BUSM3115 Assignment 2: Report on Ethics and Corporate Governance

This report examines ethical issues within the corporate industry, using the case of AFL player Jayden Stephenson and gambling allegations as a focal point. It details the incident, including the player's suspension and the ethical conflicts arising from his actions and the AFL's policies. The report identifies key ethical concerns related to gambling, violations of conduct, and the promotion of gambling brands. It then applies ethical theories such as Utilitarianism, Virtue Theory, and Kantianism to analyze the case, assessing the actions of both the player and the AFL authorities. The consequences of the ethical concerns are discussed, highlighting the impact on player reputation and the integrity of the sport. Finally, the report suggests mitigation approaches to address the identified limitations and promote ethical conduct within the sports industry.

Running head: REPORT ON CORPORATE GOVERNMENT AND ETHICS
REPORT
ON
CORPORATE GOVERNMENT AND ETHICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

1Ethics in corporate industry
Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Discussion:.................................................................................................................................3
AFL Gambling and Jayden Stephenson:................................................................................3
Identified Ethical Concern(s):................................................................................................4
Ethical Theories:....................................................................................................................6
Consequences of the identified ethical concern(s):................................................................7
Mitigation Approach:.................................................................................................................8
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................8
Appendix:.................................................................................................................................10

2Ethics in corporate industry
Executive Summary:
This report has primarily focused on the discussion of ethics in professional field. I
order to support that discussion in this report has elaborated a professional conflict which
been caused by one of the AFL players. Followed by this aspect it has effectively discussed
the detail of the selected case by relating with the theory of ethics as well as it has also
identified the ethical consideration which holds a direct impact of the professionalism of
sports industry. Considering this aspect it has concluded by stating most appropriate
mitigation approaches, which will surely help to mitigate the identified limitations.

3Ethics in corporate industry
Introduction:
The primary objective of this paper is to elaborate the aspect of ethical issues present
in the corporate industry in order to provide a brief idea to the board of members which will
help them to take effective decisions about the corporate organization. Followed by this
aspect this paper has focused on the AFL Gambling and Jayden Stephenson who has been
caught due to allegation of betting. In which it is mentioned that the young player Jayden
Stephenson has been accused for betting in AFL game due to which AFL has taken action to
suspend the player from the game. Considering this aspect it has been noticed there are
several ethical conflict present related to the action of Jayden and the AFL authorities
(Skinner et al., 2016). Hence, followed by this case scenario in order to support the research
on the above mentioned scenario this paper will consist a detail elaboration on the ethical
theories, their impact related to the ethical relativism. Followed by this aspect it will then
further analyze the case study and suggest effective ethical laws by which the identified
ethical concerns can be addressed.
Discussion:
AFL Gambling and Jayden Stephenson:
While investigating the case scenario based on the above mentioned aspects it has
been noticed that this scenario has become controversial because a high profiled Collingwood
player named Jayden Stephenson has got suspended from the AFL game due to the allegation
of betting. The punishment has been applied to Jayden by banning him from 10 AFL matches
and he has been charged for in the game of $20000. Followed by this aspect it has been
noticed that the authorities of AFL has mentioned that penalizing a player for disrespecting
the rules of the game is very essential as well as legal in order to provide the warnings and
awareness to among the stakeholders. Considering the aspect that Jayden has violated the rule

4Ethics in corporate industry
of AFL by getting engaged into the betting process which not right for a player at all (Sufaj
2017). According to the Australian Rule of Football that in case any player or employ
violates the rules that are drawn into the policies of this game they will be punished in
maximum extend. With the purpose to analyze the validation of the penalty a thorough
investigation has been conducted on the mentioned case scenario, followed by which it has
been observed that Jayden has been founded the culprit for betting in 3 games in which his
team was related for the wager of total $36. He has managed to perform this activity by
engaging one of his friend, Jayden has given the money to the friend and uses his betting
account with the purpose to place bet on games in which, his team is involved (Martin,
Nelson and Gallucci 2016). Followed by the betting process the 20 years old player then
realized that he is doing something wrong, thus he has informed the general manager by self-
reporting in which he has confesses that he has been engaged in betting process for several
matches. After knowing this the board member then started their investigation and decided to
suspend the young player (Lopez-Gonzalez et al., 2017). However, the conflict has arrived
when Dillon mentioned that there was on such influence by Jayden on the outcome of the
game, he has only being caught due to the self-reporting it was very obvious to the board
members to suspend the player who is accepting his fault and guilty for what he has done
(Hing et al., 2015).
Identified Ethical Concern(s):
Followed by the above discussed aspect it has been noticed that the nominated case it
all about gambling which has been caught by the board of members due to which the culprit
got suspended for 10 matches and needs to compensate with the amount of $20000. Along
with this it has been also noticed that there is a significant influence of the culprit into this
suspension process as Jayden, himself has self-reported to the general manager of AFL about
the betting process, followed by which several ethical consideration has been identified in

5Ethics in corporate industry
this scope (Gustafson 2019). Those ethical consideration includes the intention of the players
towards the betting process as well as to have the intention to engage into such activities
which holds the possibility to violate the code of conduct of Australian Football. While
considering the action made by the player by engaging himself in betting process it not right
move at all, especially when it is a case of sports because as per my view point sport is one of
the wise field where no such crime should take place. Followed by this aspect while
considering the fact that Jayden later realizes his fault has admitted to the board members that
he has done a mistake by placing bet in which he has played it can be stated while analyzing
it considering his age that he has taken very good step by confessing the truth to the higher
authorities. However, the players needs to the suspension order in such way that no such
activities will be entertained in this field. Along with the mentioned ethical consideration it
has been noticed there is a significant conflict present in the operations of AFL authorities as
well. Since, it has been noticed from the studies that there is significant influence of
advertisements related to the gambling brands on the activities of player as AFL has allowed
the players to promote the gambling brand. Now, the question arises that if gambling is not at
all entertain able in the sports industry then what is the reason to support the gambling
industry by giving them the priority and the authority to promote the players gaming
accessories (Bowen et al., 2017). Considering this aspect it can be stated that along with the
ethical conflict present in the activities of Jayden there is also several conflict present in the
activities of the AFL authorities which needs to highlight with the purpose to mitigate the
limitations. Considering the above mentioned concerns the identified ethical issues are listed
below:
 While describing the case scenario it has been noticed that the young player Jayden
has done a major mistake by participating in the betting process in which he has

6Ethics in corporate industry
played. Thus, according to the code of conduct of Australian Football it is marketed as
one of the most harmful activity in the sports industry.
 Followed by this it has been also noticed that there is a significant conflict raised
when the player himself surrendered to the higher authorities after realizing his fault.
Thus, it is also listed as one of the ethical concern present in this case scenario
(Rimkus 2019).
 Along with the above mentioned conflicts there is also one of the most significant
conflict present which is invoking the gambling industry by allowing the high profiled
players to promote the brand.
Ethical Theories:
After completion of the above mentioned discussion it has been noticed that the
nominated case scenario holds several significant ethical concerns which needs to be
analyzed with respect to the theories of ethics and values of the players. Followed by which it
will discuss about the conflicts that are identified with the purpose get a detail idea about
those conflicts and there reason.
While investigating the essentiality of ethics and morality in the sports industry it has
been noticed that ethics is nothing but highly concerned with a good life which can be
achieved by the good deeds. Followed by this aspect it has been noticed that mainly ethic is
focuses on the right and wrong actions, due to which a conflicts creates about the some
actions which are ethical but illegal or unethical but legal. In this case scenario there is a
significance of these conflicts. Furthermore in this investigation basic philosophical theory
has been accounted which includes the ethical theories termed as Utilitarian Theory, Virtue
theory, Justice theory and the ethics of Kantian has been identified which has significant
relevance with the identified conflicts (Costello et al., 2017).

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According to the utilitarian theory the action of an individual will be considered as a
good action if the consequences on that action is good. Hence, in tis scope the action of
Jayden is considered as a bad action since, due to this action Jayden has violated that code of
conduct of Australian Football game. Followed by this it can be stated that violation of the
rules of sports it highly unethical. Along with it while analyzing it the case scenario the
actions taken by the AFL authority is one of the most ethical action as according to the
Utilitarian theory it holds a good consequences by reducing the corrupting in the sport
industry (Kourgiantaki et al., 2016). Whereas, it has been also determined that Jayden has not
influenced the outcome of the game, he just participated in the betting to earn money which
also holds several ethical concern.
Along with the above discussion according to the Virtue theory, the action of an
individual will be judged based on the intention of that person. Followed by this aspect after
analyzing the nominated case scenario it has been noticed that Jayden’s action is unethical
because he was aware about the rule that betting is not entertained by any of the rules present
in the code of conduct of Australian Football. Followed by this aspect it has been noticed that
the action of the association is ethical as due to this act they have intended to punish the
culprit who has been caught in the gambling case (Bell et al., 2017).
Along with the above mentioned theories according to the ethics of Kantianism the
action of Jayden in which he has confesses his crime by his own is specified as a highly
ethical, since, Kantianism theory focuses on the fairness and the honesty of an individual
rather than focusing on the good or bad deeds of the individual. Hence, considering the
honesty of Jayden the action of self-reporting has been considered as one of the ethical action
(Piacquadio 2017).

8Ethics in corporate industry
Consequences of the identified ethical concern(s):
After analyzing the above mentioned case scenario it has been noticed that the
identified ethical concerns holds a significant impact on the impression of AFL players as
well as in the sports industry. Followed by this is can be stated that if this types of behavior
continues in the sports industry there will be no wise game played in AFL. Hence, it has been
noticed that the suspension order has a significant impact on the AFL players who has ever
intended to be engaged in the betting game. Along with the above impact it has been also
noticed that Jayden had paid a huge price for his action as he got suspended from 10 matches
and paid the compensation which indicates that due to this action the player has ruined his
career in the earlier age along with that he has impacted the reputation of AFL by his action.
Along with that it can be stated that there is a significant impact of this action on the relation
between gambling brand and players (Lyons 2015).
Mitigation Approach:
Followed by the above mentioned consequences as well as the ethical concerns which
holds significant impact on the impression of the player as well as the AFL association. I
order to mitigate the identified concern it is recommended to revise the code of conduct by
adding new policy that none of the players will be allowed to be a part of any gambling
brand. Along with this, it is also essential to implement effective supervision policy with the
purpose to reduce the possibilities of betting (Mill 2016). Along with this it is also essential
to conduct a meeting in order to spread awareness among the employ and the stakeholders.
Conclusion:
After the completion of the above discussion which is based on the topic of football
match gambling. In order to effectively discuss the conflicts as well as the ethical issues the
real time example has been elaborated in this paper which is based on the case of AFL

9Ethics in corporate industry
Gambling and Jayden Stephenson match betting. In order to discuss this topic in this paper it
has effectively discussed about the issues that has been accounted during the investigation on
this topic. Followed by this topic with the purpose to support the above discussion a detail
elaboration of the ethical issue has been mentioned by relating with the utilitarian theory,
theory of virtue and the Kantianism theory. Along with this it has effectively discussed about
the consequences of the identified issues on the sports industry which has been then
addressed with effective mitigation approaches. Lastly, it can be concluded that this paper has
effectively analyzed the mentioned topic and provided a detail knowledge on the ethical
concerns present in the nominated case.

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Appendix:

11Ethics in corporate industry
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