This Scenario Involves Steven J. Trzaska, The Head Of Loreal

This Scenario Involves Steven J Trzaska The Head Of Loreal Usas Re

This scenario involves Steven J. Trzaska, the head of L'Oreal USA's regional patent team, and ethical rules and core values of the company. Read the scenario in the textbook and complete the following activity. Create a WH Framework chart, similar to Exhibit 2.2. Refer to L'Oreal’s core values and the primary values in Exhibit 2.3 to determine the guidelines to include in the WH Framework.

Write an explanation of how you decided on the list of stakeholders and guidelines to include in your WH Framework. Address the following questions in your explanation: Which stakeholders did Traszka and the management of L’Oreal cater to? Why? What values did L’Oreal’s management choose when they made the decision to fire Trzaska? Why?

Self-Reflection In addition to your explanation, address the following self-reflection questions: How did the WH Framework help you analyze the situation? Now that you’ve put together the framework, how does the WH Framework help managers with making business decisions? What type of decisions would the WH Framework chart help you make as a manager? Submit your chart and answers.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The ethical decision-making process within corporations often involves balancing multiple stakeholder interests while adhering to core values and principles. The scenario involving Steven J. Trzaska, the head of L'Oreal USA's regional patent team, presents a complex situation that requires careful ethical analysis. The creation of a WH Framework—similar to Exhibit 2.2 in the textbook—serves as a valuable tool to systematically approach the ethical dilemma, identify relevant stakeholders, and establish guidelines based on corporate values. This paper discusses the rationale behind selecting specific stakeholders and guidelines, analyzes the values guiding the management's decision to terminate Trzaska, and provides a self-reflection on the utility of the WH Framework in managerial decision-making.

Developing the WH Framework

The WH Framework is a decision-making model that considers "Who" is affected and "What" guidelines or principles should be followed. In constructing this framework for the Trzaska case, the first step involved identifying stakeholders. The primary stakeholders include Trzaska himself, L'Oreal’s management, shareholders, employees, customers, and the broader community and regulatory agencies. Trzaska's role as the head of the patent team positions him as a key individual affected by management’s decisions, making him a primary stakeholder. L’Oreal's management is another critical stakeholder since their ethical standards and values influence the decision to retain or dismiss Trzaska.

Shareholders and employees are also considered stakeholders because their interests are impacted by the company's reputation and legal compliance. Customers and the community represent broader societal interests, especially given L'Oreal's brand reputation and corporate social responsibility commitments. Regulatory agencies are included as stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal standards concerning patents and ethical business practices.

Selecting guidelines involved referencing L'Oreal’s core values, such as integrity, respect, transparency, and responsibility, as well as primary values expressed in Exhibit 2.3, including honesty, fairness, and accountability. These values guide decision-making by promoting ethical conduct consistent with the company’s reputation and long-term success. The guidelines derived emphasize respecting individual rights, maintaining transparency in actions, and fostering an environment of fairness and accountability.

Rationale Behind Stakeholder and Guideline Selection

Trzaska and L’Oreal management primarily focused on stakeholders directly involved in or affected by the ethical dilemma. The management’s decision to fire Trzaska was driven by the need to uphold the company's integrity and reputation, suggesting that the broader societal values of honesty and accountability were prioritized. The stakeholders—especially management, shareholders, and customers—were considered to be those whose trust and confidence are critical for the company’s longevity. Management’s emphasis on protecting corporate image aligns with ethical principles of responsibility and transparency, which are fundamental to L’Oreal’s core values.

The choice to dismiss Trzaska was likely influenced by concerns about legal compliance, protecting intellectual property, and safeguarding the company’s reputation. Ethical values such as honesty, fairness, and accountability underpin the decision, ensuring that the company adheres to legal standards and ethical norms. This decision reflects a prioritization of maintaining trustworthiness and integrity among stakeholders, even at the cost of individual employment.

Self-Reflection on the WH Framework

Constructing and analyzing the WH Framework provided a clear visual and conceptual representation of the ethical considerations involved in the Trzaska case. It helped clarify which stakeholders needed to be prioritized and which guiding principles should be applied in decision-making. The framework facilitated a structured approach, ensuring that all relevant ethical dimensions were considered rather than relying solely on subjective judgment.

For managers, the WH Framework offers a systematic tool to evaluate ethical dilemmas by explicitly mapping out stakeholders and relevant guidelines. It encourages a comprehensive analysis that considers both the interests of different parties and the company’s core values. As a decision-making aid, the framework can be particularly useful in situations involving conflicts of interest, ethical breaches, or strategic choices that impact multiple stakeholders.

The WH Framework is especially valuable in decisions that require balancing short-term gains with long-term ethical standards. It helps managers develop consistent, principled responses to complex challenges, fostering integrity and social responsibility within organizations. By applying this structured approach, managers can make more transparent and ethically sound decisions, ultimately strengthening stakeholder trust and organizational reputation.

Conclusion

The process of creating a WH Framework for the Trzaska case underscores the importance of ethically grounded decision-making in corporate settings. Carefully selecting stakeholders and aligning guidelines with core values ensures that decisions support the company's ethical standards while addressing stakeholder interests. The framework serves as a powerful tool for managers to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, promoting responsible leadership that upholds integrity, fairness, and accountability. As businesses face increasingly challenging ethical questions, the WH Framework exemplifies how structured ethical analysis can guide responsible and sustainable decision-making.

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