In our daily life, we face several
ethical issues where we are given only two options to select. Usually, negative
and wrong choices seem easier and more profitable but the right options stand
for ethical decisions. In general, the codes which have the capability to
regulate our life and behaviours are ethics and social norms (Clarkson,
Miller, & Cross, 2010). Individuals take
the decision in accordance with their preferences whether they prefer to have a
profit or want to follow up ethical values. Some major supports of ethical decisions
are trust and integrity. In this present work, a case is analyzed in detail to
find out ethical issues, unethical concerns, and various theories about ethics
at the workplace. Present work will also explain business ethics and whistleblowing
strategy in the workplace.
Case Study Analysis of the Ethical Issues
In this main section case study
of Michael's boss, unethical action is discussed and analyzed in detail. The
case study analysis section will provide information about ethical theories to prove
unethical behaviour of Michael's boss and suggested course of action for
Michael regarding this unethical action.
1.
Ethical
Issues
According to the case study,
Michael was given information about the competitor company to develop plans for
the introduction, business and pricing strategy of the new product. Information
was consist of private and confidential information of competitor regarding
their offered product and services along with details about the consumer
market. However, Michael considered it an unethical act as information was
obtained from the illegal method of stealing directly from the hacked system of
the competitor. According to the case study information, boss accepted that he
hacked and got access to the computer system of competitor companies to collect
all interesting and important information about competitor companies. In the
business environment, companies develop strategies in light of market research and
save consumer data for future analysis. Such private and sensitive data are usually
stored in secured databases to avoid data breaches and other issues in advance.
Getting access to that particular data is restricted to other external
stakeholders and competitor companies. Here, in this case, the motive of
stealing was to harm competitor, company by following the same audience or
targeted market with similar pricing strategies business operations related
plans. Boss was eager to use that information to produce a new and similar
product with the aim to win the market before the introduction of that products
from the competitor companies. Such unethical action would save the cost of
research and development and the company would perform effectively with the
competitor’s company. Competitor intelligence spying is known as unethical
business behaviour in all over the world. Confidential and private information
of competitors operations can be used to build competitive advance in Michael's
box company. Misuse of information and taking benefits of this information are
also unethical for Michael. Conclusively it can be said that information
extraction source of Michael’s boss was wrong and unethical thus the whole
action and benefits associated with their illegal and unethical action are totally
unethical.
References of Ethical Issues
Clarkson, K. W., Miller, R. L., & Cross, F. B.
(2010). Business Law: Text and Cases: Legal, Ethical, Global, and
Corporate Environment. Cengage Learning.