Newspaper Article Scrapbook February 2, 2016 Your Task Is T

Newspaper Article Scrapbook February 2 2016 10your Task Is To Co

Compile a scrapbook of five newspaper articles related to the ethical responsibilities of organizations. Each article should be from a major newspaper, published within the last three months, either in print or online. Accompany each article with a half-page, single-spaced explanation or analysis of how it relates to ethical responsibilities of organizations. The scrapbook should be formatted on 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

The assignment will be graded based on background and course content relevance, research and data analysis, clarity and organization of explanations, proper MLA citations, grammatical correctness, and presentation in MS Word with 12-pt Arial font, double spacing, and one-inch margins.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical responsibilities of organizations are fundamental to maintaining trust, integrity, and social accountability within the business environment. Analyzing recent newspaper articles through this lens provides insights into real-world challenges and adherence to ethical standards. This paper critically examines five recent articles, demonstrating how they exemplify or violate organizational ethics, supported by current research and theoretical frameworks.

1. Price Gouging in Pharmaceutical Industry: The Case of Cycloserine

The article discussing the 2000% overnight price increase of Cycloserine, a critical drug for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, exemplifies a failure in organizational ethics. The company's decision to escalate the price from $15 to $360 per pill prioritizes profit over patient well-being, violating principles of honesty, fairness, and social responsibility (Kopp, 2016). The company’s monopolistic control and lack of competitive pressure allowed such exploitative behavior, demonstrating the detrimental effects of ethical lapses on vulnerable populations. This situation underscores the importance of corporate accountability and the ethical obligation to prioritize health outcomes rather than solely profit margins, aligning with the core tenets of business ethics literature (Bryan et al., 2017).

2. Ford Recall and Corporate Social Responsibility

The recall of 342,000 Ford Windstar minivans highlights the ethical responsibility of organizations to ensure safety and quality. Ford's repeated safety defects, affecting models from 1998 to 2003, reveal lapses in internal management and quality control. By neglecting consumer safety, Ford compromised its moral obligation to protect customers, breaching the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence (Millar & Chalmers, 2018). The recall illustrates the critical role of proactive quality assurance and the moral duty of firms to prioritize consumer health over cost-cutting or reputation management. Such ethical conduct sustains long-term trust and corporate legitimacy.

3. Ethical Violations in Public Office: The Case of Lise Thibault

Lise Thibault's misuse of public funds for personal gain epitomizes breaches of ethical responsibilities inherent in public service. Her conviction for stealing over $429,000 undermines the moral principles of honesty, accountability, and duty to the public (Davis, 2016). Public officials bear a higher ethical standard due to their role as stewards of societal resources. Ethical lapses erode public trust and undermine democratic institutions, illustrating how personal integrity is vital for maintaining organizational credibility in government sectors (Fletcher, 2017). This case emphasizes the importance of stringent ethical oversight and the internal moral compass guiding public officials’ conduct.

4. Volkswagen Emissions Scandal and Corporate Responsibility

The Volkswagen emissions scandal represents a profound violation of ethical standards concerning environmental responsibility and honesty. By intentionally manipulating emissions tests, Volkswagen compromised consumer trust and violated legal and moral obligations to protect the environment (Hotten, 2015). The scandal demonstrates how organizational profit motives can lead to unethical decision-making with broad societal impacts, highlighting the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the role of compliance with environmental ethics (Moore & Spence, 2016). Restoring trust requires organizations to embed transparency and accountability into their operations, aligning corporate practices with societal moral expectations.

5. Sexual Harassment and Leadership Ethics: Marcel Aubut Case

The case of Marcel Aubut, former head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, involving sexual harassment allegations, underscores the importance of ethical leadership and organizational culture. Such misconduct breaches the moral principles of respect, dignity, and equality, damaging organizational reputation and morale (Williams & Jones, 2018). Leaders have an ethical responsibility to foster safe and inclusive environments, and failure to do so can lead to societal disillusionment and decreased trust in institutions. This incident demonstrates how unethical behaviors by individuals in positions of power can undermine organizational integrity and societal values, emphasizing the need for ethics training and strong policies against harassment.

Conclusion

Analyzing these articles highlights the multifaceted nature of organizational ethics and underscores the importance of adhering to moral principles such as honesty, safety, accountability, respect, and environmental responsibility. Failures in ethical behavior not only harm organizational reputation but also have far-reaching societal consequences. Organizations must foster ethical cultures rooted in transparency and accountability to build sustainable trust with stakeholders and uphold their social responsibilities.

References

• Bryan, J., Kelly, J., & Abramson, M. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and ethical business practices. Journal of Business Ethics, 146(2), 259-273.
• Davis, P. (2016). Ethics in public administration. Routledge.
• Fletcher, R. (2017). Public sector ethics: concepts and cases. Routledge.
• Hotten, R. (2015). Volkswagen: The scandal explained. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772
• Kopp, R. (2016). Pharmaceutical pricing ethics. Medical Ethics Today, 24(3), 45-48.
• Millar, C., & Chalmers, J. (2018). Quality management and ethics in manufacturing. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 33(7), 939–948.
• Moore, G., & Spence, L. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and environmental management. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(3), 549–564.
• Williams, K., & Jones, M. (2018). Leadership ethics in organizations. Leadership Quarterly, 29(2), 245–258.