Ethical Issue Analysis
Introduction
In this assignment you will identify an ethical issue and analyze it from the perspective of three major ethical decision-making approaches.
Learning Objectives
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to be able to:
- Identify and implement ethically sound judgment relating to business practices.
- Define what makes an issue an ethical issue.
- Analyze an ethical issue using major ethical decision-making approaches.
- Know how individual and organizational ethical behavior impacts corporate reputation and profitability.
Assignment Details
For this paper you will choose from ONE of the following topics:
- Some auto insurance companies are now experimenting with applications that record driving actions such as braking, acceleration, and speed data. This data could then be used to determine insurance rates for drivers. Is it ethical for insurance companies to require that drivers consent to this data tracking in order to receive auto insurance?
- Some Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners collect data as they clean using simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). This helps the vacuum avoid crashing into furniture such as a couch, but also creates a map of homes that could be used by companies to identify specific product recommendations to make to consumers (e.g., the vacuum could identify a large room where a speaker system might work well or where a crib might fit in a home). This is simply one example of digital home assistants that collect data as part of their functionality in homes. Is it ethical for data collected by digital home assistants to be used (or sold) for the marketing and other business purposes?
- Electronic chips can now be implanted under employees’ skin such as between the thumb and index finger. This technology could then be used for a number of activities including swiping into an office building or paying for food in the cafeteria. Is it ethical for companies to require employees to receive an implant as part of their terms of employment?
You will then analyze this topic by completing the following sections.
Description of Ethical Issue
In this section you will:
- Briefly describe the topic you have selected from the approved list in these instructions by providing a 1-2 paragraph overview of the topic.
- Describe why this topic should be considered as an ethical issue. You should be sure to describe exactly how the issue you selected aligns with the definition of ethics in your text and used in our course.
- Define what a stakeholder is and identify the primary and secondary stakeholders associated with the issue you have selected.
After describing your selected topic, you will then analyze the issue from three different viewpoints in the following three sections. Essentially, you are going to consider the viewpoint of three different people who rely on three different approaches to ethical decision-making.
Utilitarian Analysis of Ethical Issue
For this section you should describe what Uma or Ulysses (you choose what name to use) the Utilitarian would think about this issue. That is, you should describe what criteria a Utilitarian would use to make their decision. Based upon those criteria, you need to describe how a Utilitarian would answer the question related to the topic that you selected (e.g., Is it ethical for insurance companies to require that drivers consent to this data tracking in order to receive auto insurance?). Do not just describe what answer they would likely arrive at, but exactly why you think they would come to that conclusion. Be specific.
Deontological Analysis of Ethical Issue
For this section you should describe what Dennis or Denise (you choose what name to use) the Deontologist would think about this issue. That is, you should describe what criteria a Deontologist would use to make their decision. Based upon those criteria, you need to describe how a Deontologist would answer the question related to the topic that you selected (e.g., Is it ethical for insurance companies to require that drivers consent to this data tracking in order to receive auto insurance?). Do not just describe what answer they would likely arrive at, but exactly why you think they would come to that conclusion. Be specific.
Virtue Ethics Analysis of Ethical Issue
For this section you should describe what Vance or Veronica (you choose what name to use) the Virtue Ethicist would think about this issue. That is, you should describe what criteria a Virtue Ethicist would use to make their decision. Based upon those criteria, you need to describe how a Virtue Ethicist would answer the question related to the topic that you selected (e.g., Is it ethical for insurance companies to require that drivers consent to this data tracking in order to receive auto insurance?). Do not just describe what answer they would likely arrive at, but exactly why you think they would come to that conclusion. Be specific.
Personal Analysis of Ethical Issue
First provide a description (1-2 paragraphs) of how each of the three approaches came to similar and different conclusions (and explain why).
Then, describe what criteria you personally think are most important to consider in analyzing this issue and explain why. How do the three perspectives that you described in the previous sections influence your thinking? How do you think this issue could best be handled to at least partially satisfy each of the three approaches that you analyzed this issue using? In other words, what do you think companies/individuals could do related to the topic that you chose that would best satisfy a Utilitarian, Deontologist, and Virtue Ethicist?
Submission Requirements
To receive credit for this assignment you will complete this assignment using the Ethical Issue Analysis Template and submit it as one document via Blackboard that includes ALL of the following elements (in order):
- Use the template that is provided with headings for each of the sections described in these instructions.
- Paper Title
- Full name of student
- Student number
- SBA Option {for example:}
BBA in Management (General),
BBA in Management (International),
BBA in General Business,
BBA in Marketing,
BBA in Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship,
BBA in Accounting, etc. - Date of Paper Submission
- 1 inch-margins, 12-point font, double-spaced.
- No direct quotes should be used from course readings, the text, or other sources.You should paraphrase and cite these readings and other references a great deal (using in-text citations), but do not provide direct quotations. You need to provide evidence that you have considered business ethics concepts and can explain resources such as the text in your own words. You must use a minimum of three peer-reviewed references (MLA citation style). Points may be deducted for direct quotes from readings.
- Your submission should be no less than five pages, and no longer than eightdouble-spaced pages (12-point font, 1-inch margins), not including the title page and references section.
- NOTE: For your Rough Draft, you must save your file as “LAST NAME_FIRST INITIAL_Ethical Issue Analysis (ROUGH)” before uploading to Blackboard.For example, if Joseph DesJardins were submitting his rough draft, Joe would save the file as “DESJARDINS_J_Ethical Issue Analysis (ROUGH)” and submit it as such.
- NOTE: For your Rough Draft, you must score at least a 60% in order to proceed to the next step. If you do not score a 60% or above, you will not be permitted to submit a Final Draft. You will not receive any credit for the Ethical Issue Analysis assignment.
- NOTE: For your Final Draft, you must save your file as “LAST NAME_FIRST INITIAL_Ethical Issue Analysis (FINAL)” before uploading to Blackboard. For example, if Joseph DesJardins were submitting his final draft, Joe would save the file as “DESJARDINS_J_Ethical Issue Analysis (FINAL)” and submit it as such.
You will submit this assignment by uploading the assignment template document for this assignment to the Ethical Issue Analysis Assignment submission area in Blackboard. (Please note that all submitted assignments will be screened for plagiarism issues.)
Note: This is an original paper prepared as an individual. This is NOT a team project.
Grading Rubric
Description of Ethical Issue
- 20 points = All questions are thoroughly and completely addressed.
- 18 points = All of the questions are addressed; almost all of the questions are addressed in great detail.
- 16 points = All of the questions are addressed; most of the questions are addressed in great detail. Responses to some questions are either unclear or do not provide sufficient detail.
- 14 points = All of the questions are addressed with at least some detail. Some responses are largely unclear or very short.
- 12 points (or less) = Most of the questions are addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial manner.
- 10 points (or less) = Many questions are not addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial or incomplete manner.
Utilitarian Analysis of Ethical Issue
- 20 points = All questions are thoroughly and completely addressed.
- 18 points = All of the questions are addressed; almost all of the questions are addressed in great detail.
- 16 points = All of the questions are addressed; most of the questions are addressed in great detail. Responses to some questions are either unclear or do not provide sufficient detail.
- 14 points = All of the questions are addressed with at least some detail. Some responses are largely unclear or very short.
- 12 points (or less) = Most of the questions are addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial manner.
- 10 points (or less) = Many questions are not addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial or incomplete manner.
Deontological Analysis of Ethical Issue
- 20 points = All questions are thoroughly and completely addressed.
- 18 points = All of the questions are addressed; almost all of the questions are addressed in great detail.
- 16 points = All of the questions are addressed; most of the questions are addressed in great detail. Responses to some questions are either unclear or do not provide sufficient detail.
- 14 points = All of the questions are addressed with at least some detail. Some responses are largely unclear or very short.
- 12 points (or less) = Most of the questions are addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial manner.
- 10 points (or less) = Many questions are not addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial or incomplete manner.
Virtue Ethics Analysis of Ethical Issue
- 20 points = All questions are thoroughly and completely addressed.
- 18 points = All of the questions are addressed; almost all of the questions are addressed in great detail.
- 16 points = All of the questions are addressed; most of the questions are addressed in great detail. Responses to some questions are either unclear or do not provide sufficient detail.
- 14 points = All of the questions are addressed with at least some detail. Some responses are largely unclear or very short.
- 12 points (or less) = Most of the questions are addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial manner.
- 10 points (or less) = Many questions are not addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial or incomplete manner.
Personal Analysis of Ethical Issue
- 10 points = All questions are thoroughly and completely addressed.
- 9 points = All of the questions are addressed; almost all of the questions are addressed in great detail.
- 8 points = All of the questions are addressed; most of the questions are addressed in great detail. Responses to some questions are either unclear or do not provide sufficient detail.
- 7 points = All of the questions are addressed with at least some detail. Some responses are largely unclear or very short.
- 6 points = Most of the questions are addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial manner.
- 5 points (or less) = Many questions are not addressed; questions are often addressed in a superficial or incomplete manner.
Communication—Grammar, spelling, formatting, composition, etc.
- 10 points = Without errors (<4); very well written and organized; clear and concise language; professional tone; proper length, at least 3 peer-reviewed sources used in a meaningful way; citations are used appropriately (i.e. due credit given, no direct quoting). Citations (in text and in references section) correctly follow MLA style.
- 8 points = Minor typos or grammatical errors (~5-6), well-written and organized; at least 3 peer-reviewed sources used in a meaningful way; citations are used appropriately (in text and in the references section); proper length and tone.
- 7 points = Frequent typos and grammatical errors (~ 10); occasionally unprofessional or casual tone; too long or short; sources used, but not in a meaningful way; somewhat difficult to follow.
- 6 points = Significant typos and errors ~15); poor or unprofessional tone; writing unclear making content hard to understand; sources used but in a superficial manner; less than three peer-reviewed sources used; difficult to follow.
- 5 points (or less) =Number of errors makes paper uninterpretable; poorly written; unprofessional tone, required sources not used; difficult to follow. Student did not follow instructions.