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Week 5: Ethics Perspectives

Ethics 316
Mr. Jeffrey Wisdom
Week 5/Ethics Game Dilemmas
Frederick R. Paige III












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The ethics game presented in the University of Phoenix library were two scenarios in
which business ethics problems were presented and an educated solution was needed with
perspective or lenses. In the first scenario, I was presented with a work problem in which one of
my employees named Gayle, was feeling sexually harassed by flowers showing up anonymously
on her desk. Gayle then sends an email politely requesting a confidential meeting to discuss her
feelings in regards to the situation. Other employees in the office have also noticed Bill, a
supervisor within another department of the organization, regularly visiting Gayle during the
times that the flowers anonymously show up.
There are a quite a few issues here that are addressed and need to be answered. How to
assure that the company avoids a lawsuit? How to answer Gayles request for confidentiality in
our meeting? How to handle Bills harassment of Gayle and how to make sure that an effective
harassment program is in place to avoid future incidents? These issues are all key elements in
solving this ethical dilemma and must be handled. In this scenario I started with handling the
issue of Gayle because that seemed to be the most relevant within the scope of the short term
planning need. Gayles request for confidentiality was addressed first because everything else
depended on the result I gave her. Avoiding a lawsuit was to generic of a problem to tackle,
especially on my own and since I have other leadership and management to handle such a large
problem, it was imperative that I handled the smaller issue first. Even though the other issues are
important of Bills harassment and an effective harassment program, these could be placed in the
middle of the problem-solving situation.
By determining the type of problem that I was presented with, enabled me to pick the
Rights/Responsibility Lens, which is an ethical action that is doing ones duty and following
ethical standards of action. Boylan (2009) states deontology will recommend an action based
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upon principle. Principle is justified through an understanding of the structure of action, the
nature of reason, and the operation of the will. This is directly related to business ethics
because the way this organization has been set up with a structured sexual harassment policy in
place that is written down and to be followed by everyone employed, and enforced by
management. By taking care of Gayles request for confidentiality ensured that company policy
could be followed if there was mention of sexual harassment. The other issues were taken care
of in sequential order but still following protocol of the company.
Sexual harassment is an issue that goes on in many work environments and companies
have set protocols and training in place for employees to help ensure fairness and discrimination
of any kind are kept to a minimum. Within the Police Department the same regulations and
standards are kept to ensure fairness and equal treatment within the organization. Also, abiding
by local, state and federal regulations ensures proper treatment of everyone.
Scenario 2
In the second scenario, I was promoted to the position in the company as VP of
Operations, and given a scenario in which reports that were filed by a junior researcher were
falsified. The company is in the midst of researching and testing a new drug and the researchers
that are in charge over that department have given false data. There are both generic and specific
problems that exist within this scenario. Whether to tell the junior researcher of my concern.
Whether to confront my colleague about the problem with the data in the report? How to ensure
the company avoids a lawsuit or how to train my staff to make sure that their reports do not
falsify data. Another option is to remain silent about the problem or decide what to do when I
believe that a colleague has falsified data in a report. My initial choice was to confront my
colleague about the problem with the data in the report hoping to end the problem from the start.
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This options does not allow for further follow up of any other problems that could arise. The
correct answer would be to establish what to do when you believe that a colleague has falsified
data in a report; this option gives you the best array of choices.
The relationship lens and the reputation lens are examined and best used in this scenario.
Since this scenario involved a friend, it was important to look at the relationship lens especially
when it deals with business. Some key theories regarding the relationship lens are justice and
communitarian strand of the deontological tradition. The reputation lens is also vital because the
company is relying on my report for accuracy, intelligence and truth. In the aspect of not being
truthful by filing false reports puts the company at jeopardy from a number of standpoints.
Legally the company can be sued and ethically the company has guidelines and standards; which
employees must abide.
Falsifying reports is a serious matter in not only my organization of the police department
but many organizations. Legal and ethical guidelines can be used to terminate employees who
falsify reports and are dishonest.









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References
Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics (2
nd
ed.)