Ethical dilemmas can be defined as moral dilemmas in which individuals have to make a choice between two options. Interestingly, in an ethical dilemma, neither of the options can be ethically acceptable and it does not give any satisfactory result to the individual (Carlson, 2013, p. 65). In the given case study, Harry was a network programmer and had been working in FABIO organisation. He has been planning to develop an anti-virus programme and he was very close to develop this. He dreamt to establish a start up. One day, he shared his idea of selling his anti-virus product to the Fabio manager Jill, Jill instantly refused this and insulted Harry. Harry became awestruck and he became a consultant on the internet in his spare time under the guise of Lock Smith and published under the name of Safe-T. Jill came to know it and fired him. The Executive Head of IT, Brockley supported Jill in her work to sack Harry. Brockley did not put enquiry about this. In the course of time, the owner of FABIO, Iris Bigg told Brockley to find Lock Smith and give him a position in the organisation.
Ethical dilemma in this narrative first occurs when Jill (Head of IT Security) refused a proposal of harry in purchasing anti-virus from him although she did know that FABIO’s network had infection and a secure anti-virus would help. In the second case, when Jill came to know that Harry is Lock Smith, she fired Harry from FABIO. There was no such grave reason for sacking Harry as he was doing this in his own time. Jill’s manager Brockley supported the wrong-did of Jill, it is also an instance of an ethical issue. Lastly, Iris Bigg sent an email to Brockley to hire Lock Smith as he has the expertise, Brockley faced an ultimate ethical dilemma as he knows who Lock Smith actual was.
Step I: Understand the situation
a) List and number the relevant facts
Harry had a fascination of developing software and he developed an anti-virus dreaming to establish a start-up. He wanted to sell it to IT security manager of FABIO, Jill, however, Jill refused. Harry was socked and he buried his dream of business. He started his online consultancy on networking under the guise of Lock Smith. Jill came to know it and sacked harry from FABIO. In addition, Jill informed this to IT head Brockley. Brockley supported Jill. Lastly, Iris Bigg, the owner of FABIO, told Brockley to find Lock Smith and gave him a post in FABIO as he has great expertise.
b) Which of these raise an ethical issue? What is the potential or resulting harm?
Harry wanted to sell his anti-virus product to the IT manager and he was enjoying his office post at the same time. One cannot start his business with a post in his office. He started his online consultancy with a vague of name of Lock Smith. Keeping his original name a secret is not a right thing to do. It may harm FABIO as Harry knew business secret of organisation.
The first ethical issue is Jill’s sudden firing of Harry as Harry was running his online consultancy in his free time. It could harm Harry as Harry lost him the job.
Brockley supported Jill without having the right knowledge of the incident and he did not put any enquiry. This incident is keeping the incident as secret to a higher authority. This is harmful to any employees.
Iris Bigg sent an email stating he needs Lock Smith. Now, Brockley finds himself in an ethical dilemma as he knows Lock is Harry.
Harry, the employee of FABIO and software developer
Jill, the IT manager of Harry
Brockley, the IT Head of FABIO
Iris Bigg, the owner of FABIO
The major ethical dilemma was facing by Brockley as he knew who Lock Smith actually was. Iris Bigg instructed Brockley to find the Lock Smith and bestowed upon a position in the office FABIO. Jill fired Harry and Brockley supported this without giving any enquiry. In this situation, Brockley felt that it would be very hard condition for him to manage this as Harry would not be convinced to join in the FABIO. Jill and Brockley knew the actual condition and iris Bigg did not know behind the actual reason of sacking Harry. When Harry would join as Lock Smith in the office of FABIO, the truth may reveal and true colour of Jill and Brockley may disclose. Moreover, Brockley had to listen to Iris Bigg’s instruction as he is the owner of the company and convincing Lock Smith to join FABIO would be a hard thing. Brockley was facing this dilemma.
Consequentialism:
Consequentialism is all about normative ethics and consequences of one’s conduct or action is the ultimate basis of judgement of wrongness and rightness (O’Neill, 2013, p. 34). Consequentialism gives emphasis on the good outcome of the result.
In the major ethical dilemma, the wrong ethical deed of Brockley and Jill may come into light when Lock Smith’s true identity would disclose. If Brockley wants to prevent this situation, he would make understand Iris Bigg about Lock Smith is not a need for now in the office. Brockley and Jill’s condition is at stake and they would be harmed if Lock Smith’s identity discloses.
In this situation, Harry would harm as he lost the job without any prior notice and he hardly committed any wrong to the office FABIO.
If Brockley would make understand Iris Bigg that he could manage another software developer or any position for Lock Smith is not vacate right now. This could manage the situation and Brockley and Jill may be safe.
In major ethical dilemma, Lock Smith also known as harry will be benefitted as he would get the lost job and he could convey Iris Bigg about what Jill and Brockley had done to him.
In this situation, Brockley and Jill will be benefitted as their misdeeds would not come into light or reveal. In the future, they could do the same things.
If Lock Smith gets the job again and the result of getting the position back would lead to the harm of Brockley and Jill, on the contrary, Harry would get maximum benefits.
Consequentialism Comments
Consequentialism signifies the ‘end’ and what the decision may result at the end. This normative ethics is different from deontological ethics, in which moral duty takes the standpoint. If Brockley could make understand Iris that the organisation does not need Lock Smith right now or any wrong side of Lock Smith, the situation could be safe. People in consequentialism could go according to their fears and interests. Brockley could contact with Lock Smith and negotiate with him.
Rights and Duties
Rights are the justifiable claims on certain grounds to obtain something, whereas, duties are some actions that may be correct for some moment (Belle, 2017, p. 23).
Harry was sacked by Jill and it was supported by Brockley, in later stage, Harry became Lock Smith and started an online consultancy. Iris Bigg instigated Brockley to give a position to Lock Smith in the same company from which he had been sacked. Jill had right to sack and she did not think before she fired Harry. She neglected her duty. Brockley blindly supported Jill as he though Harry to be an open cannon. Brockley could put an enquiry, however, he did not do this, and he neglected his duty to do so. Actions must show one’s moral or obligatory notions and what he/she is doing so must clear to him/her.
Rights and Duties Comments
Duties are actions which people are tempted to doing so and sometimes avoid them. If this action or duty provides good effects on the opposite individual, then it is good. Otherwise, it is just merely wrong deeds cannot be an obligation to fulfil.
Kant’s categorical imperative is the philosophical concept that any proposition can declare certain duties or activities. Categorical imperative can be defined as absolute requirement that can justify the end (Ford & Richardson, 2013, p. 56).
The major ethical dilemma that Brockley is faced in right now that he should give the position to Lock Smith or he should not. In this situation, he might make wrong understand to Iris Bigg about Lock Smith, in this case, Iris Bigg would be disrespect. In order to keep the actual fact hidden, Brockley can wrongly disclose the fact.
In this situation, Brockley would disrespect Harry as Harry will not get the job and the actual truth will be remaining undisclosed.
As stated by Shapiro and Stefkovich (2016, p. 44), hypothetical imperative, it is the way to achieve the best at the end. In this situation, Brockley and Jill may not wish to reveal the secret to Iris Bigg and who the actual Lock Smith was. In this situation, ‘right’ or ‘good’ does not raise moral question. This judgement must come from practicality.
In this situation, Bigg would be treated unlike to others as he is not told the actual truth.
In this situation, Harry would be treated unlike to others.
As Harry was sacked in the previous occasion, keeping the fact hidden from Iris Bigg would make the situation normal. The reason behind this is strong and has separate empirical experience and practical excuses behind this. However, if they hide the truth, similar situation may come in the future, again, they would hide the fact.
If everyone did the action in correct way, Brockley keeps the fact as hidden; apart from Harry, everyone will be benefitted. Jill and Brockley will be benefitted.
There would not be any benefits as Brockley and Jill have to reveal the truth and Lock Smith’s true identity would be disclosed.
The second option is preferable as keeping the fact hidden makes to support the ‘wrong’ that may harm the other employees in future. It is not about moral questions, but the greater good or ‘moral universalism’.
At the end, it is observed that if Brockley does not reveal the truth that Harry is Lock Smith and makes excuses that the organisation does not Lock Smith right now, they can handle the situation. However, it would not bring any good and that would not give benefit to other employees in future. The Kantian theory may say that moral action is not needed; in this respect, Brockley can hide the fact. In case of consequentialism, the consequences are important for the, in this situation, the act of Brockley in keeping the fact hiding would be benefit.
a) Make a defensible ethical decision
Brockley has two way-out; he has to keep the fact hidden or lie some facts to the Iris Bigg. On the other side, he could tell the truth about Harry. Brockley could hide the truth as Harry had already been sacked, Harry would hardly know about Iris Bigg’s desire to get him in his FABIO. Telling lie is unwanted; however, it would save the situation for Jill and Brockley.
b) List the steps needed to implement your defensible ethical decision
Consequentialism is about understanding the consequences after the situation happens, in case of lying, consequentialism asks about the consequences of lying. If the lying brings significant impact or saves a situation, then it is accepted. On the other side, Kantian categorical imperative, hypothetical imperative is true in certain circumstances. In Brockley’s circumstances, Brockley may not think about the universalised fact about lying or keeping the fact hidden. Reality without lying is not acceptable; however, what Brockley will do is acceptable. The second hypothesis is treated people ‘as an end, never means to as an end’. Here, Iris would be used as a tool to get the situation as a favourable for Brockley. Moreover, Brockley needs to understand the satiations and make a plan with Jill. Keeping the fact about Harry, they could devise some other hiring option that would bring others apart from Lock Smith.
Reference List
Belle, S.M., 2017. Knowledge Stewardship as an Ethos-Driven Approach to Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(1), pp.83-91.
Carlson, E., 2013. Consequentialism reconsidered (Vol. 20). Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.
Ford, R.C. & Richardson, W.D., 2013. Ethical decision making: A review of the empirical literature. In Citation classics from the Journal of Business Ethics. 2(3), pp. 19-44
O’Neill, O., 2013. Acting on principle: An essay on Kantian ethics. Cambridge: University Press.
Shapiro, J.P. & Stefkovich, J.A., 2016. Ethical leadership and decision making in education: Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. Abingdon: Routledge.
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