Case Study: Ethics, Professionalism & Governance in Professional Year

This essay provides an analysis of ethics, professionalism, and governance, primarily focusing on the McDonald's Framework and its application to a case study involving Pico PC's Manufacturing Company. The essay identifies an ethical dilemma faced by Kushlani regarding the manufacturing of gold wires by human labor, despite potential health risks to the workers. It explores feasible alternatives, such as using robots or halting production, and examines relevant ethical principles, including the primacy of public interest and the enhancement of quality of life. The analysis also considers the impact on stakeholders, relevant Australian legislation (Work Health and Safety Act 2011), and ultimately advocates for Kushlani to convince the CEO to prioritize worker safety and choose an alternative solution.

Running head: ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Ethics, Professionalism and Governance
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
McDonalds Framework is considered as a major framework for solving different ethical
issues in the workplace. Five specific stages can be seen in this model to solve ethical dilemma
in workplace and this model can be sued to solve the issues in the case study of Pico PC’s
Manufacturing Company.
Step 1: Collection of Information and Identification of the Problem
The Australian Computer Society, commonly known as ACS, has mentioned about some
major code of ethics or ethical values that the computer professionals are needed to comply
with. From the provided case study, it can be observed that Kushlani is facing a major ethical
dilemma regarding the manufacturing of 64 gold wires by the human labors. The CEO of Pico
PCs wants to carry on with the manufacturing process in spite of knowing the fact that this could
affect the eyes of the labors and can cause blindness.
Step 2: Specification of Feasible Alternatives
In this case, there can be two feasible solutions. The first solution is to carry on the
manufacturing process of wires with the help of robots and leave the idea to carry on the
manufacturing process by the humans. The next alternative solution is to stop the
manufacturing of 64 gold wires.
Step 3: Use of Ethical Resources to Identify the Significant Factors
Some major ethical principles are involved in this provided situation. They are discussed
below:
The Primacy of the Public Interest: It is required to put the interest of public above all the
business and professional interests. However, in the provided situation, it can be observed that
the CEO of the company is only considering his own business interest and wants to continue
the manufacturing process in the presence of serious health damages of the labors (Crane and
Matten 2016).
The Enhancement of Quality of Life: As per this code, the companies are required to enhance
the quality of life of those people involves in the business. However, in the provided situation,
the opposite of this rule can be seen. The quality of life of the labors will be largely affected in
case the company starts manufacturing with humans (Zheng et al. 2015).
Professionalism: Companies are responsible for enhancing the integrity of the society and to
respect each member. However, the CEO of Pico PCs is trying to degrading the integrity of the
society by staring the manufacturing process by humans.
Step 4: Test of Possible Solutions
It is required for the company to identify the potential parties impacted by their business
operations. In this case, the labors of island are the party (Zheng et al. 2015).
The company is required to protect and promote health and safety of the employees and the
protect parties. In this case, the CEO needs to consider the health issue of the labors of pacific
island (Bolman and Deal 2017).
The company is also required to understand and provide due regard to the affected people.
Hence, the CEO should leave the idea of manufacturing the wires by human in the presence of
extreme health issue.
It is required to take appropriate action against the member violating the code of ethics. Thus,
Kushlani needs to take correct action against the CEO (Bolman and Deal 2017).

2ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
It is required to protect and promote professionalism. Thus, the CEO is required to comply with
the ACS codes of ethics to protect and promote professionalism.
In the provided situation, the most relevant Australian legislation is Work Health and Safety
Act 2011. This act contributes to the development of national policies for improving the health
and safety of the workers; and the arrangements of compensation all over the Australia
(business.gov.au 2018)
Step 5: Make the Choice
Thus, based on the above discussion, it needs to be mentioned that Kushlani is needed
to convince the CEO about the negative effect of the manufacturing process by human so that
he chooses to go with the first alternative (Zheng et al. 2015).

3ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
References
Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E., 2017. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership.
John Wiley & Sons.
Business.gov.au. (2018). Work Health and Safety (OHS) acts, regulations and codes of
practice. [online] Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/workplace-health-and-
safety/whs-oh-and-s-acts-regulations-and-codes-of-practice [Accessed 13 Apr. 2018].
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Zheng, D., Witt, L.A., Waite, E., David, E.M., van Driel, M., McDonald, D.P., Callison, K.R. and
Crepeau, L.J., 2015. Effects of ethical leadership on emotional exhaustion in high moral
intensity situations. The Leadership Quarterly, 26(5), pp.732-748.