Ethical Dilemmas in Business: A Case Study

This article discusses the ethical dilemma faced by James, a web design company employee, when asked by a senior vice president to disclose confidential information. It explores the ethical, professional, and legal issues involved and suggests ways to handle such situations based on ethical theories and codes of conduct. The article also highlights the importance of upholding professionalism and the ACS code of ethics in making ethical decisions in the workplace.

Running head: ETHICAL DILEMMAS
ETHICAL DILEMMAS
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1ETHICAL DILEMMAS
In business ethical dilemmas are common phenomenon that occurs due to several factors
(Werhane, Freeman & Dmytriyev, 2017). The paper aims to discuss the ethical dilemma with a
usage of a case study. The paper will cover ethical, professional and legal issues that arise in the
scenario present in the case study.
In a web design company, when the James was contracted to interview their staff in order
to ascertain their current knowledge. It was for the purpose of suggesting the type of training
course needed to implement. The result was certainly to be confidential as it contained both
strengths and weaknesses of the participants. However, a vice president of the company
approaches James asking him the person who performed best.
The situation above is certainly an ethical dilemma for James. Although he is to keep the
information private and confidential, he is asked about it by a senior vice president. Since he is a
senior vice president, denying him the answer may risk him his job or may be considered doing a
misconduct with a senior. Therefore, it is a situation that is identified as ethical dilemma. James
can react to the situation is a way following the ethical theories or code of ethics that are crucial
in a workplace (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2015).
The ACS code of ethics is a part of the ACS constitution and as a member of ACS one
must uphold and advance the honor, effectiveness and dignity of being a professional. There are
several society values that are inclusive in the ACS code of conduct. In the present situation, the
same societal values can be applied in order to find out the appropriate way of reacting to the
situation that James has encountered. James can politely deny to his senior vice president
explaining him that it is unethical for him to disclose any information regarding the interview.
According to ACS, the member must act with honesty, professionalism and work to enhance the

2ETHICAL DILEMMAS
quality of life. Therefore, when he tells his senior vice president about the person who did well, it
is a dishonest act that violates the quality of professionalism. Also, it fails to enhance the quality
of life. Also, considering from the perspective of ACS code of conduct, it is against the primacy
of the public interest as people who have participated in the interview is the priority than
personal interest. Therefore, disclosing information to the senior vice president would be to
avoid self damage. The enhancement of quality of life is about the significant impact on the
society. The work that James will do have an impact on the society and he needs to be
responsible for that. As discussed above, honesty is not maintained when the James violates the
rules of the interview that is to keep information private. Also, considering the competence and
professional development, it is important to think about the stakeholders, staff and self as well in
order to perform in professional manner (ACS, 2019).
Under the Australian legislation, Australia has national privacy legislation. It is overseen
by OAIC that concerns with the way businesses can collect access and store personal
information. Therefore, James on violating breaking confidentiality is liable for legal actions
(Australian business and environment laws, 019).
A moral situation where a choice needs to be made between two undesirable alternatives
id called ethical dilemmas. The above discussed case study reflects the way one can make
decision by abiding the ACS ethics and ACS code of conduct.

3ETHICAL DILEMMAS
References:
ACS, (2019). Retrieved from https://www.acs.org.au/search.html?q=ethics
Australian business and environment laws. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.austrade.gov.au/International/Invest/Guide-to-investing/Running-a-
business/Understanding-Australian-business-regulation/Australian-business-and-
environment-laws
Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson
Education.
Werhane, P. H., Freeman, R. E., & Dmytriyev, S. (Eds.). (2017). Cambridge Handbook of
Research Approaches to Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility. Cambridge
University Press.