentative essay of the Week Five written assignment, so take your time when formulating this thesis. Ethical theory. In the same second paragraph as the thesis statement, identify the ethical theory that supports your moral position.

You may choose from utilitarianism, duty ethics, or virtue ethics. Present the characteristics of the ethical theory in a broad sketch, and include citations and references in APA form. Then, apply your chosen ethical theory by explaining how it lends itself to the moral position that you are defending. Two premises. Present at least two reasons in support of your thesis and these should be presented in the form of a claim.

These are called premises. Articulate each premise in one clear and grammatically correct sentence. Review Section 9.1 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Foster, Hardy, and Zàºà±iga y Postigo, 2015). Start a new paragraph for each. In the rest of the paragraph, support your premise by presenting an analysis of how the ethical theory lends itself to the best solution.

This analysis includes articulating the characteristic(s) of the economic system at work that support the claims in your premises. It also includes examining the effects of the law(s) at work that also support the claims in your premises. Comparative analysis. In the final paragraph, analyze how this application lends itself to a solution that is superior to that offered by one of the ethical theories that you did not select. To do this, provide a clear statement describing the moral solution offered by this other theory. For example, if you chose utilitarianism to apply to your case, then you can choose from either virtue ethics or deontology for your comparative analysis. Explain in no more than three sentences what moral solution would result from the application of this other ethical theory. See the “Sample Case Analysis” in the required reading for an illustration of how this would look like. Finally, analyze the strengths of the moral solution presented by your chosen ethical theory in ways that demonstrate how it is superior to the moral solution offered by the other ethical theory. Once you receive your assignment back from your professor, start working on revisions based on your professor’s feedback.

This is the first step in preparing your Final Project and the details are presented on the Final Project’s prompt. You will benefit from starting your Final Project as soon as you receive your assignment back from your professor.

Paper For Above instruction

The analysis of pressing business issues in prominent corporate case studies demands a rigorous application of ethical reasoning, integrating components of argumentative essays to clarify positions and support moral judgments. This paper examines a selected business problem from cases such as Lehman Brothers, British Petroleum, Monsanto, Merck, Goodyear, and Perdue Farms, employing a structured argumentative approach based on Hardy, Foster, & Zàºà±iga y Postigo’s guidelines (2015). Through this process, I aim to articulate the problem clearly, establish a well-defined moral stance, support that stance with premises grounded in ethical theory, and compare solutions across different ethical frameworks to determine the most compelling moral justification.

To begin, the introduction offers an impartial presentation of the issue, providing context about the economic system that shapes the industry and the legal environment governing corporate operations. For example, considering British Petroleum’s role in environmental degradation, the discussion would address the neoliberal economic policies favoring deregulation, alongside relevant laws like environmental regulations and corporate liability statutes. This framing establishes the context within which moral judgments are made, highlighting the controversy surrounding corporate responsibility for environmental harm.

Next, the thesis statement asserts a clear moral position. For instance, in analyzing BP’s environmental practices, a thesis might state: “BP’s irresponsible environmental practices are morally unjustifiable,” which sets the moral direction for the argument. This thesis is an evolution from initial drafts, refined through feedback and further research, to ensure clarity and decisiveness. The thesis acts as the foundation for justifying moral reasoning based on ethical theory.

In the subsequent paragraph, the paper identifies the ethical theory supporting the thesis—such as utilitarianism, duty ethics, or virtue ethics. For instance, adopting utilitarianism, the analysis would focus on maximizing overall well-being, considering both the immediate economic benefits of fossil fuel usage and the long-term environmental damages. The characteristics of the chosen ethical framework are presented broadly, with APA citations, and then applied directly to evaluate the morality of the business practices under review.

Following this, two premises are articulated, each supporting the central moral position. For example, a premise might be: “Environmental degradation caused by BP’s practices results in harm to community health,” supported by analysis of how utilitarian principles prioritize the greatest good, and how legal frameworks like environmental laws aim to mitigate such harm. Each premise is thoroughly examined for its logical coherence and ethical robustness, showing how the economic system's incentives and legal regulations reinforce or challenge these claims.

The final analytical section involves a comparative appraisal, whereby the moral solution derived from the chosen ethical theory is contrasted with that from another framework, such as duty ethics or virtue ethics. The analysis demonstrates that utilitarianism, for instance, offers a more comprehensive moral justification by considering broader consequences, despite potential criticisms. The strengths of this solution are articulated to justify why it surpasses the alternative moral perspectives in addressing the case’s ethical complexity.

This detailed ethical analysis informs the development of a well-supported, critical, and reflective argument that can serve as the foundation for the final project. It emphasizes clarity, logical progression, and adherence to APA standards, ensuring the paper’s academic rigor and relevance to contemporary business ethics debates.

References

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