Ethical Dilemma at Workplace: Analysis of Normative Ethical Theories

This report presents an analysis of an ethical dilemma encountered in a workplace setting. The scenario involves a student intern who discovers their friend, also an intern, is engaged in unethical behavior, potentially harming the company. The report applies three normative ethical theories—utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics—to evaluate the situation and the decision made by the intern. Utilitarianism is used to assess the outcome that maximizes overall utility, deontology examines the action based on duty and code of conduct, and virtue ethics emphasizes the moral character of the decision-maker. The analysis explores the implications of each theory on the intern's choice to report the unethical conduct. The report reflects on the decision-making process, providing insights into the complexities of ethical dilemmas and the application of different theoretical frameworks in real-world scenarios. The report concludes by reflecting on the decision and the impact it had.

1
By student name
Professor
University
Date: 18 August 2017.
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Contents
Part 1: Ethical Dilemma
Part 2: Analysis of Ethical Dilemma
Utilitarianism
Deontology theory
Virtue Ethics
Part 3: Reflection
References
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Part 1: Description
Ethical dilemmas are situations in which one person has to choose between two given options,
and he has to make the best choice, keeping his morals and thinking constant and correct.
One of such ethical dilemma situation I faced when I was working as an intern in a big
firm. My best friend Jo also joined with me. We were both working on a very important project
together in the office. Our boss gave us different responsibilities. I was given the job of analysing
the data, and Jo was given the work of collecting that data and making it available in such a
format, that it will be easy to read and analyse. One day I was working late after the office hours
and I needed some data. Since Jo was my best friend, I was aware of his passwords and in his
absence,I thought to use the computer myself and transfer the required data. When I logged in
the system, as I was scanning the folders, I saw that there was a document in which the intricate
details about the company were there. (Auken 2016) Jo had addressed all the information to a
local competitor and had charged hefty sum for the same. It was a situation of both personal and
informational dilemma. On one side, I had my best friend and on the other hand, I had my
responsibility as an intern of the company. In addition, since I had logged in the system, without
taking the permission of the intern, it was a situation of informational dilemma. I had worked
against the information technology policy of the company. Thus, I was in a lot of confusion, and
was not able to decide what I must do in such a dicey situation (Culiberg & Mihelič 2016).
After a lot of contemplation, I decided that even though Jo was my friend, what he was
doing was very wrong. As an employee of the company I had my share of responsibility, I need
to work in a professional manner, and anything that might harm the company, should be
forwarded to the management. Therefore, I downloaded all the details, from Jo computer and
mailed the same to my senior. I also called up Jo, to confront him on the same. He was shocked
and was not ready to agree that he had done something like this. I was accused to using someone
else system without their system and duping their documents. When the management conducted
a research into the matter, they became aware about the seriousness of the situation. Jo was fired
from his job, and he even stopped talking to me for some time, but later he realised his mistake
and now we are friends. As for me, I was praised by the management for my work, they
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appreciated the fact that I did not care about my personal relations and kept the company before
everything. At the end of the day, I was happy about my decision, because in things where my
morality is involved, I place my morals before anything. Even though Jo was my friend, but
whatever he was doing was very wrong and hence as a part of the company ,as a professional., it
was important that I maintained my integrity and skepticm while taking important decisions in
life and on professional front (Nayak 2016).
Part 2: Analysis
The above incident has been analysed based on various theories that helps in conducting proper
synopsis of a given ethical situation dilemma. The three theories that have been applied are –
 Utilitarianism
It is one of the most primitive theories in this regard. The underlying thought in
this theory to take decisions so that the utility is maximum. It takes into consideration the
overall pleasures that a person derives from a particular decision, ignoring any kind of
pain that might be involved in the same.
While applying the same in context of the above situation, Jo was my friend so there was
the personal affection at stake and on the other hand the reputation of the company and
the responsibility as a professional. As per this theory, the decision should be such that
the utility is maximum; and the decision that was taken to inform the management
involved maximum satisfaction, because not only the reputation of the company was
saved. I was able to build a good image of a sensible professional. If friendship was
given more importance, the utility would not be maximum and the overall pain involved
would be more (Piacquadio 2017).
 Deontology theory
As per this theory, the decisions that a person take should be based on a code of
conduct based on the duty that was assigned to him. In this case, working as a
professional, there is a responsibility to be true to the organisation before anyone else. It
is important that the action should be given importance and not the result. Informing the
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management was the action and not caring about the information technology norms was
the result that as a professional should be ignored. It is also important that the code of
duty must be followed; hence, the decision to inform the management was right as per the
above theory (Lefkowitz 2017).
 Virtue Ethics
In case of theory of virtual ethics, character and mind are given more importance.
The morality of the person is the deciding factor and not the rules, regulations or any
duty.
On applying the theory in the given case, we see that the main importance of morality is
sustained. If the professional is thinking with his mind over his heart and is given
importance to his job and company for its betterment, he is ethically correct. However,
somewhere the friendship and the fact that he used someone else system without their
permission is wrong and that is where the moral dilemma ticks in. It is important that the
virtues of the mind and the character are coordinated with the decisions made that leads
to maximum profit. (Annas 2016)
Part 3: Reflection
On contemplation of the decision based on the three theories, it can be said while
applying the first theory, the decision holds good. The main aim is to maximise the utility
and that is achieved. It is win-win situation because the company is also impressed and
the professionalism is maintained. The decision is correct and made me happy, but still
there is no win-win situation because I am losing on a friend.
On Applying the second theory that is deontology theory where the decisions should be
based on the code of conduct as per the duty assigned. The decision is coordinated with
the same, because as a professional it is important that any harm to the company must be
stopped, the management must be informed so that decisions pertaining to the same can
be taken. So I was the most happiest with my decision with regard to this theory.
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I was most unhappy with my decision based on the third theory where the importance
was to be given to the virtue and character and not the duty. I know that the decision that
I took was correct but it was based more on my code of conduct being a part of the
company and less on the person who shares an intimate bond with the person in question.
However, if I was ever in the same situation, I will take the exactly same decision based
on my thinking and approach.
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Bibliography
Annas, J 2016, Which Variety of Virtue Ethics?
Auken, SV 2016, 'Assessing the role of business faculty values and background in the recognition of an
ethical dilemma', Journal of Education for Business, vol 91, no. 4, pp. 211-218.
Culiberg, B & Mihelič, KK 2016, 'Three ethical frames of reference: insights into Millennials' ethical
judgements and intentions in the workplace', Business Ethics, vol 25, no. 1, pp. 94-111.
Lefkowitz, J 2017, Ethics and Values in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Second Edition, 2nd edn,
Routledge, NY.
Nayak, SV 2016, 'Ethical Dilemma at Workplace - A Case Study', DHARANA - Bhavan's International
Journal of Business, vol 10, no. 2.
Piacquadio, PG 2017, 'A Fairness Justification of Utilitarianism', Econometrica, vol 85, no. 4, pp. 1261-
1276.
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