Ethical Business Plan Report: Analysis of Group Project Issues

This report analyzes an ethical business plan, focusing on a group project assigned by Professor Nash. The project involves drafting a letter and preparing a plan for an organization, facing challenges related to deadlines and unfamiliarity with the healthcare industry. The report explores ethical considerations, including honesty, fairness, trust, and responsibility. It examines approaches to address challenges, such as acting with courage and honesty, and analyzes techniques of rationalization that may lead to unethical behavior. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making, setting objectives, reinforcing consequences, and promoting moral sensitivity within the group. It also highlights the significance of accepting personal liability for unethical conduct and determining moral implications of the situation. References are provided to support the analysis.

Running head: ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
Ethical Business Plan
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
Question 1:
Background:
It can be seen that various fundamental values may arise. In this context, the fundamental
values that can arise in relation to the given situation are honesty, fairness, trust, respect, courage
and responsibility (Fida et al. 2015). It can be observed that in the given case study, Professor
Nash offered the group- Erica, Jeff, Julianne and Akram with a project which involves the
drafting of a letter and preparing an effective plan for an organization.
Challenges:
The deadline of such project was near and therefore the group faced many challenges to
complete it in time.
Approaches:
In this regard, the approaches that Erica and her group must take are to act with courage
and honesty thereby taking proper responsibility of the project in which they are working.
Analysis:
It has been analyzed that in this way the group can contribute towards an ethical
decision.
Question 2:
Background:

2ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
It can be stated that the future of the students as well as the reputation of Professor Nash
is at stake.
Challenges:
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the group has never worked in such project ever
in lifetime which is related to healthcare industry or a purchasing organization which is a major
challenge for them.
Approach:
Therefore the main approach in this regard is that the group shall carry out the research
effectively and complete it by using their ideas and efforts.
Analysis:
It can be analyzed from the given situation that that they cannot include any similar
information from the internet regarding their project as it would be unethical and at the same
time shall violate the terms of fundamental values.
Question 3:
Background:
It is worth noting that every individual shall have the ability to determine their unethical
behavior (Heuser et al. 2016). In this regard, it is essential on the part of the individuals to
question themselves that whether they are rationalizing unethical behavior (Knight 2014).
Therefore in the background of the case study it can be observed that due to lack of knowledge
and short span of time the group was unable to complete the project on time.

3ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
Approaches:
In this regard, it is noteworthy to mention the techniques of rationalization that shall be
the major approaches. Firstly, there can be denial of responsibility in which the individual given
responsibility of the project have passed his responsibility to some other person and therefore has
denied his responsibility for such immoral act (Mayhew and Murphy 2014). Secondly, there can
be denial of injury. Thirdly, it can happen on the part of the individual that he has performed an
unethical act just because he has seen that others are doing the same thing (Franziska 2015).
Challenges:
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that in order to deal with the challenges of ethical
behavior it is important to determine the factors causing rationalization or poor moral reasoning
(Karen, and Healy 2016).
Analyzed:
Therefore from the given situation it can be finally analyzed that that Erica should
proceed with the project ethically as an unethical conduct can occur on the part of the other
group members. In this regard, Erica should consider the present situation and efficiently
examine the techniques of rationalizations.
Question 4:
Background:
In the background it can be seen that Erica is set to prepare list of objectives in order to
address such situation.

4ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
Approach:
As an effective approach it is important to reinforce the consequences that could arise as
a result of unethical behavior on the part of a group member.
Challenges:
It is important to set goals regarding the study of unethical behavior among individuals
and explain its importance to the group in order to deal with the present challenges.
Analysis:
After proper analysis it can be stated that Erica should provide the group with a detailed
information regarding factors which gives rise to both ethical and unethical decisions.
Question 5:
Background:
In the background it can be observed that Erica proceeded with an action plan in order to
achieve the objectives.
Challenges:
It is crucial on the part of Erica to lay much emphasis on moral sensitivity in such
situation to address the present challenges. Ethical sensitivity shall come into operation by
efficiently involving oneself in the imagination of the perspectives of other members of the
group.
Approach:

5ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
It is important for Erica to use the basics of moral terminology as an approach to address
the issues and problems that could arise on unethical conduct. Erica should explain the
importance of accepting personal liability to the group on the performance of unethical conduct.
Analysis:
Erica could proceed effectively is by analyzing the present situation and determine that
whether such situation is associated with some moral implications or not.

6ETHICAL BUSINESS PLAN
References:
Fida, Roberta, Marinella Paciello, Carlo Tramontano, Reid Griffith Fontaine, Claudio
Barbaranelli, and Maria Luisa Farnese. "An integrative approach to understanding
counterproductive work behavior: The roles of stressors, negative emotions, and moral
disengagement." Journal of Business Ethics 130, no. 1 (2015): 131-144.
Heuser, Brian L., Allie E. Martindale, and David J. Lazo. "Strategic Internationalization in
Higher Education: Contexts, Organizations, and Implications for Academic Integrity." Handbook
of Academic Integrity (2016): 347.
Knight, Jane. "Is internationalisation of higher education having an identity crisis?." In The
forefront of international higher education, pp. 75-87. Springer, Dordrecht, 2014.
Mayhew, Brian W., and Pamela R. Murphy. "The impact of authority on reporting behavior,
rationalization and affect." Contemporary Accounting Research 31, no. 2 (2014): 420-443.
Niven, Karen, and Colm Healy. "Susceptibility to the ‘dark side’of goal-setting: Does moral
justification influence the effect of goals on unethical behavior?." Journal of business ethics 137,
no. 1 (2016): 115-127.
Zuber, Franziska. "Spread of unethical behavior in organizations: A dynamic social network
perspective." Journal of Business Ethics 131, no. 1 (2015): 151-172.