Sample Paper Assignment 3 Grade C Note Student Earned An A

Sample Paper Assignment 3 Grade C Note Student Earned An A On A

Pat, the plant manager of one of ABC’s five plants, faces a significant ethical dilemma. She must decide whether to disclose the company's sensitive information to a friend who is her subordinate or to maintain her integrity and confidentiality by not revealing it. As a manager, Pat is ethically and professionally obligated to keep company information private, and revealing such information could compromise her position and the company's interests. However, doing so could also let down a friend in need, posing a conflict between personal loyalty and professional duty.

This dilemma raises the question: should Pat prioritize her loyalty to her friend or her responsibility to her company? To analyze the situation, two ethical theories can be applied: the Categorical Imperative Theory and Virtue Ethics.

The first theory, the Categorical Imperative, developed by Immanuel Kant, suggests that decisions should be made based on principles that could be universally applied. Essentially, one should act according to rules that one would want everyone to follow. Applying this to Pat’s case, she should consider whether revealing company secrets to her friend would be acceptable if everyone in her position acted similarly. Since confidentiality is a fundamental obligation within corporate environments, breaking it would violate a universal moral law, leading to potential chaos and loss of trust within the organization. Therefore, Kantian ethics would advise against sharing sensitive information, as it would not be acceptable as a universal rule that confidentiality can be broken for personal reasons.

The second ethical framework, Virtue Ethics, emphasizes the importance of moral character and personal virtues such as honesty, integrity, and loyalty. Applying this to Pat’s situation, her decision depends on which virtue she values more—her loyalty to her friend or her duty to the company. If she regards honesty and integrity as paramount, she would refrain from revealing the information, staying true to her professional responsibilities. Conversely, if she prioritizes compassion and loyalty to her friend, she might consider sharing the information, risking her professional integrity. Ultimately, Virtue Ethics suggests that Pat should cultivate virtues that align with her role as a responsible manager and a person of integrity, favoring confidentiality and trustworthiness.

Both ethical theories point toward the conclusion that Pat should uphold confidentiality and not disclose the company’s secrets. The Kantian approach underscores the importance of consistency and universal moral rules, which in this context, support secrecy and honesty. Virtue Ethics, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of character traits such as integrity and responsibility, which also favor maintaining confidentiality. While the desire to help a friend is understandable, professional duties and ethical principles advocate for preserving trust and integrity within the organization.

In conclusion, Pat should choose to keep company information confidential, aligning her actions with both Kantian ethics and Virtue Ethics. Doing so not only preserves her professional integrity but also maintains the trust and ethical standards of her organization. This decision underscores the importance of adhering to moral principles and cultivating virtues essential to effective and ethical leadership. Personal loyalty, while significant, should not override professional responsibilities, especially when the breach of confidentiality could harm many others and compromise organizational integrity.

References

• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Translated by Mary Gregor, 2002.
• Hursthouse, R. (1999). Virtue Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2006). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrch, L., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Appleby, S. (2014). Ethical Decision Making in Business. SAGE Publications.
• Moon, J. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
• Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices. HarperOne.
• Brooks, S., & Surdyk, M. (2018). Ethics and Corporate Responsibility. Routledge.