Pre-Ethics Assignment No 2 Due 10/17 Ethics Exercise Read Th

Pre Ethics Assignment No 2 Due 1017ethics Exercise Read The Followin

Describe the ethical dilemma that Barbara faces.

What are Barbara’s possible choices to make in this situation, based on the ethical theories that you have studied?

For each alternative choice/approach, who are the stakeholders? Who benefits (gains) and loses (is harmed) as a result?

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical dilemma faced by Barbara King is rooted in the conflict between her professional and personal integrity and her loyalty to her employer's practices. As a corporate communications specialist working for a high-tech startup during a period of rapid industry growth, Barbara discovers that the company is intentionally inflating quarterly financial numbers. These inflated figures serve to artificially boost the company's stock price, fostering an environment where employees, including Barbara, are pressured to maintain loyalty and propagate the false information. The dilemma manifests in whether Barbara should report the unethical practice or remain silent to protect her job, benefits, and the company's reputation within the organization.

The core of the ethical issue pertains to honesty, integrity, and responsibility. From an ethical standpoint, Barbara is confronted with a decision aligning with deontological ethics, which emphasizes duty and moral obligation, and consequentialist ethics, which considers the outcomes of her choices. Choosing to report the fraud aligns with moral duty, emphasizing honesty and transparency, whereas remaining silent aligns with self-interest and loyalty, albeit at the expense of ethical standards. Virtue ethics would suggest that Barbara should embody traits like honesty, courage, and integrity, guiding her to take a morally upright stance regardless of potential personal costs.

Potential choices for Barbara include:

1. Report the financial fraud to external authorities or regulatory agencies.

   This aligns with Kantian ethics, which emphasizes duty and adherence to moral principles. It reflects her obligation to uphold honesty and transparency, even if it jeopardizes her job. The stakeholders impacted include the company's management and shareholders (potentially harmed by exposure), other employees (who may face repercussions or job insecurity), regulatory agencies, and the public if the misconduct is revealed.

2. Confront the company management and advise them to correct the financial reports without going outside the organization.

   This approach reflects an ethical dilemma of loyalty vs. integrity. It preserves her internal relationship with the company but may be ineffective if management is complicit. Stakeholders include her colleagues, management, and shareholders. The company may benefit from avoiding external scrutiny, but employees and investors are at risk of continued deception or harm from eventual exposure.

3. Remain silent and continue participating in the reporting of inflated numbers.

   This choice aligns with a consequentialist view that might justify silence if immediate personal benefits (job, salary, benefits) outweigh long-term ethical costs. Stakeholders include herself (benefits from job security), coworkers (shared complicity), the company (short-term gains), and external parties (who are harmed if the fraud remains undisclosed).

4. Resign from the position or leave the company to avoid involvement in unethical practices.

   This reflects virtue ethics emphasizing moral courage and integrity. While it protects her moral principles, it also results in personal loss—career disruption and financial insecurity. Stakeholders affected include herself, as well as her colleagues and the company, which loses an employee committed to ethical standards.

In analyzing these options, it becomes clear that Barbara's decision involves weighing her duty to honesty and her loyalty to her employer and colleagues. Ethically, the most defendable choice aligns with transparency—either by reporting the misconduct externally or internally—thereby honoring her moral responsibility. Each choice bears different implications for stakeholders, from potential harm to the company and investors to benefits for societal trust and personal integrity.

References

• Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2020). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Boatright, J. R. (2019). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Pearson.
• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Bowen, H. R. (1953). Social Responsibilities of the Businessman. Harper.
• Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices. HarperOne.
• Maclagan, P. (2018). Ethical perspectives in business: A review. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(4), 857-865.
• Plato. (380 BC). The Republic. Translated by G. M. Aubrey.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Hackett Publishing.
• Mill, J.S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
• Velasquez, M., Andre, T., Shanks, T., & Meyer, M. J. (2015). Foundations of Business Ethics. Pearson.