This Assignment Will Give You The Opportunity To Choose An A

This assignment will give you the opportunity to choose an article and then write about the ethical implications and the impact of the events that are described.

Read and reflect on ONE of the following articles. Write a paper in which you: Analyze the following questions associated with your chosen article and discuss them using concepts you learned in this course. What ideals, effects, and consequences are at stake? Have any moral rights been violated? What would a Utilitarian recommend? What would a Kantian recommend? Explain your rationale for each of your answers to your chosen article with supporting evidence.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.

Paper For Above instruction

The analysis of ethical implications in business scenarios is a vital aspect of responsible corporate management and decision-making. In this paper, I will evaluate a selected article through the lenses of significant ethical theories—specifically utilitarianism and Kantian ethics—to understand the moral, legal, and social ramifications of the events described.

Selection and Summary of the Article

For this discussion, I have selected an article that describes a corporate decision to outsource manufacturing jobs to a country with lower labor costs, despite evidence suggesting that the move would result in significant layoffs locally. The article highlights the economic benefits for the company and shareholders, contrasting these with the social impact on displaced workers and the community.

Analysis of Ethical Principles and Implications

The critical issues revolve around balancing economic gains against societal harm. The ideals at stake include fairness, loyalty, and responsibility towards employees and the community. The effects involve economic growth for shareholders but potential unemployment, emotional distress, and community decline for displaced workers. The consequences encompass short-term profits and long-term reputational risks for the corporation.

Assessment of Moral Rights Violations

From an ethical perspective, one could argue that the company violated moral rights, specifically the workers’ right to fair treatment and job security. The decision prioritized financial interests over the rights of employees to continuous employment and stability. Furthermore, transparency and informed consent, aspects of moral rights, may have been compromised if the company failed to adequately communicate or consider the workers' perspectives.

Utilitarian Perspective

A Utilitarian would evaluate this situation by weighing the overall happiness and suffering resulting from the decision. This theory advocates for actions that maximize total happiness and minimize suffering. In this context, the company’s outsourcing might be justified if the economic benefits—such as lower costs leading to lower prices and increased shareholder wealth—result in greater overall happiness compared to the suffering of displaced workers. However, a Utilitarian would also have to consider the societal damage caused by unemployment and possible erosion of social trust, which could decrease overall happiness in the long run. If the net happiness outweighs the suffering, then the decision could be deemed ethically permissible under utilitarian principles.

Kantian Perspective

Kantian ethics emphasizes duties and moral principles, particularly the principle that individuals must be treated as ends in themselves and not merely as means to an end. From this perspective, outsourcing that results in layoffs could be considered morally wrong if it treats employees solely as means to minimize costs and maximize profits. Kantian ethics would demand that the company uphold principles of fairness, respect for persons, and honesty. Therefore, unless the company can justify its actions through principles such as fairness and respect for workers' dignity, Kantian ethics would likely oppose the decision—especially if it involves deception or neglect of moral duties towards employees.

Rationale and Supporting Evidence

The integration of these ethical frameworks reveals the complex moral landscape companies navigate. While utilitarianism might justify outsourcing due to overall economic benefits, Kantian ethics provides a moral constraint against treating workers purely instrumentally. Combining insights from both perspectives offers a more comprehensive ethical analysis that emphasizes not only outcomes but also moral duties and respect for human dignity. Numerous studies support the view that long-term corporate responsibility and ethical treatment of employees contribute to sustained success and societal well-being (Crane & Matten, 2016; Fisher & Lovell, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ethical evaluation of corporate outsourcing decisions demonstrates the importance of balancing economic benefits with moral responsibilities. Utilitarianism may justify the decision if the overall happiness increases, but Kantian ethics would caution against such actions if they violate individual rights and dignity. Therefore, companies must carefully consider not only the financial outcomes but also their moral duties to ensure responsible and ethical business practices.

References

• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Fisher, C., & Lovell, A. (2019). Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. Pearson Education.
• Gert, B. (2011). Morality: Its Nature and Justification. Oxford University Press.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. (H. J. Paton, Trans.). Harper & Row, 1964.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
• Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Shaw, W. H. (2016). Business Ethics: A Text and Cases on Moral Issues in Business. Cengage Learning.
• Johnson, C. E. (2017). Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach. Cengage Learning.
• Velasquez, M. G. (2012). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Pearson Education.
• Williams, B. (2008). Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy. Routledge.