Discussion on Utility Ethics,business and finance homework help

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Business Finance

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  • Apply utility ethics to an organizational problem.

Background:

  • Utility ethics is the theory that "an action is morally right if and only if it produces at least as much good (utility) for all people affected by the action as any alternative action the person could do instead" (Audi, 1999, p. 824). Think of utility ethics in terms of "utility" – that is, in terms of the benefit of the outcomes derived from a given action. Utility theory is largely concerned with the end result, with doing the “greatest good” for the largest numbers of persons.


  • Utility ethics are often referred to as “consequentialist” ethics, because it is the outcome—or theconsequences—of an action or behavior that is important. Read the section on “Consequentialism” and the section entitled “Utilitarianism” at this link:http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/consequentialism.html

  • Then read the following discussion of Utility Ethics: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/calculating-consequences-the-utilitarian-approach/

  • Assignment Requirement:

  • Each question must be answered after reading above background and below Scenario based question. Apply utility ethics to an organizational problem. Minimum 300-400 words, APA format, must use credible sources, no plagiarism please


  • 1: John is a warehouse supervisor who works for a national company that sells high-quality (and very expensive) electronics - e.g., HD television sets, business and home computers, and business and personal laptops. John has a high school education, and has been employed by the company for 10 years. Recently, John was promoted to an exempt (salaried) low-level management position; his present annual salary is $60,000. Over the past two months, John has been stealing HD television sets from his employer - and reselling them. To date, he has stolen $15,000 in merchandise. When John's wife – Jane – takes note of the rapid growth in the family's savings account, she asks John about the source of the money. John's astonished response is: "Jane! Are you kidding? Consider the extra money as a company bonus -- well, it’s sort of a bonus anyway….Look, Jane, while I make better money than I used to, it's not enough compensation for all the stuff I do. This company can afford to pay me far more than what they pay – and they choose not to. The way I look at it, I’ve earned this extra money! It's a well-deserved and hard-earned bonus, Jane. You know that we can barely pay our bills. I'm doing what is best for our family! I have to do what I think is best for my family, even if I know it might be wrong!" 

  • Question: What are the utility ethics raised in this situation? Be specific!

  • 2 : Suppose that a jet mechanic working for a major airline – we'll call the airline "AirXYZ" – finds a serious instrument wiring problem while inspecting one of the airline’s newest jets. The mechanic alerts management that the wiring problem is serious enough that it would cause the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground the entire fleet of AirXYZ. 


    Question: Discuss the ethics of this situation in the context of utility ethics. What are the benefits and the costs to AirXYZ in choosing to notify the FAA and in opting to voluntarily ground its fleet of planes?


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    Explanation & Answer

    Attached.

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    UTILITY ETHICS

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    UTILITY ETHICS
    The Utility ethics raised in case study 1
    Act-utilitarianism

    The basic code of utility asserts that conducts are considered appropriate provided
    they are accompanied by unlimited pleasure and delight but deemed inappropriate if they are
    followed by unlimited agony and sorrow (Mill, J. S. (1901). In our given case study actutilitarianism form of utility ethics is illustrated. John’s decision to steal electronic gadgets

    from his employers clearly illustrates his purpose to choose his own utility at that specific
    time. If we apply the principles of utilitarian, John’s behaviour at that particular time to steal
    from his employers in order for him and his wife to shell out their bills is right because the
    outcome brings his family great pleasure. In this type of utility ethics only the welfare of an
    individual regarding a specific activity is put into consideration and not those of other parties
    involved (Mill, J. S. (1901). If John chooses not to steal from his employers, the company
    will be happy but his family members will be in great agony in which case none of the two
    parties involved experiences great utility. Therefore in this case if we use the act utilitarian
    John stealing will be an appropriate deed (Mill, J. S. (1901). However, according to
    Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, the sin is not in the execution of the deed but in the
    inner moral virtues that guide us.
    Rule-utilitarianism
    Rule-utilitarianism dictates that a deed is deemed right if it contributes to a much
    more immense benefit which can be achieved by abiding by certain rules (Mill, J. S. (1901).
    The aim of having a set of rules is to make the decision making process much easier, with the
    rules present one does not have to evaluate the consequences of all the other deeds they could
    have taken (Mill, J. S. (1901). In regard to the rule utilitarianism principles John’s deed of
    stealing from his employers is very wrong because stealing is considered a crime. Therefore

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    UTILITY ETHICS...


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