Ethical Dilemmas In Business Films: A Critical Analysis

Ethical Dilemmas in Business Films: A Critical Analysis

Identify and analyze an ethical dilemma portrayed in a film selected from the BUS225 Approved Films List. Summarize the business-related ethical dilemma, evaluate the character’s decision using ethical decision-making criteria, and assess the outcome from a business perspective. Discuss whether the character’s choice aligns with your worldview and how universal truths impact the film’s moral themes.

Paper For Above instruction

In today's complex corporate environment, ethical dilemmas frequently serve as compelling narratives that illuminate the moral responsibilities of individuals within organizations. Films offer a unique lens through which to examine these dilemmas, illustrating the tension between personal morals and corporate interests. This paper explores the ethical dilemma depicted in the film The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), analyzing it from a business perspective using established ethical decision-making frameworks. The goal is to understand how characters navigate moral challenges, the implications of their decisions, and the resonance of these actions with broader ethical principles, including universal truths.

Introduction

Films serve as powerful pedagogical tools in exploring ethical issues in business. The Wolf of Wall Street exemplifies the quintessential corporate ethical dilemma—a clash between greed-driven behavior and moral responsibility. The film chronicles the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, whose manipulative sales tactics and illegal activities reflect profound ethical breaches. This analysis aims to illustrate the nature of this dilemma, evaluate the decision-making process within the narrative, and understand the broader implications in a business context. By applying ethical decision-making models, this paper illuminates the moral considerations underlying the character's choices and assesses their alignment with ethical standards and personal worldview.

Summary of the Ethical Dilemma

At the core of The Wolf of Wall Street lies a business ethical dilemma: the pursuit of financial gain at the expense of honesty and legal compliance. Jordan Belfort and his brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, manipulate investors through pump-and-dump schemes, inflating stock prices to defraud clients. This scheme presents a classic ethical dilemma—prioritizing profit over integrity. The dilemma involves choices that impact clients, employees, and the broader financial market. The company's aggressive sales culture encourages unethical behavior, blurring the line between legitimate sales and fraudulent conduct. This creates a moral conflict for individuals like Belfort, who are caught between personal ambition and ethical responsibilities.

Analysis Using Ethical Decision-Making Criteria

The ethical decision-making process, as outlined in the Case Study Checklist (Teays, 2015), provides a structured approach to evaluating Belfort's actions. Initially, he clearly defines the problem: engaging in illegal stock manipulation to maximize profits. The key players include Belfort himself, his employees, investors, regulators, and the law. Belfort states the facts: he is manipulating stock prices for personal gain, disregarding legal and ethical boundaries. His actions are driven by the core value of greed and success, often justified by societal notions of the American Dream.

Clarifying key concepts and values reveals that Belfort's actions conflict with principles of honesty and legality. The criteria of assessment involve weighing profit maximization against potential harm to investors and market integrity. Belfort's perspective is that aggressive sales and risk-taking are necessary for success, but this overlooks broader ethical standards. Gaining perspective shows that his behavior ultimately leads to financial and legal ruin, and damages his reputation and that of his employees.

Deciding on a course of action, Belfort makes a conscious choice to continue engaging in fraudulent schemes despite mounting risks. From an ethical standpoint, his decision neglects the importance of legality, honesty, and respect for others—principles central to many ethical theories.

Outcome and Ethical Evaluation

The consequences of Belfort’s decisions are severe: criminal charges, loss of reputation, and personal downfall. From a business perspective, his unethical choices undermine market trust and harm stakeholders. Applying ethical standards from the course (such as Kant’s Categorical Imperative) demonstrates that Belfort’s actions treat clients and investors as means to personal enrichment, violating the obligation to respect others’ intrinsic value. Similarly, utilitarian analysis suggests that his actions produce short-term financial benefits but lead to long-term societal harm, including economic instability and loss of public trust.

Evaluating the morality of Belfort’s decisions, it becomes clear that they are ethically indefensible in the long run. This aligns with the view that integrity and legal compliance are fundamental to sustainable business practices. The decision to engage in deception and fraud mirrors a disregard for universal moral principles, illustrating the pitfalls of valuing profit over principle.

Personal Worldview and Universal Truths

From a personal perspective, Belfort’s choices conflict with my worldview, which emphasizes honesty, responsibility, and integrity. The film exemplifies how the pursuit of greed can distort personal morals and damage societal trust. Universal truths, such as the intrinsic worth of individuals and the importance of justice, highlight the moral flaws of Belfort’s actions. This recognition underscores that adherence to universal ethical principles fosters trust and accountability, essential for ethical leadership and sustainable business practices.

Conclusion

The Wolf of Wall Street vividly portrays a business ethical dilemma rooted in greed and deception. Through applying ethical decision-making criteria, it is evident that Belfort’s choices violate core moral standards, leading to destructive consequences. The analysis demonstrates the importance of integrating ethical principles into business decisions, emphasizing that sustainable success depends on integrity and respect for others. Personal and universal values reinforce that ethical conduct is essential for moral and societal well-being. This case underscores the need for ethical awareness and responsibility in shaping trustworthy business environments.

References

  • Fieser, J. (2015). Introduction to Ethics. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Teays, T. (2015). Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach. Wiley.
  • Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Kantian Edition.
  • Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
  • Tipton, R. (2017). Ethical decision-making in business. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(1), 135-152.
  • Crane, A., Matten, D., & Spence, L. J. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility: Readings and Cases in a Global Context. Routledge.
  • Boatright, J. R. (2012). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Pearson.
  • Donaldson, T., & Werhane, P. (2019). Ethics in Business: A Managerial Approach. Cambridge University Press.
  • Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2021). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
  • Sandel, M. J. (2009). Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

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