Business Ethics: Case Studies on Corporate Responsibility and Dilemmas

This report provides an analysis of several business ethics cases, including the Gold and Diamond Watch Case, All Asia Airways Case, Global Batteries Corporation (GBC) case, and Oz Gold Case, along with scenarios involving attributing responsibility and accountability. The analysis explores ethical dilemmas, corporate social responsibility, and the application of ethical theories such as utilitarianism. The author provides personal perspectives on each case, drawing on moral competency and value systems to justify decisions. The report covers topics such as bribery, environmental damage, and the importance of ethical leadership, emphasizing the significance of corporate responsibility and accountability in business practices. The author also explores the role of personal values and cultural background in shaping ethical decisions, providing insights into complex ethical scenarios.

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Running Head: BUSINESS ETHICS
Reflections on Cases of Business Ethics and Responsibility
Name
Institution

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The Gold and Diamond Watch Case
People have different feelings when it comes to the issue pertaining to business ethics.
Every business has its own way of doing things which may be referred to as the organizational
culture. The subject on business ethics continues to dominate the business world where it
consists of moral issues in business, the codes of conduct among business professionals and also
the governance method in a business (Mridula & Preeti, 2014). Going against the business ethics
can have adverse effects on the employee and the organization itself. Ryan meets himself in an
ethical dilemma due to the fact that he really needed to increase his commission from the deal by
Abdul. However, the boss, Charles warns Ryan against giving the ‘gift’ to Abdul terming it as a
bribe which is against the organization values.
In My view, the decision I make about each character is guided by my belief and
principles on morality and I stand with what is right as evident from my response on my Moral
Competency Inventory(MCI). I respond that I can state clearly the values, beliefs, values, and
principles that guide my actions in all situations and that I will confront someone who is doing
something wrong. From my answers on the least and most objectionable characters, I view Jane
to be the most objectionable character since she did not have a basis for complaining to Charles
on the spending manners of Ryan. Charles, on the other hand, is the second from Jane since he
fired Ryan without doing the proper investigation into the matter. The least objectionable was
Mr. Grey since he was performing his duties as a Banker. Ryan, according to me cannot justify
his actions to his personal challenges since the challenges cannot be used as excuses to break the
business ethics (Sharm & Hart, 2014). Though I was also caught up in a dilemma, I think that the
dilemmas should be handled in the right way and personal challenges should not drive us to a

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compromising situation. I think that my judgment on this case is based o my principles as shown
through my MCI diagnostic tool report.
The All Asia Airways Case
In the case of All Asia Airways (AAA), the decision made on giving a bribe to a foreign
official need have the outcomes of the action considered. Steven (2008) argues that when coming
up with a moral decision, it is important to weigh the outcomes of the action to be taken. In this
case, there exists an ethical dilemma since failure to bribe the official will result in automatic
losses by AAA Company while the bribe could lead to high fines to both the company and
David.
My decision on this case is that David should take a leap of faith and bribe Milonoski in
order to save the company. As Graeme puts it, it is important to ask yourself what Richard would
do. Since Richard has grown the company by doing what was necessary for its growth, David
should do the same as this is an organizational behavior which determines its success or failure. I
hold this view not because of my religious or cultural beliefs but due to my educational insights.
I, however, feel that it is not a good decision to make when it comes to the ethicality
since the US government is against the practice. I feel a bit confused when making this decision
since my morals conflict with my decision. It is however important for managers to respond to a
situation using a method that is appropriate to that given situation (Raquel, 2014). A manager
would not risk the profits of the company for the ethical code of conduct of the US since the
company’s interests have to be served first.
On the other hand, the Decision that David makes to accept an invitation from his
suppliers (which is against the US law) is a right one. To me, David makes the right choice for

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the company though he risks being charged for breaking US laws. Richard himself signed for the
company in the US while he did not see the necessity of the requirements. Maintaining customer
relationship is important for the survival and success of the business and that is the reason David
has to accept the party invitations as Greame advice him. Morals are the beliefs both social and
religious, customs and acceptable values a person possess (McNamara, 2012). From my
decision, my online morality test result shows why I made this decision. It is because I believe in
doing what is right at the moment when faced with a compromising situation.
My decision is based on the assumption that Richard would do the same for the company.
I feel right about the decision since it is beneficial to the company and it will cause happiness to
the largest number of people. The utilitarianism theory, (which is an ethical theory) is founded
on the argument that a good deed is that which promotes happiness to the greatest number of
people (Brittany, 2016). This is a decision based on my education background and understanding
of the ethical theories.
Corporate Responsibility
Global batteries corporation (GBC) case
On the issue of corporate responsibility, a company that is socially responsible ensures it
has a set of programs or regulations to show responsibility to the community where it operates
(Ashard, Faisal & Rizwan, 2016). The case for GBC presents a case of negligence where the
battery company failed to exercise the expected ethical behavior in terms of adhering to the
company safety standards and guidelines. From the decision I made, GBC should be responsible
for the 5000 people who died as a result of the toxic gas. The tragedy was as a result of
carelessness as the GBC HQ company had a responsibility of ensuring the Indian Company

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meets the parent company’s standards. The company should compensate the families of those
who were affected by the gas and the India company should be heavily fined and closed. I feel
angered by the fact that the problem would have been solved only if the parent company was
responsible enough. The moral reasoning, in this case, is informed by my work values which
means that workers should be accountable and focused on making difference to the company and
others. Companies have a responsibility of ensuring safety from harm to people in the
community where they operate (Donaldson & Fafaliou, 2003). The company has to be socially
responsible by promoting the safety of the people within.
Oz Gold Case
On the Oz Gold case, I feel that the company (Oz) should be responsible for the damage
caused by the spillover with the chief operating officer taking the blame. Every company has a
corporate social responsibility of ensuring it promotes safety to the environment that surrounds
it. From the diagnostic tool of authentic leadership where leaders should focus on long term
results and self-awareness, I argue that the Chief operating officer, Fritz should not have
approved the 85% capacity since that is not what the company usually did. The company had a
Corporate Responsibility of ensuring the environment is preserved. Companies should aim at
ensuring they maintain and preserve the environment where they operate ((Min-Seong, &
Brijesh, 2018). I feel that the company should have considered the risks involved through the
approval was within legal limits. The company should take display action against Frits since he
knew that the ponds should not exceed 70% at any time.

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Attributing Responsibility and accountability
Two young brothers Case
According to my personal values evident from my value score, I believe that the father is
accountable and responsible for the death of the 7 years old son. This is because the father should
have been responsible enough to put the gun in a safe place out of reach of children. If the gun
was in the right place, the kids could not have the access. My decision is made on the basis of my
cultural background reasoning where the father has the moral authority to protect his children
from any harm including the gun.
Capital punishment case
The issue of a death sentence is a controversial topic of discussion where some people
believe in capital punishment while others are against it. My thought on the case is that the
prisoner is accountable and responsible for his death. This is because the prisoner did a heinous
act that cost him his life. Morally, the issue of capital punishment conflicts with my religious
beliefs where no one has the authority to take another person’s life except God. However, I feel
sorry to say that a person who commits a capital crime needs to face justice by getting a capital
punishment.
In the United States, the death penalty is legalized in more than 30 states. States like
Mexico and Texas face the largest cases of death sentences (Death Penalty Info Center). The
ethical issue rises through the question of how people should live. The answer to the question
lies in the choices people make (Thames, 2018). On my decision, everyone has the right to life

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but that right is only relevant if every party upholds the right. This means that the death penalty
in my view is a fair way of exercising justice to the victim.
References
Ashard, M.G., Faisal, A., & Rizwan, M. (2016). The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the
Firm’s Financial Performance. International Journal of Linguistics, Social and Natural Sciences.
Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305703330 on October 4 2018
Brittany, A. (2016). What Ethical Theory Do You Subconsciously Live by? Retrieved from
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/what-ethical-theory-do-you-live-subconsciously-liveby
October 4, 2018,
Death Penalty Information Center. (2018). Facts about the death penalty. Retrieved from
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf on October 4, 2018
Donaldson, J. & Fafaliou, I. (2003). Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and corporate
governance: a review and summary critique. European Research Studies, 4,1-2. Retrieved on
October 4, 2018, from https://www.zamaros.net/mgt%20reading%203%20-%20ethics.pdf
McNamara, C. (2012) What are Values, Morals, and Ethics? Retrieved from
https://managementhelp.org/blogs/business-ethics/2012/01/02/what-are-values-morals-and-
ethics/ on October 4, 2018
Min-Seong, K., & Brijesh, T. (2018). Relationship of Ethical Leadership, Corporate Social
Responsibility, and Organizational Performance. Retried from
file:///C:/Users/Edwin/Desktop/sustainability-10-00447.pdf on 4 October, 2018
Mridula, G. & Preeti, E. R. (2014). Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility –Is there a
dividing line? Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies Annual Research Conference
(SIMSARC13). Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/81107143.pdf on October 4,
2018
Raquel, M.A. (2014). Basic Approaches to Organizational Behavior. Retrieved from
https://prezi.com/cqxpzssxhyem/basic-approaches-to-orgaizational-behavior/ on October 4, 2018
Sharma, S., & Hart, S. L. (2014). Beyond “saddle bag” sustainability for business
education. Organization & Environment, 27(1), 10-15.
Steven, M.C. (2008). Utilitarianism. Seven Masterpieces of Philosophy. Retrieved from
https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/39416584 on October 4, 2018

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Thames, B. (2018). How should one live? An introduction to ethics and moral reasoning. Retrieved from
https://content.ashford.edu/ on October 4, 2018