Case Study Analysis: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Business

This case study analyzes an ethical dilemma involving Harry, a software developer, and his employer, FABIO IT security. Harry develops and tests software designed to solve IT security problems, but his manager, Jill, rejects his project. This presents an ethical dilemma for Harry: to drop his project o...Read More

Ethical Dilemma
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Life is not always black and white, that is, right and wrong which we can discern without
equivocation. Sometimes we are faced with making judgment between wrong and more wrong or
unclear setup.1 Such situations call upon ethical reasoning to make a sound decision and to come
up with solutions which though will not satisfy the parties involved, will be advantageous to
parties involved.
From the narrative or the case study, it's evident that ethics dilemma is active. The case
study describes Harry as hard working and competent in his work. He develops software, tests it,
and he is sure that the software is productive and can help solve problems for FABIO IT security.
He goes further by offering the tested and proved software to FABIO through the manager Jill,
but he meets rejection and discouragement to continue with his project. According to the
scenario, Harry is sure of the importance and advantages that come with using his software and
Jill who is Harry's boss (meaning Harry should take orders from Jill) is also sure that the
software is dangerous. The ethical dilemma which Harry faces is whether to drop pursuing his
project or disobey a direct order.
Another moral dilemma is evident where Brockley has received an email from Iris the
owner of the company to reinstate Harry. Brockley has a personal negative opinion about Harry
which means he doesn't buy the idea of restoring him. He (Brockley) also has a high opinion of
Jill who sacked Harry and thinks it was the right move to make. Now Brockley is faced with a
decision whether to restore Harry or to stand his ground on his opinion of Harry and maintain the
status quo.
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1 De George, Richard T. The ethics of information technology and business. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

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Harry is brilliant network programmer and has extensive knowledge of all the problems
concerned with Fabio's security procedures hence competent in his work. He also develops an
anti-virus software, and it stands out from other software developers then he tests it and proves it
to be workable. He also understands that the software will help solve Fabio's IT problems. Jill is
the head of IT security at Fabio showing that Harry works under her. She rejects Harry's offer
and goes further to disapprove his project without testing or checking on it. Harry becomes a
consultant by releasing his software. Jill sacks Harry for not dropping his idea of using the
software. Brockley is the executive head of IT who He agrees with the idea of Jill sacking Harry.
Iris is the owner of Fabio Company, and he asks Brockley to reinstate Harry.
Facts involving ethical issues are Harry choosing to be a consultant by releasing his
software in spite of Jill's orders and Iris asking Brockley to look for Lock Smith who is Harry
and offer him a job. This is because Harry has to decide between keeping his job and losing it
and Brockley has to decide whether to obey his boss or maintain the situation the way it is.
Harry's interest is ensuring the company's IT security problems are solved. Jill is after
protecting the company's IT security system from any software that may pose a threat. Brockley
wants to maintain his high opinion about Jill and Iris is after seeing his company achieves more
by bringing in new ideas.
Harry has developed his software which he presents to Jill who rejects it but Harry
continues with his project, and he loses his job in the process. Brockley affirms the idea of laying
Harry of but Iris wants Harry back to the company and Brockley should reinstate him. Harry and
Iris will benefit since the former will get his job back, and the later will add new ideas to his
company. Jill and Brockley will be harmed because their decision has been reversed and

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restoring Harry back will be beneficial to the company at large since his software will help solve
the IT security system problems.
Harry's right to know why Jill rejected his software was abridged. Brockley failed to
maintain impartiality in that he agreed with Jill's decision of sacking Harry without making an
independent investigation. He also neglected to maintain an ideal professional relationship with
Harry by forming a preconceived opinion about him.
The decision to sack Harry was disrespect to him since his superiors didn't check his
work before rejecting it. Hence reinstating him will be beneficial to the stakeholders of the
company and the better performance of the altogether.
Harry should be given the job back because he was sacked without his software tested nor was
he given a chance to prove himself. This shows a failed duty of his superiors and his right
denied. The approach of such cases should be changed in that the employees should be given
equal opportunities without discrimination to avoid ethical dilemma. 2 For this scenario, Harry's
software could have been tested, and Brockley could have avoided having a wrong judgment
about Harry to prevent ethical dilemma from occurring.
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Bibliography
22Kallman, Ernest A., and John P. Grillo. Ethical decision making and information technology: an introduction with
cases. DIANE Publishing Company, 1998.

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De George, Richard T. The ethics of information technology and business. John Wiley & Sons,
2008.
Kallman, Ernest A., and John P. Grillo. Ethical decision making and information technology: an
introduction with cases. DIANE Publishing Company, 1998.