Decision-making is a complex process, which requires one to be quite keen so that no parties concerned are faced with challenges. In any scenario, a person may be faced with an ethical dilemma where an important decision is required to be made. In the case study shown, an ethical dilemma facing the two individuals, which is Johnny and Mary Jo. Like in any other profession, accounting principles require us to observe ethics to ensure that standards are observed. Proper understanding and appreciation of ethics is an important issue in any organization; Stakeholders need to take note of aspects that may infringe the fundamental principles ethics (Markel, 2001).
The first case gives an overview of a violation of ethical standards laid down in the guidelines. It is important to note that financial accounting ethics is an important aspect that may land somebody into financial problems, or perhaps, court cases (Brown, 2000). In accounting, ethics are based on a number of principles that govern the business as well as its environment. The most important principles of ethics noted in the first case study include honesty, impartiality, and objectivity (Zsolnai, 2017). Ethical principles require that financial reports be presented in a clear and accurate manner that can be easily scrutinized by experts. Financial reports not only presented in a concise manner will enable professionals to have ease in carrying out their scrutiny, but will also indicate the financial capability of a firm or organization.
Johnny has extensively violated the principle of integrity and honesty in the sense that instead of him making sure that the documents are up to date, he has opted to lie by inserting a document that was not there. He went ahead to backdate the document without informing his boss to get his consent. Generally, accounting being a delicate undertaking, which requires a very high level of honesty and integrity, can sometimes be handled unprofessionally leading to unethical behaviour, which could have been avoided if those charged with the responsibility of taking care of finances in organizations. Johnny should be sanctioned to explain the circumstances in which he self-decided to edit, backdate, and insert the document. To ascertain that the financial issues of the company are really in order, the person in charge should be investigated and asked to clarify why he behaved so (Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell, 2013). It is important to note that finances of the firm may be compromised in many ways, therefore; it is necessary to regularly, carry out an audit. This will ensure that financial integrity and honesty is checked extensively and accurately.
On the other hand, Mary Jo has violated an academic integrity by accepting to download exams from exam bank while knowing very well that it is a criminal offence and it violates the university academic policies (Kelly and Welch, 2016). It is one of the most dangerous offences a student would be involved in any university. To ensure that any such academic breach is avoided in the future, the university administration should put necessary methods to bar anyone thinking about committing that offence and at the same time taking necessary disciplinary actions against those who have committed such mistake (Beever, 2016). The academic committee should do the sanctioning of Mary Jo and explain to her the consequences of indulging in examination malpractices. The summoning of Mary Jo should be procedural and she should be given a chance to be heard so that a decision can be made that does not infringe her rights too. Academic integrity is an important issue that every institution of learning has to invest in to ensure that all the students should take note (Gong, 2016).
The main stakeholders in the first case include the manager, the accountant, the auditors, and the PCAOB. These stakeholders have varied interests in the company where Johnny works. It is clearly stated in the case study that the auditors are supposed to visit the firm, this shows that they interest in how the firm uses its finances. It is also stated that the manager detected that some documents were missing among the ones that he was given by Johnny, he went ahead to even call the customer to consult (Murtagh, 2007). This further proves that the manager is a real stakeholder in this case. Finally, another important stakeholder is the customer who is constantly consuming the services or the products of the firm. Therefore, the customer would like to see the value of his or her money (Provis, 2010). The customers keep the firms moving. In fact, if a firm does not serve its customers diligently and with dishonesty, that firm will be considered unethical hence lowering its dignity. If the kind of dishonesty exhibited by Johnny continues and escalates to the ears of their customers, the firm’s reputation may be negatively impacted. Therefore, it is important to review the integrity of all the workers of the firm in order to retain the already existing customers and attract many (Holian, 2002).
In the second case, the stakeholders include the institution management and the parents of the children taking various courses at the institution. These stakeholders will be happy on hearing that the students in the institution do not practice academic dishonesty and the grades they get from here are genuine grades that is not found by after involving in malpractices. Mary Jo has violated an academic integrity by accepting to download exams from exam bank while knowing very well that it is a criminal offence and it violates the university academic policies (Thompson, Hendriks and Blais, 2017). It is one of the most dangerous offences a student would be involved in any university. To ensure that any such academic breach is avoided in the future, the university administration should put necessary methods to bar anyone thinking about committing that offence and at the same time taking necessary disciplinary actions against those who have committed such mistake. The effect of this behaviour may be detrimental to the reputation of the university and at the same time ruin the corporate social relationship between the institution and the community. However, the ethical dilemma is a situation that everyone can find himself in, but it is important to come up with means of ensuring that the decision made does not infringe the virtues of ethics (Tapas, 2012). Ethical thinking is thus an important undertaking that guides almost everything that goes on in an organization, from building corporate social responsibility to creating an enabling environment that enables the business to thrive.
Johnny can work out ways that would convince his manager that what he did was not wrong by explaining to him the reasons why he worked on the assignment late. However, it would have been appropriate if Johnny could ensure that all the documents are present before he presented them (Kaposy et al., 2016). Nevertheless, perhaps, he did not understand the importance of that document, he would have completely left them out and explain later if asked. In this way, any person looking at his conduct could know that yes, it is unethical, but he could have done it out of ignorance (Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell, 2008).
On the other hand, Mary Jo downloaded exams from the exam bank, although this violates academic integrity, she can argue that she only came across the website and read what was there, and she did not create the website herself. The academic committee may agree with the fact that Mary Jo only came across the contents of the downloaded material as anybody can read notes and realize it corresponds to the exams they were to do.
I would recommend that Johnny would have spoken up when he was faced with the ethical dilemma of deciding whether to explain to his boss before he presented the documents to him, that some documents were incomplete. However, it would have been appropriate if Johnny could ensure that all the documents are present before he presented them. Nevertheless, perhaps, he did not understand the importance of that document, he would have completely left them out and explain later if asked. On the other hand, Mary Jo would recommend that as she read the material, she would have done that without the knowledge that they are the same as in the examinations (Sharma and Bhal, 2004). This way, she would have read in general terms without targeting exact points that would appear in an examination paper. However, sometimes it may be difficult to convince one’s mind out of an ethical decision. Usually, an individual will tend to find a comfort zone and make that decision that he or she feels would create success at that moment without considering the consequences that may be realized later.
Johnny and Mary Jo acted unethically considering the decisions they made. Their behaviour, however, was influenced by several factors such as protecting their image, shielding their professionalism, fear of tarnishing the name of the firm or the institution especially when the public hears the messes. Additionally, the duo was silenced because they thought their silence would enable them to create a positive impact on what they do. The effect of this behaviour may be detrimental to the reputation of the university and at the same time ruin the corporate social relationship between the institution and the community. However, the ethical dilemma is a situation that everyone can find himself in, but it is important to come up with means of ensuring that the decision made does not infringe the virtues of ethics. For Johnny, he would have explained the fact that some documents were missing and when he printed it out, he again would have explained clearly, why it was not signed originally.
References
Beever, J. (2016). Teaching Ethics Ecologically. Teaching Ethics, 16(2), pp.195-206.
Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. and Ferrell, L. (2008). Business ethics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Brown, M. (2000). Working ethics. Oakland, CA: Regent Press.
Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. and Ferrell, L. (2013). Business ethics. Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.
Gong, J. (2016). Ethics in Accounting: A Decision-Making Approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(3), pp.621-623.
Holian, R. (2002). Management decision making and ethics: practices, skills and preferences. Management Decision, 40(9), pp.862-870.
Kaposy, C., Brunger, F., Maddalena, V. and Singleton, R. (2016). The use of Ethics Decision-Making Frameworks by Canadian Ethics Consultants: A Qualitative Study. Bioethics, 30(8), pp.636-642.
Kelly, J. and Welch, E. (2016). Ethical decision-making regarding infant viability:. Nursing Ethics, p.096973301667786.
Markel, M. (2001). Ethics in technical communication. Westport, Conn.: Ablex Pub.
Murtagh, G. (2007). Ethical reflection on the harm in reproductive decision-making. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33(12), pp.717-720.
Tapas, D. (2012). Business Ethics in decision making. Paripex – Indian Journal Of Research, 2(1), pp.115-116.
Thompson, M., Hendriks, T. and Blais, A. (2017). Military Ethical Decision Making: The Effects of Option Choice and Perspective Taking on Moral Decision-Making Processes and Intentions. Ethics & Behavior, pp.1-19.
Provis, C. (2010). Virtuous Decision Making for Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 91(S1), pp.3-16.
Sharma, P. and Bhal, K. (2004). Managerial ethics. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Zsolnai, L. (2017). Responsible Decision Making. Milton: Taylor and Francis.
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