The ethical territory of the business usually provides the individuals with dilemmas that are difficult to process since they have opposite values and are competing for interests. This paper presents a central study of consequentialist, deontological, and virtue ethics perspectives in combination with cognitive, psychological, and managerial factors, bringing to light the complexity of ethical decision-making in business organizations.
Identifying the Ethical Dilemma
In the summer internship in the sales department, I encountered a grave ethical issue with a new children’s toy that the company was about to launch. The toy in question had a very novel design with excellent market potential; however, during the final testing phase before launch, I found a significant flaw in it. That flaw could pose no direct danger to kids, but it messed up the functional value or usability of the toy. Although I raised the case with management, they only kept in mind the company’s goal of going public very quickly to meet quarterly sales targets and satisfy shareholders. It put me in an intense moral conflict.
On the one hand, the business had to meet the sales targets and help the shareholders’ expectations. That said, being a responsible individual and customer means making some effort to make sure that the products conform to standards and are genuine and honest deliverables of good value for the paying customer (Hota et al., 2023). These conflicting values accentuate ongoing tension between honesty, responsibility, fairness, and profit-seeking behavior.
Applying Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks
Consequentialist Perspective
I realize that there are so many interests in this issue. Of first importance, stakeholders are the end consumers, retailers, company staff, and shareholders. Indeed, the potential harms and benefits may differ considerably. On the one hand, the company may gain short-term financial gains by ignoring the design flaw; on the other, it may damage consumer trust and brand reputation in the long haul(Hota et al., 2023). It exposes the consumer to a risk when they buy the product only to realize that the commodity is defective. It also demonstrates that the manufacturer could not create goodwill since the retailer may bear the brunt if the customer returns a defective product.
The overall impact on society leads towards the bottom-line mental calculation to give preference to the ethical consideration rather than the immediate financial benefit. Though in the short run, profitability may be gained through compromised product quality, however in the long term, it goes against the societal trust in the business integrity and standard of consumer protection. Therefore, prioritizing ethical principles fosters the most sustainable and trustworthy business environment that benefits society.
Deontological Perspective
Deontology offers an overview of the relevance of duties, obligations, principles, and values to understand the ethical dilemma further. Having integrity and ensuring one serves to create consumer welfare are some of the duties of an individual and a business representative(Chukwu et al., 2023). Following this golden rule, if I deal with other people precisely in the same manner that I would want them to handle me, then being transparent and accountable in how my products are most fitting. According to Kant’s categorical imperative, the basic ethics that serve for the universalizability of moral actions are honesty and consumer protection. On the other hand, according to Rawls’ veil of ignorance, people were to consider parties involved in decisions that should derive from fairness and justice with no partiality toward their interests.
Virtue Ethics
My desire and intent are around the development of honesty, responsibility, and consumer satisfaction. The actions should be in unity with the virtue of doing things rightfully, letting everything transpire transparently, and committing to honest business practices. Therefore, the most appropriate ethical community to consult in this matter is composed of concerned citizens who advocate for business integrity and ethical consumerism. It will ensure that the work projects themselves are ethical considerations, in addition to the grossly substantial margins that accrue from such jobs. The second rule in ethics is the disclosure rule, which encourages the declaration of all defects or other information concerning the product as should be brought to the consumers’ attention. They will probably be a person whom an ethical role model or harshest moral critic would highly advise that there be more priority given rather than the maximization of profit. All have to keep being truthful to the customer and seek after the client’s welfare by being responsible for ensuring product quality and transparency in business dealings.
Examining Cognitive, Psychological, and Managerial Influences
Analysis of the cognitive, psychological, and managerial influences on the ethical decision-making process delivers several factors involved. Ethical awareness is a central force here because it depicts my discernment regarding right and wrong actions as they conform to personal values, comparing them with previously encoded experiences. Moreover, in cognitive moral development, more so in post-conventional, universal ethical principles affect overall judgment. In addition, feelings and thoughts such as compassion and a sense of responsibility over the outcomes of an act drive me towards ethically proper alternatives. In this case, ethical awareness, cognitive moral development, emotions, and script processing are pertinent to ethical reasoning. On the other hand, factors such as Machiavellianism, moral disengagement, and mental barriers are less relevant; they have no affinity to the ethical framework or personal values but may come positively as a limiting influence on ethical reasoning(Hota et al., 2023).
Lessons Learned and Reflections
These allowed me to gain deep insights into the complex nature of ethical decision-making. They helped add an already existing level of complexity to the dilemmas but also opened the door to a level that had previously escaped notice: the subtle complexities. Now, I consider these same actions using a more critical eye and realize the multiple implications they could have on stakeholders, further realizing the state of business ethics in general. I shall be vigilant and hold on to these principles in the future when encountering such situations. One does say this with hindsight, though in all fairness, in doing so, I realize that such circumstances are unique tests of time requiring sensitive responses. However, one of the lessons learned from this experience is that I am poised to make future ethical dilemmas with much more confidence and integrity so that what I do will be consistent with the moral imperatives and stand to the highest standard possible in my conduct.
In conclusion, the journey through this ethical dilemma clearly shows the need for a solid ethical framework used in the decision-making process in business. When credibility and duty become more important than short-term benefits, the company can create a favorable environment for long-term growth because of the trust placed in the stakeholders. In the future, ethical principles will be the compass that will direct actions toward virtuous behavior through them being guided confidently and with integrity to ensure that all the actions align with the highest ethical standards and imperatives of morality.
References
Chukwu, E., Adu-Baah, A., Niaz, M., Nwagwu, U., & Chukwu, M. U. (2023). Navigating ethical supply chains: the intersection of diplomatic management and theological ethics. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Arts, 2(1), 127–139.
Hota, P. K., Bhatt, B., & Qureshi, I. (2023). Institutional work to navigate ethical dilemmas: Evidence from a social enterprise. Journal of Business Venturing, 38(1), 106269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2022.106269
write