Ethics Bus 2106 Name Date

Ethicsbusa 2106name Date

Ethics BUSA 2106 Name: _____________________ Date: _____________________

EX 1: BJ’s Ethical Dilemma Although BJ just graduated from GSU last year, he has advanced rapidly in his company and is now Senior Purchasing Agent in the Corporate Procurement Division of Mega Life Insurance Company. Yesterday, his boss asked him to buy 28 new computers for the analysts in the Corporate Finance division. After talking with several analysts to determine the computer specifications they need in their positions, he found two computers that appear to meet the company’s needs and specifications: (1) the CompuWiz 2.3 desktop, which is listed on the CompuWiz website at a price of $2,300 and (2) the ProcessCore 2000, produced by ProcessCore, Inc., which lists at a price of $2,000.

Today, BJ contacted his local CompuWiz dealer to verify that the 2.3 desktop has the capabilities to meet the needs of Mega Life’s financial analysts. He discussed the computer’s specifications and pricing before saying that he would call the dealer back after verifying price, features, and capabilities of the Process Core 2000 that the company is also considering. Before they hang up, the CompuWiz dealer said, “One more thing… I’d like to throw in our latest-model tablet computer for you, valued at $399, as a gesture of CompuWiz’s commitment to your company. You’ll never be able to get this kind of a deal from ProcessCore.” What should BJ do?

Answer the questions below to conduct an ethical analysis of BJ’s options. For this exercise, BJ has only two options: accept the $399 tablet from CompuWiz and purchase the 28 computers from CompuWiz or reject that offer and purchase the 28 computers from ProcessCore.

Paper For Above instruction

1. What is the ethical question confronting BJ? Be as specific as possible, using the word “should” as his choice raises an ethical, not a legal issue.

The primary ethical question confronting BJ is: Should he accept the $399 tablet offer from CompuWiz to secure the purchase of 28 computers from them, potentially compromising his objectivity and integrity, or should he reject the offer and purchase the computers from ProcessCore, thereby avoiding any appearance of impropriety?

2. Who are the primary stakeholders who might be affected by BJ’s choice? Identify at least 5.

The primary stakeholders include:

  • BJ himself, as his ethical integrity and professional reputation are at stake.
  • The management of Mega Life Insurance Company, which relies on BJ’s decision to act ethically and make a value-conscious choice.
  • The sales representatives and dealers from CompuWiz and ProcessCore, whose business interests are directly involved.
  • The analysts and staff who will use the new computers, whose productivity depends on the quality of the procurement decision.
  • The shareholders and customers of Mega Life, who are affected indirectly by corporate integrity and decision-making practices.

3. Make an initial decision based on BJ’s two options and analyze it below by:

(a) describing each ethical theory, (b) applying each theory to your initial decision, and then (c) concluding whether your initial choice is ethical, based on that ethical theory. Show your analysis for each theory in 3-5 complete sentences.

Initial decision?

My initial decision is to reject the $399 tablet offer from CompuWiz and purchase the computers from ProcessCore. This choice aligns with maintaining ethical integrity by avoiding potential conflicts of interest and improper influence in procurement decisions.

Utilitarian theory

Utilitarianism assesses actions based on their overall happiness or utility. Accepting the tablet may produce short-term benefits for BJ and CompuWiz but could undermine trust and lead to less optimal decisions in the future, potentially reducing overall organizational utility. Conversely, rejecting the offer promotes fairness and integrity, contributing to greater organizational and stakeholder trust, leading to a higher net utility.

Rights theory

Rights theory emphasizes respecting individuals’ rights, including fair and unbiased treatment. Accepting the tablet could violate the rights of other vendors or stakeholders to a fair procurement process by compromising BJ’s objectivity. Rejecting the offer respects all stakeholders’ rights to ethical treatment and impartial decision-making.

Justice theory

Justice theory advocates for fairness and equal treatment. Accepting the gift might be seen as giving undue favoritism to CompuWiz, leading to an unfair advantage, violating principles of impartiality. Rejecting the offer ensures that the procurement process remains fair and equitable to all vendors.

Virtue theory

Virtue ethics focuses on moral character and integrity. Accepting the gift might reflect greed or favoritism, while rejecting it demonstrates honesty, integrity, and professionalism—key virtues expected of a procurement officer. Therefore, rejecting the offer aligns with virtuous conduct.

Based on these analyses, the initial decision to reject the offer from CompuWiz is ethical.

4. Based on your ethical analysis, what is your decision? Which of the four ethical theories was most helpful in guiding your decision? How?

My decision is to reject the $399 tablet offer from CompuWiz and proceed with purchasing the computers from ProcessCore. Among the four theories, virtue ethics was most helpful because it centers on moral character, emphasizing honesty and integrity. This focus resonated strongly with the professional standards expected in procurement roles, guiding me to prioritize integrity over short-term gains.

5. In real life, might BJ have had other options? What might they be? What other information, if any, might you have wanted to know if you had been in BJ’s position?

In real life, BJ could have explored alternative options such as negotiating a similar discount or benefit from ProcessCore, or seeking guidance from a higher authority or ethics officer within the company. Additional information that could influence his decision includes the company’s policies on gifts and gratuities, the legal implications of accepting such offers, and previous precedents regarding conflicts of interest. Knowing the ethical standards and code of conduct of his organization would also help ensure that his actions align with corporate values and legal requirements.

References

  • Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
  • Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Bowen, H. R. (2018). Social Responsibilities of the Businessman. University of California Press.
  • Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2021). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. Wiley.
  • Shaw, W. H. (2020). Business Ethics: A Text and Cases Approach. Cengage Learning.
  • Carroll, A. B., & Buchholtz, A. K. (2014). Business and Society: Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management. Cengage.
  • Stead, W. E., & Miller, J. M. (2019). Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and Social Responsibility. Pearson.
  • Schwartz, M. S. (2017). The Ethics of Business: A Concise Introduction. Springer.
  • Kaptein, M. (2018). The Effectiveness of Business Ethics Programs: A Theoretical and Empirical Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 154(3), 573-589.
  • Valentine, S., & Fleischman, G. (2014). Ethics Programs, Perceived Stakeholder Importance, and Organisational Ethical Culture. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(3), 425-438.

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