Introduction
The correct course of action, especially concerning moral dilemmas, is essential in any decision – from an interpersonal dynamic to a business scenario. This essay focuses on the moral philosophy of deontology and how it may apply in a corporate scenario posed by an indeterminate company known as TechInnovate Inc. The guiding principle was identified through successfully using the GVV framework.
Section 1: Deontology
Briefly, deontology (named after the Greek word for ‘duty’), derived from the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, is another ethical theory that suggests that some things are morally right or wrong regardless of the consequences. Deontologists such as Kant tend to focus on duties – on right or wrong decisions simply because they follow certain universal principles.
Deontology arose from societal shifts that necessitated holding fast to moral principles in the face of situational changes (McCombs School of Business, 2023). Deontology emphasises virtue – the commitment to a moral stance in an environment of rapid change.
Although deontology provides a welcome, consistent framework for morality, its emphasis on rules might need to be sufficiently equipped to deal with nuanced moral scenarios. The tension between righteous principles and contextual considerations always takes some finessing, illustrating the difficulty of translating deontological rationalisations to actual real-world action.
From the perspective of the GVV framework, the ‘V’ part – value-based – becomes highly compatible with deontology as an ethical school (an aretaic view of the ‘V’ as ethical principles in one’s conscience can also be accommodated). This fit can help improve descriptive and normative reasoning. However, it also leads to potential conflicts, particularly when rigid rules and inflexible principles clash with the demand for flexibility and a deep understanding of ever-specific cases and their contexts. Achieving the needed balance between principled rigidity and contextually sensitive flexibility in GVV is essential for realising the desired coherence and completeness.
Section 2: Analysis of a Current Business Situation
Considering Tech Inovitite Inc., a virtual technology company, innovation, diversity, and sustainability are the cornerstones of its corporate identity. This innovative idea helps the company move forward from the conventional business.
An investigation reveals that TechInnovate Inc. is under fire for a critical workplace complication – discrimination in promotions involving gender. This hetero-norm appeals to the contradiction between the company’s espoused value versus the gaping reality that does not suitably match its espoused values. According to Britannica (2018), ‘any gap between espoused value and the reality falls under the gap-in-reality category and includes things like espousing principles of equal opportunity while in reality showing gender discrimination in promotion’. This contradiction raises fundamental questions about whether the company genuinely makes its workplace inclusive and equitable.
In trying to understand why employees are rising against TechInnovate Inc. on gender-based discrimination, I can begin to see that the root causes of discrimination are systemic biases, ineffective policies, and lack of diversity and inclusion initiatives, which all compromise team member well-being and learning and growth in the organisation and create financial and reputational costs. The urgency to address Gender-based problems in an organisational context is critical as it disrupts the company’s stated values towards innovation and sustainability, as well as its image as a company that advocates for diversity.
So, having experienced some of the challenges outlined above, I cannot be more emphatic about the necessity for organisational leaders to address the gap between stated and observed organisational values and take action to put an end to gender discrimination. This would involve introducing policy reforms, establishing a culture of diversity and nurturing a diversity and inclusion strategy, thus setting the example for other businesses to lead the way on ethical workplace practices. By doing so, TechInnovate Inc. provides itself with the means to address its imbalances and simultaneously emerge as a role model for others, reflecting its professed values of innovation, diversity and the environment in its actions.
Section 3: Personal Reflection and Application
When creating this action plan to protect and ban people from sexually discriminating against others, I had to battle between consequentialism and deontology as it related to having the best possible outcome and holding values based on being human and the value of these people. Creating an action plan that allows and ensures that people are not judged or blamed for their actions but another human being’s reaction to those actions has held the utmost priority by taking both aspects of the good Samaritan, doing some good, and having the values to do some good.
As I blended my values of egalitarianism, fairness and justice with a deontological perspective, I saw that there’s no way to avoid the fact that ethical dilemmas are complex. I developed an action plan based on values grounded in GVV to leverage my strengths and foster a more inclusive ecosystem at TechInnovate Inc. where all employees (especially the new hires) would be on an equal playing field.
Conclusion
In summary, this journey of applying deontology to ethical dilemmas faced by TechInnovate Inc. enforced the significance of ethical thinking and action, facing the inherent tensions between convention and care, principles and pragmatism. And by navigating the complexity and ambiguity of norms and values, I created a corporate culture where fairness, equality and justice are paramount. Even though I encounter ethical dilemmas in the corporate world, I will continue to strive to reflect and navigate ethical dilemmas by following ethical norms, not just for myself but also for others.
References
Britannica. (2018). Deontological ethics. In B. Duignan (Ed.), Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/deontological-ethics
McCombs School of Business. (2023). Deontology. Ethics Unwrapped. https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/deontology#:~:text=Deontology%20is%20an%20ethical%20theory%20that%20uses%20rules%20to%20distinguish
Tseng, P.-E., & Wang, Y.-H. (2021). Deontological or Utilitarian? an Eternal Ethical Dilemma in Outbreak. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168565
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