Consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1
James works in the accounting department of a large firm.While going over the books for the past several months, James notices that someone has altered the figures to increase earnings by several thousands of dollars. He suspects that the errors, which are in the companys favor, are too consistent to have been honest mistakes. He knows that he should report his findings through the companys ethics hotline. However, he worries that doing so will jeopardize his job security and reputation with the company.
Scenario 2
Mary owns a small toy manufacturing company. One of her employees has noticed that one of the pieces on the most popular toy the company manufactures can detach from the toy. This detachment could pose a potential choking hazard to young children who play with the toy. No customers have yet reported problems with the toy. Mary wonders if she should report the potential hazard before anyone gets hurt. However, the recall would cost her company money and result in loss of sales during the busy Christmas season.
As the scenarios illustrate, making ethical decisions often requires a trade-off for an organization or individual. After a scandal results from ethical wrongdoing, the proper course of action seems clear. Even so, employees and organizational leaders continue to struggle with making ethical decisions on a day-to-day basis as they weigh the cost of making such decisions.
To prepare for this Assignment, think of a situation where a leadership team encountered a situation where things did not go well and they were faced with an ethical dilemma. Analyze what could have happened had they applied the appropriate decisions. Offer your solutions using an ethical framework.
J Bus Ethics (2012) 107:3547
DOI 10.1007/s10551-012-1296-4
Work Engagement and Machiavellianism in the Ethical Leadership Process
Deanne N. Den Hartog Frank D. Belschak
Published online: 5 April 2012
