Analyzing Ethical Dilemmas in Workplace Decision-Making

The essay examines the ethical dilemma faced by Hardeep in a professional setting where he must choose between offering a contract to his friend’s company or another more cost-effective option. The discussion highlights the conflict between personal loyalty and professional ethics, emphasizing principles such as honesty, competence, and primacy of public interest. By applying corporate social responsibility, Hardeep is guided towards a decision that aligns with long-term organizational benefits, underscoring the importance of ethical standards over personal preferences in resolving workplace dilemmas.

Running head: ETHICAL DILEMMA IN WORKPLACE
Ethical Dilemma In Workplace
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1ETHICAL DILEMMA IN WORKPLACE
Ethical dilemma, can be defined, as the decision-making problem among two
possible sets of moral imperatives, wherein both the decisions are unambiguously preferable
as well as acceptable (White 2013). It, is also called, by the name of ethical paradox. The
person in such a dilemma faces a situation, where in, the obeying of one will result in the
transgression of the other one. There are two approaches in the process of resolving an
ethical dilemma-firstly, by focusing on the practical consequences of the action and
secondly, by focusing on the actions themselves (White 2013).
The ethical dilemma that Hardeep faces is between the services offered by Company
A and Company B. The Company B, is managed by his friend and he feels that it is his
moral obligation to help his friend and offer him the contract. However, if he does this, he will
be making an unethical decision as the services offered by Company B will prove to be
costlier in the longer run. He is obviously in a dilemma, as whether to follow the rules of
professional ethics like honesty, professionalism and the primacy of the public interest or to
offer the contract to his friend (Acs.org.au 2018). If he takes the services offered by his
friend, he will be fulfilling his duties as a friend, but he will not be honest to his organization,
as it will prove to be a loss to the organization in the longer run. He will also not be
completely professional if he offers the contract to his friend as his offer is completely
depended on the friendship, which he shares with the manager of the company and not on
the professional aspects of the company. Also, if he offers the contract to his friend he will
not be putting the interests of the public as well as the people related to the organization on
the highest priority.
The decision, which, Hardeep needs to make should be based completely on the
precepts of the moral code of conduct. The commonly followed moral code of professional
conduct are honesty, competence, primacy of the public interest, professionalism,
professional development and others (Acs.org.au 2018). The action taken by him will affect
not only his personal relationship with his friend who is the manager of the Company B but
his company itself, as the services offered by his friend would prove to be a loss in the

2ETHICAL DILEMMA IN WORKPLACE
longer run compared to the one offered by the other company. If he is going to help his
friend then he will have to betray the interests of his organization and if he decides to be
professional and offer the contract to other company then he will hurt his friend.
According to Klaus Schwab (2008), corporate social responsibility helps in the overall
growth as well as development of the organization. Therefore, the best decision that
Hardeep can make is to follow the path of corporate social responsibility and give the offer to
the Company A, which is expected to offer better services to the company in the longer run.
This decision will help him to be honest to his work, be professional as well as serve the
needs of the people related to the organization in which he is working in the best possible
manner.
Therefore, from the above discussion it becomes clear that the concept of ethical
dilemma is an important one faced by most of the people in their work as well as personal
life. However, the important thing is that the person faced with such ethical dilemma should
not make the decision based on his or her personal preferences but on the basis of moral as
well as ethical context.

3ETHICAL DILEMMA IN WORKPLACE
References
Acs.org.au. 2018. Code-of-Professional-Conduct. [online] Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Professional-
Conduct_v2.1.pdf [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
Schwab, K., 2008. Global corporate citizenship: working with governments and civil
society. Foreign Affairs, pp.107-118.
White, T.I., 2013. Resolving an ethical dilemma. Retrieved from: bourbon. usc.
edu7engr102-p09/ethics. pdf, Accessed, 18.
www.acs.org.au. 2018. Code-of-Ethics. [online] Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 10
Jan. 2018].