Description
Scenario: The Layoff
Pat is the plant manager at one of ABC Company’s five plants. She has been with the company for 15 years and worked her way up from the factory floor after the company sponsored her college education. Recently, her boss confided in her that the company will need to lay off 200 workers due to financial difficulties. While her job is secure, rumors about potential layoffs are spreading within the plant.
One day, an employee who is also an old friend approaches Pat and asks, “Pat, is the plant shutting down? Am I going to lose my job? My family and I are supposed to close on a new house next week, and I need to know if I should back out.”
Pat now faces a serious ethical dilemma. If she tells the truth, she is betraying the company’s trust and could face disciplinary action. However, if she remains silent or lies, she may be hurting her friend, who could make a financial decision based on false assumptions.
Answer the following questions:
1. Should Pat prioritize loyalty to the company or honesty to her friend? Why? (2.5 Marks)
2. Who are the key stakeholders in this situation, and how might they be affected by Pat’s decision? (2 marks)
3. What are some alternative ways Pat could respond to her friend without violating company policies?(2.5 Marks)
4. Apply the following ethical theories to analyze what Pat should do (3 mark):
a) Utilitarianism – What would be the best course of action based on maximizing overall benefits?
b) Deontology – What is Pat’s moral duty, regardless of consequences?
c) Virtue Ethics – What action aligns with Pat’s integrity and moral character?
وزارة التعليم
الجامعة السعودية اإللكترونية
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Education
Saudi Electronic University
College of Administrative and Financial Sciences
Assignment 1
Business Ethics and Organization Social Responsibility (MGT
422)
Due Date: 01/03//2025 @ 23:59
Course Name: Business Ethics and
Organization Social Responsibility
Course Code: MGT 422
Student’s Name:
Semester: 2nd
CRN:
Student’s ID Number:
Academic Year:2024-25-2nd
For Instructor’s Use only
Instructor’s Name: Dr Ibrahim Alotaibi
Students’ Grade:
/10
Level of Marks: High/Middle/Low
General Instructions – PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY
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Restricted – مقيد
The Assignment must be submitted on Blackboard (WORD format only) via allocated
folder.
Assignments submitted through email will not be accepted.
Students are advised to make their work clear and well presented, marks may be reduced
for poor presentation. This includes filling your information on the cover page.
Students must mention question number clearly in their answer.
Late submission will NOT be accepted.
Avoid plagiarism, the work should be in your own words, copying from students or other
resources without proper referencing will result in ZERO marks. No exceptions.
All answered must be typed using Times New Roman (size 12, double-spaced) font. No
pictures containing text will be accepted and will be considered plagiarism).
Submissions without this cover page will NOT be accepted.
Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcomes:
No
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
CLO-1
Define a solid understanding of prominent theories of ethics and morality
CLO-2
Develop awareness and understanding of cultural and national differences related to ethics.
CLO-3
Justify their rationale for decisions related to acceptable and unacceptable business conduct
based on the business ethics principles.
Illustrate the role of social responsibility in the functional areas and strategic processes of
business and a comprehensive framework for analyzing and resolving ethical issues and
dilemmas in an organization.
Work with others effectively as a team member in business ethics research projects or case
studies.
Write coherent project about a case study or actual research about ethics
CLO-4
CLO-5
CLO-6
Case study
Scenario: The Layoff
Pat is the plant manager at one of ABC Company’s five plants. She has been with the company for 15
years and worked her way up from the factory floor after the company sponsored her college education.
Recently, her boss confided in her that the company will need to lay off 200 workers due to financial
difficulties. While her job is secure, rumors about potential layoffs are spreading within the plant.
One day, an employee who is also an old friend approaches Pat and asks, “Pat, is the plant shutting
down? Am I going to lose my job? My family and I are supposed to close on a new house next week,
and I need to know if I should back out.”
Pat now faces a serious ethical dilemma. If she tells the truth, she is betraying the company’s trust and
could face disciplinary action. However, if she remains silent or lies, she may be hurting her friend, who
could make a financial decision based on false assumptions.
Answer the following questions:
1. Should Pat prioritize loyalty to the company or honesty to her friend? Why? (2.5 Marks)
2. Who are the key stakeholders in this situation, and how might they be affected by Pat’s decision?
(2 marks)
Restricted – مقيد
3. What are some alternative ways Pat could respond to her friend without violating company
policies? (2.5 Marks)
4. Apply the following ethical theories to analyze what Pat should do (3 mark):
a) Utilitarianism – What would be the best course of action based on maximizing overall benefits?
b) Deontology – What is Pat’s moral duty, regardless of consequences?
c) Virtue Ethics – What action aligns with Pat’s integrity and moral character?
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
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