Analyzing Ethical Challenges at ExtremeNet: Allen Lopez's Case Study

This case study examines the ethical challenges faced by ExtremeNet, focusing on the actions of Allen Lopez and their implications for the company. The analysis explores whether Allen Lopez should be allowed to keep his job, arguing in favor of his retention based on utilitarianism, which prioritizes the greater good for the company. The study then addresses whether ExtremeNet should pursue legal action regarding a website, advocating against a lawsuit and suggesting dialogue to address employee concerns, aligning with deontology. Furthermore, the case explores how ExtremeNet's leadership can respect the rights of both Allen Lopez and the company, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging freedom of expression and the impact of ethical decisions. Finally, the study suggests ways for ExtremeNet to repair the relationship between management and employees, recommending open forums and considering ethical theories like Aristotle's Eudaimonism to foster employee involvement and improve company performance.

Running head: ETHICS 1
Ethics
Name
Institution
Date

ETHICS 2
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATES:
SUBJECT: Allen Lopez Case Study
Q1. Should Allen Lopez be allowed to keep his job with ExtremeNet?
Allen Lopez should be allowed to retain his job, after the scrutiny of the case. The
company needs a luminary who is in a position to inform them when they are heading in the
wrong direction. Ethically Allen’s actions can be justified by the application of the utilitarianism
theory. The theory majors on the intended outcome of an action despite the means taken to
achieve this outcome as long as its beneficial to others (Thiroux & Krasemann, 2014). The
intended outcome of Allen’s actions is for the greater good of the company. Thinking of this case
in this manner the company need not to fire Allen since he had at heart the greater good of the
company. The reconsideration of the company’s mode of treating its lower level employees
meant that the company will bridge the gap between the management and the employees. In
return this positively impact the production levels of the team and improves the company’s
productivity in general. On the other hand, it is important to recognize the means applied by
Allen. It was not the right approach but it was the only approach to get results. He had tried all
the other means which could be tearmed as diplomatic means but they had failed. John Stuart
Mill: Utilitarianism theory applies in relation to Allen’s case since his actions were focus on the
greater good which would come from his actions (Hartman DesJardins & MacDonald, 2014).
Allen applies the act utilitarianism where him being the person performs the acts that benefit
most other people regardless his personal situation or the societal constrains such as the company
laws. With the ethical consideration of this, ExtremeNet should not have fired Allen Lopez.

ETHICS 3
Q2. Should ExtremeNet attempt a lawsuit to force the removal of this website?
ExtremeNet should not attempt a lawsuit to force the removal of the website, this will
incriminate the company more. The company should evaluate Allen Lopez’s claims, request him
for a meeting and discus if it’s possible for the company to integrate some of the proposed issues
relation to how the management treats the low-level employees. With this in discussion it is
ethically right for Allen Lopez to take down the website since ethically it is his responsibility or
obligation to do what is right as per the company and his job. This is the application of Immanuel
Kant Deontology theory in ethics. The right thing to do (Pearson, 2017). If the company does not
fire Allen ten it means that it has come to terms with some of his request hence it all comes back
to Allen what he has to do. It is the duty of Allen to protect his company and at the moment the
website is invading the company’s personal affair hence the obligation of Allen to take down the
website no need for the company to file a lawsuit.
Q3. How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best respect the rights of Allen Lopez and
ExtremeNet? Explain the impact of your ethical decision on Allen Lopez and the company.
ExtremeNet’s leadership can best respect Allen Lopez and the company by accepting the
current situation in the company. Any form of retaliation from the company incriminates it
further. This should be considered and they should acknowledge the law of freedom of
expression. With this the leaders will have to understand the ethical nature of their employee in
this case Allen. There is a great impact if my ethical decision to the case is to be considered
(Broad, 2014). First the company will not have to fire Allen Lopez, but it will have to retain him
due to his ethical stand but in return he has to take down the website. On the other hand, the
leaders of ExtremeNet will have to take into consideration Allen request for the better treatment
of the low-level employees in the company. It has been established that this will result to an
improved relationship between the company management body and the employees (Yazdani &
Murad, 2015). With this at hand the company’s productivity will improve. This is the application
of Tom Regan: Rights theory in ethics which focuses on what the company has to do as well as
Allen Lopez.

ETHICS 4
Q4. How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best repair the relationship between management
and employees while meeting the needs and goals of the company?
Finally, the company can repair the relationship between the management and the
employees in different ways these includes creating more open forums between the two sectors
within the company. The forums give the employees a chance to associate with the management
and get their views and needs heard the company applies different ethical theories such as
Aristotle Eudaimonism theory of what kind of persons the management should be towards the
employees (Bowie, 2017). This gives the employees a chance to openly interact with the
management body. In the process, the employee gets the sense of involvement in the company
matters. The amending of this relationship means the reduced conflict that is currently present
between the company management and employees. Also, the innovation levels of the company
are expected to rise since the employees are more into the company operations than the current
situation. The application of different ethical theories can greatly impact ExtremeNet
performance in the industry. The management and the employees’ relationship are completely
determinant of the ethical approach the company will take and the presence of an employee such
as Allen Lopez in the management team is such a huge gain.

ETHICS 5
References
Bowie, N. E. (2017). Business ethics: A Kantian perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Broad, C. D. (2014). Five types of ethical theory (Vol. 2). Routledge.
Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson
Education.
Hartman, L. P., DesJardins, J. R., & MacDonald, C. (2014). Business ethics: Decision making
for personal integrity and social responsibility. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Thiroux, J. P., & Krasemann, K. W. (2014). Ethics: Theory and practice. Glencoe Publishing
Company.
Yazdani, N., & Murad, H. S. (2015). Toward an ethical theory of organizing. Journal of
Business Ethics, 127(2), 399-417.