This document discusses the ethical theory of Deontology and its application in real-life scenarios. It also explores the importance of ethical marketing and the role of values in decision-making.
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Running Head: Business Ethics 0 Business Ethics Case Student Name 5/28/2019
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Business Ethics 1 Question 1 The ethical theory of Deontology is chosen which is based on the concept that what is right and what is wrong considering the moral rules. This ethical theory is related to Immanuel Kant and focuses on the phrases like โDonโt lie, Donโt Cheatโ. This theory of ethics highlights the importance of rules and duty in an individual life. This helps in knowing what is ethically correct. This principle in practice is little bit complicated as this does not provide exact result as the principle is based on the subjective aspects and on set of rules which are rigid. So people find it difficult to accept the deontology ethical principle (Alexander & Moore, 2016). For example, a software engineer has duty to keep an eye on the system and work according to the rules and principles of the company. But he gets to know that a nuclear missile is getting to launch that may harm many people. The software engineer can hack the system and stop the launch as it is against person moral values, but engineer cannot hack the system without the permission as it is against his professional code of ethics and resultant in lying or fraud or cheating by the engineer. As per deontology to violate or beach the rules are not acceptable. Understanding the right and wrong behavior or ethically correct situations is difficult as each individual has their own perception in accordance with their moral values and ethics. Whereas virtue ethics theory highlights the character of an individual and assumes that a person acquires all this through practice. The character of an individual would be honorable and appreciable. This theory emphasize on that by practicing the virtual habits an individual will make right decision when face ethical issues(Bowie, 2017, p. 85). So both the ethical principles give a way to solve the ethical dilemmas by using different approaches. Every individual as to face some ethical issues during personal or professional life it is how to get out of this by identifying what is wrong and what is right in that situation(Gill, 2009, p. 20).Ethical dilemma arises due to emotions and feeling in an individual, all decisions are affected by moral values and sentiments of a person which guides whether it is ethical from a perspective or not.
Business Ethics 2 Question 2 The most enjoyable topic was ethics in Marketing that I can relate easily with the practical scenario. It was interesting to know that marketing involved ethical codes too as nowadays the businesses are depends on how they market or present themselves in front of society or people (Eagle & Dahl, 2015, p. 142).I personally enjoyed the issues in normative marketing ethics that includes micro level and macro levels issues. Understanding the concept and these issues was a challenging task as it is difficult to distinguish between what is ethical and unethical in the business. Considering the micro marketing issues marketing of harmful products like cigarettes and alcohol is illegal still companies advertise these on television and social media(Laczniak & Murphy, 2019, p. 402). On other side macro issues in marketing impacts on the society as whole or impact on large number of person. Macro issues in marketing are advertising of anti-aging cream products using young models, gender biasness and manipulating the product details to attract the customers to larger extent(Drumwright, 2018, p. 511).All the marketing aspects need to be followed by the ethical principles. In relation to understanding these issues an example can be taken, advertisement of skin lightening cream is directly concentrated on the differentiation in between black and white people so ad campaign is legal or not is the questionable thing. Whereas the claim made in advertisement by the companies that cream lighten the skin color and make it softer or smoother are deceptive. This comes under product misrepresentation in the marketing. I understood the concept of ethics in marketing and to what extent it is important to do ethical marketing in current scenario as customers are knowledgeable. Increasing role of social media marketing develops the need of ethical rules in the marketing(Charlesworth, 2018, p. 102). However I was confused in related to Bottom of pyramid marketing but later on understand the concept in a true manner that how companies target low income groups and gain the benefits of untapped market(Jaiswal & Gupta, 2015, p. 114).Learning through practical implication became an easy task that I did by taking knowledge of the above mentioned topics.
Business Ethics 3 Question 3 Moralimaginationisaprocessthatincludesunderstandingthesituationandreacting accordingly. The first step in this process is ethical thinking and then generating the solutions for the problem. For that ethical thinking values are important. It provides the basis to what is right and wrong and what to do or not to do(Johnson, 2014, p. 185).I personally believe that core values of a person affect his decision making and to live up to the personal values is essential whether in workplace or any other circumstances. My personal values are calmness, cooperation, teamwork, unity, reliability, human connection and insightfulness. In order to relate my personal values with workplace I will try to discover my core value first that is human connection. I like to work where people work in teams and have unity in their actions for that I need to understand the work environment first and will have to analyses whether are my values matches the workplace values and when my work and behavior match my values life is fulfilling. To put my values into practice firstly I identify my core values, analyses my ethical thinking, and then familiarize myself with the organizational values. Knowing the organization value is necessary for me because that will give me idea about what I have to deliver, whether my values matches if not than I have to change accordingly for self-satisfaction. Secondly I will talk to my immediate superior to solve the ethical issues or to talk about aligning my values with the organization values. When my values are honored each day I will able to work efficiently so itโs necessary to identify the personal values and organizational values and then planning accordingly to find congruence. As putting my values in the practice all the time is not possible sometimes situation might be unfavorable that is the time when I have to follow my ethics and values to get the right thing done. Sentiments and emotions are major criteria while taking any decisions as this affects an individual ability to think and react on a particular scenario(Whitaker & Godwin, 2013, p. 70).I am an emotional personality who will choose ethics and moral values first rather than personal benefits but in organization or workplace moral theory is applicable. In that situation I have to
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Business Ethics 4 put myself in imaginative outcomes as the moral actor and then have to analyses the different alternatives. In conclusion there are many ways to put values into practices by applying various theories of behavior and values in workplace. The measures include understanding the core values and then aligning with organizational values and coordinating with the superior in order to understand the outcome required from an employee in the workplace. This helps in accepting and putting the value in the practices.
Business Ethics 5 References Alexander, L. & Moore, M., 2016.Deontological Ethics.[Online] Available at:https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/ [Accessed 29 May 2019]. Bowie, N. E., 2017.Business Ethics: A kantian perspective.2 ed. UK: Cambridge University Press. Charlesworth, A., 2018.Digital Marketing: A Practical Approach.3 ed. New York: Routledge. Drumwright, M., 2018.Ethical issues in marketing, advertising and sales.London: Routledge. Eagle, L. & Dahl, S., 2015.Marketing Ethics & Society.London: Sage Publications. Gill, D. W., 2009.Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles.2 ed. New York: Routledge. Jaiswal, A. & Gupta, S., 2015. The influence of marketing on cpnsumption behavior at the bottom of the pyramid.Journal of consumer marketing,32(2), pp. 113-124. Johnson, M., 2014.Moral Imagination: Implications of cognitive science for ethics.2 ed. USA: Oxford Publications. Laczniak, G. & Murphy, P., 2019. The role of normative marketing ethics.Journal of Business Research,Volume 95, pp. 401-407. Whitaker, B. & Godwin, L., 2013. The antecedents of moral iamgination in the workplace: a social cognitive theory perspective.Journal of Business Ethics,114(1), pp. 61-73.