Ethical Dilemma Analysis: Harcourt Resort Case Study

This case study analysis delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by Harcourt Resort, particularly concerning its sustainability initiatives and waste management practices. The case highlights a conflict of interest when an employee discovers that a waste management company, a key stakeholder, is providing false data, potentially jeopardizing the resort's agreement with MyVacation. The analysis explores the ethical considerations, especially the conflict between the employee's responsibility to the resort and the potential impact on her partner's employment. The case study references Kant's ethical theory, emphasizing the importance of duty and responsibility. The analysis suggests that the employee should inform the higher authorities to uphold ethical standards and ensure the resort's integrity. The study also suggests alternative waste management solutions to mitigate the reliance on potentially corrupt external companies. This case study provides a valuable examination of ethical decision-making within a business context and the importance of transparency and responsible corporate citizenship.

Running head: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
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1CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
The operation of Harcourt Resort has been detailed in this particular care study where the
organization has mainly focused in gaining sustainability in all-inclusive way. This case study
states about the ethical dilemma regarding the sustainability approach of Harcourt Resort and its
barriers. The organization ahs several associated stakeholders who believe in their sustainability
philosophy of the resort and support it to achieve the goals. These stakeholders include the waste
management company like WasteWorks, Quality Laundry Services for clean linen for the guest
rooms and the employees both local as well as expatriates. These stakeholders are quite satisfied
with their payments and operations. There are no problems with them because the company
allows them to share their view points before making any decisions.
The theory of sustainability has three most important factors, economic, environmental
and ethical. The economic segment consists of salesmanship and efficiency, ethical includes
society and safety and security and ecological includes the environment and health of the
associated people (Crane & Matten, 2016). All these aspects of sustainability are perfectly
supported by the organization. The organization has initiated to supply safe drinking water for
the people rather than using plastic water bottles to support environmental balance. In addition to
this, the economy of the place is restored by creating employment for the local staffs and
providing them all the necessary trainings.
However, the dilemma has emerged as one of the ground staff of Harcourt Resort Wen
Jie, who works in the housekeeping department, comes to know about intriguing part of the
actions of WasteWorks. As her partner Jose works in the WasteWorks, the stakeholder of
Harcourt, she has come to know the fact that this company is not recycling all the waste
materials but providing the resort a false data. This is mend for befooling the resort authority
which may lead to the breach of agreement with MyVacation brand. In this case she facing an

2CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
ethical dilemma as she knows if the unethical process of waste management is exposed, Harcourt
Resort will break all the contracts with WasteWorks and her partner will lose his job. On the
other hand, if she does not let others know about the corruption, she may create threat for
Harcourt as it will lose all the connection with MyVacation. To the theory of Kant which mainly
focusses on the doing duty needed by recognizing the responsibilities. This theory respects the
rights of others and provides humanistic dimension to the decisions (Baron, 2018).
However, in this case, Wen Jie, must talk to the higher authority of Harcourt Resort as
this will be an honest decision for both to her partner as well as for her organization. This will
support her ethics for carrying out her responsibilities for the organization. For her partner also,
this will be a good decision as remaining connected with a corrupt company will not be fruitful
for this staff. Moreover, there are other processes through which the organization can manage
waste material without taking any help from the other companies.

3CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
References:
Baron, M. W. (2018). Kantian ethics almost without apology. Cornell University Press.
Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.