Overview For This Assignment: Examine A Company

Overviewfor This Assignment You Will Examine A Company That Had An Et

Examine a company of your choice that had an ethical dilemma not previously discussed. Using the four ethical perspectives, provide a detailed analysis of the company's response. Submit your completed document in .doc or .docx format, ensuring it is five to seven pages long and complies with APA writing standards. Refer to the Compliance Week article by Jaeger (2019) for examples of ethical dilemmas and responses.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Ethical dilemmas in business are commonplace and often challenge an organization’s moral compass, forcing leadership to make difficult decisions that balance profit, reputation, and social responsibility. This paper examines the ethical dilemma faced by Google in 2018 regarding its project Dragonfly, a censored search engine developed for China. Analyzing Google's response through the lens of four ethical perspectives—utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and ethics of justice—provides a comprehensive understanding of how the company addressed this complex issue and the implications of its decision.

Overview of Google's Ethical Dilemma

In 2018, Google faced a significant ethical dilemma concerning its planned launch of a censored search engine for China, known as Project Dragonfly. The project aimed to re-enter the Chinese market, which the company had exited in 2010 due to concerns about censorship and human rights violations. However, collaboration with the Chinese government necessitated filtering search results, censoring information related to human rights, democracy, and political dissent. The revelation of Project Dragonfly sparked widespread protests internally among Google employees and externally from human rights organizations and the global community. Many viewed the collaboration as contrary to Google's ethical principles, especially its commitment to supporting free expression and human rights.

Google's Response

After internal protests and external criticism, Google paused Project Dragonfly in 2019, though it did not completely abandon its plans to re-enter China. The company issued statements emphasizing its commitment to ethical standards and expressed that it was re-evaluating its approach to responsible AI and censorship concerns. This response reflects a nuanced attempt to balance business interests with ethical principles, illustrating the complexity of corporate decision-making in ethically sensitive situations.

Application of Ethical Perspectives

Utilitarianism evaluates the decision based on outcomes, aiming to maximize overall happiness and reduce harm. In Google's case, the potential benefit of re-entering the lucrative Chinese market was weighed against the harm caused by complicity in censorship and human rights violations. The decision to proceed or pause reflects the utilitarian calculation of long-term benefits versus ethical costs.

Deontological ethics emphasizes duties and principles, such as respecting human rights and truthfulness. From this perspective, Google's involvement in censorship conflicted with its obligation to uphold free expression and support human rights, leading many to argue that the company's actions were ethically problematic regardless of potential economic gains.

Virtue ethics focuses on moral character and virtues such as honesty, courage, and integrity. The internal protests by employees demonstrated a commitment to virtuous behavior aligning with integrity and moral courage. Google's response can be analyzed regarding how well its actions reflected these virtues and whether leadership demonstrated moral character or prioritized corporate interests.

Ethics of justice emphasizes fairness and equitable treatment. The decision to censor information in China raised concerns about justice, especially considering the suppression of dissent and unequal treatment of Chinese citizens compared to global standards of free expression. Google's handling of the situation reveals tensions between corporate responsibility and the ethical imperative for fairness.

Conclusion

Google's handling of Project Dragonfly exemplifies the complex interplay of various ethical perspectives faced by modern corporations. While the company sought to balance economic opportunities with moral responsibilities, its response was subject to critique from multiple ethical angles. The analysis highlights the importance of aligning corporate actions with core ethical principles, especially when engaging in activities with significant social implications. Ultimately, Google's case underscores the need for comprehensive ethical evaluation frameworks to guide responsible decision-making in business.

References

  • Jaeger, T. (2019, December 27). Top ethics and compliance failures of 2019. Compliance Week. https://www.complianceweek.com
  • Friedman, M. (1970). The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. The New York Times Magazine.
  • Johnson, D. G. (2014). Ethical decision-making and policy analysis. Cambridge University Press.
  • Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Hackett Publishing.
  • Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
  • MacIntyre, A. (2007). After virtue: A study in moral theory. University of Notre Dame Press.
  • Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
  • Regan, T. (1983). The Case for Animal Rights. University of California Press.
  • Shaw, W. H. (2016). Business ethics: Moral dilemmas and social issues. Cengage Learning.
  • Wiredu, K. (1995). Philosophy and an African culture. Cambridge University Press.

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