Jenny Lus Ethical Dilemma - Case Study Example

Decision-Making Process Name: Institution: Decision-Making Process Introduction The decision-making process is a critical course of action influenced by various factors in the social, political, and ethical components. Analyzing the case scenario regarding Jenny Lu’s ethical dilemma indicates the complex nature of this managerial procedure. In every situation, human beings choose on the technique to adopt in order to attain the required results. This process may occur consciously or unconsciously. The factors considered in these undertakings determine the nature of results. This is because failure to consider the key influential forces in the internal and external environments may destabilize the entire process. Consequently, it will be difficult to attain the desired outcomes. There are various philosophical theories and frameworks that attempt to analyze the components of the decision-making proceedings as well as the inputs that lead to an effective choice. Most of these suppositions integrate ethical dilemmas and other crucial forces that might facilitate or hinder this crucial undertaking. All these theories and frameworks recognize that the decision-making process in a personal or organizational setting is the focal point of other related programs. For instance, based on the scenario regarding Jenny’s worries, her decision will not only affect her relationship with Avril but it may also influence the productivity of other departments and the entire commercial enterprise. This scenario supports the essence of conducting a comprehensive scrutiny on all forces that may have an effect on the specific choice, currently or in the future. This all-inclusive scrutiny not only applies to an organizational setting but should also guide the decision-making procedure from a personal perspective. This is because most of the negative outcomes that haunt one’s life are because of poor judgments with respect to a certain subject matter. To comprehend the essence of making informed decisions, it is important to analyze several relevant theories and frameworks that expound on this managerial task in the workplace. Bounded Rationality Theory This supposition argues that parties involved in any decision-making process execute their tasks depending on the details available with respect to the primary subject matter. Moreover, the restrictions instigated by their minds as well as the time limit for the process affects the type of choices made at an individual or organizational setting. This theory is common in economics and other related professional fields. The supporters of this supposition justify their decisions by asserting that the entire process highlights rationality as the main consideration in making crucial choices that will affect other projects, departments, or the entire organization (Lu, Jain & Zhang, 2012). Consequently, individuals responsible for executing such tasks aim at attaining the optimal alternative through a detailed procedure of eliminating other possible choices. Nonetheless, according to the principles of this theory, the attained choice depends on the time available for the execution of these proceedings. Accordingly, since human beings are of standard rationality, decision-makers purpose of achieving a satisfactory choice as opposed to the ideal decision. For this reason, the decision-making process may experience major challenges where the limitations in the mind are vast. In such cases, it is difficult for the involved parties to optimize and formulate satisfactory measures. Subsequently, this supposition puts emphasis on the essence of using uncomplicated heuristics as opposed to notionally optimal proceedings in these crucial managerial tasks. This is because the latter option requires a wide range of information as well as unlimited time and resources in order to attain the most appropriate decision. The theory of bounded rationality asserts that the entire process comprises of various uncertainties that require comprehensive facts in order to acquire effective pronouncements regarding a particular subject matter. These principles explain why human beings have limited control over the consequences of their actions. Before making a crucial personal or organizational decision, the involved parties have a wide range of possible choices at their disposal. However, there is usually a limitation of vital information needed to analyze all alternatives in terms of their efficacy and ability to facilitate optimal results. In addition, the time available to make these choices is usually limited. For this reason, the decision-makers select the most satisfactory entity depending on the available facts and time. These personnel also encompass personal preferences in the process, an attribute that makes it difficult to manipulate the outcomes of this rationality-based procedure (Lu, Jain & Zhang, 2012). For instance, in this organizational setting entailing the ethical dilemma of integrity, Jenny ought to choose between reliability and loyalty. Furthermore, as the theory of bounded rationality stipulates, to some extent, human beings are irrational entities. This explains why most of the choices made by a typical individual results in consequences that are beyond his or her control (Rao, 2007). The available information needed in the decision-making process is always inadequate to make rational choices. Accordingly, the involved parties seek for satisfactory alternatives as opposed to rational entities. For instance, in this scenario based on ethical dilemmas, Jenny did not have sufficient information regarding her suspicions on Romeo. This is because her uncertainties followed a telephone conversation. Additionally, she based her decision on rumors circulating this commercial organization as opposed to conducting comprehensive investigations with the aim of attaining crucial details needed in this personal decision-making process. Moreover, she spent minimal time in the company. For this reason, her decision regarding the corrupt nature of Romeo was uninformed since she had limited time to justify her claims. Such scenarios justify the irrational nature of human beings. Decision-makers tend to incorporate personal preferences in the process, an aspect that destabilizes the entire process with respect making informed decisions. This results in consequences that not only affects the particular subject matter but also has an impact on other departments, projects, or the entire organization. For instance, the intention of Jenny to forward her superficial concerns regarding the managerial and ethical behavior of Romeo would have affected the professional facet of this senior manager as well as the trust offered to the labor force by the administrative organ of the commercial organization. Utility Theory This supposition is relevant in expounding on a typical decision-making process including its principles, limitations, and benefits. Unlike the bounded rationality theory of decision-making, this hypothesis focuses on the consequences of the selected alternatives (Fishburn, 2000). According to this supposition, personal preferences are influential forces in the decision-making process. Most decision-makers select alternatives that are in accordance with their inclinations in relation to the particular issue. Identification of these preferred alternatives follows a detailed procedure of self-interrogation, which acts as the basis of other proceedings involved in the selection process. Additionally, this personal segment of the decision-making procedure may contain a high level of certainties or uncertainties depending on the available information and main considerations of this crucial managerial procedure. With respect to the utilities without probabilities, some utilities encompassed in a particular personal or organizational issue have a higher value in terms of their impact on other relevant entities. Based on this theoretical principle, it is possible to assign a specific utility to the chosen alternative depending on its relevance to the subject matter and its benefits to other projects, individuals, or departments. These sets of utilities that comprise of minimal probabilities are infinite with respect to their quantitative evaluation. According, the utility theory of decision-making tackles the utility functions present in all available alternatives related to a particular subject matter. These utility functions safeguard the ordering of these possibilities. However, the main characteristic exemplified in all possible selections with respect to management-based supposition is the essence of personal preferences and the occurrence of the continuity element in these utility functions. Additionally, the utility theory considers the differences in various utilities in terms of their benefits, challenges, and costs. These differences are useful in attaining the most effective and feasible alternative depending on the expected outcomes. Another critical element in the utilities comprising of substantial probabilities is the preference orders. This facet affects the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the relevant utilities. These evaluations encompass various features including the product components, involved costs, policies and legal regulations, strategies, and the expected outcomes. The information available in making the crucial decision as well as the factors considered by the involved parties determines the form of preference order. For instance, thorough evaluations of such factors as the forces in their internal and external environments strengthen the preference order. Additionally, it is possible to generate a firm and limited preference order that aims at reducing adverse effects triggered by the chosen alternative. Accordingly, the chosen preference order in the decision-making procedure is an influential force that considers the inputs and outputs involved in these managerial proceedings. To attain the objectives of the decision-making process, this theory proposes the consideration of additive utilities as part of the preference order. This component refers to preservations generated in order to safeguard the organization from severe consequences that may arise from irrational preferences selected in this administrative program. This is because the utility theory esteems personal preferences and ideologies integrated in the decision-making proceedings (Van, 2007). Accordingly, the decision-maker may have higher value for personal ideologies as opposed to logical managerial principles. However, one can identify the additive utilities by using relevant mathematical equations. This practical evaluation helps in overseeing the entire decision-making procedure while still recognizing the essence of individual ideologies and principles. For instance, in this case study, Jenny should have conducted comprehensive investigations in order to justify her uncertainties regarding the ethical and managerial behaviors of Romeo. Nonetheless, these additive utilities are unstable in terms of occurrence in a typical decision-making process. This is because of the weakness of their utility function in relation to other forms of entities highlighted in this managerial supposition. For this reason, it is irrational to base one’s investigations regarding the factors affecting the selected alternatives primarily on additive utilities. As the supposition asserts, the quantitative analysis concerned with measuring the additivity of a utility should be in line with other influential forces that may affect the entire decision-making process. For this reason, additive utilities are an appropriate technique of testing the efficacy of the selected alternative as opposed to utilizing this ideology to generate essential strategies that have a substantial impact on other procedural aspects of the commercial organization under consideration (French, Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications & University of Manchester, 2003). The utility theory also provides mathematical and theoretical techniques of comparing the components of the preference order in order to acquire a rational alternative that contains relevant measures to cope with the consequences of the decisions. This technique bases its proceedings on the strengths of the selected choices in terms of their relevance to other organizational objectives as well as its concurrence with ethical principles governing the commercial organization under consideration. To identify the level of strengths of these utilities, there are specific measures used to rank the utility functions of all entities. This makes the utility theory a relevant theoretical technique in the decision-making procedure (French, Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications & University of Manchester, 2003). For example, in this case study, Jenny should have used quantifiable techniques to investigate the managerial behavior of Romeo as opposed to basing her judgments on rumors circulated by other members of staff in the commercial organization. This would also be effective in solving the ethical dilemmas entailed in the proceedings of this business institution. Ethical Dilemmas The decision-making suppositions expounded on in this discussion indicate the essence of an effective decision-making process in solving the ethical dilemmas that may affect various sub sectors of a commercial organization. Normative ethics is one of the crucial theoretical approaches used to make decisions on the moral segment of a corporation .according to this hypothetical principle, an ideal alternative attained in the decision-making proceedings should be in accordance with the ethical principles governing a business institution. These alternatives should consider the norms of the society as well as the core values upheld by the organization. Normative ethics is an all-inclusive theoretical system that governs the decision-making process and other managerial duties executed by various personnel in a commercial institution. Accordingly, this theory is a crucial incorporation in the administrative organ of a company or project (Shapira, 2007). According to the principles of the normative ethics segment and other theoretical features aimed at addressing the ethical dilemmas in an organizational setting, the moral principles and norms of the society are influential in governing the performance of the labor force in a corporation. These principles are in accordance with the state of affairs in the case study regarding Jenny’s worries. Her concerns regarding the professionalism of Romeo as a senior manager in the company were in relation to the core values governing the organization. Accordingly, she utilized the ideologies of normative ethics in order to generate a decision that upholds morality in the corporation. Conclusion The ideologies and suppositions expounded on in this discussion indicate the various influential forces affecting typical decision-making proceedings. For instance, the theory of bounded rationality illustrates human beings as somewhat irrational entities whose personal preferences may adversely affect certain choices regarding independent projects or the entire organization. Additionally, the utility theory recognizes the strengths of possible alternatives highlighted in the selection process. This supposition contains quantifiable techniques used to rank these alternatives on order to attain the most appropriate and efficient alternative with respect to its concurrence with other organizational objectives. Moreover, the theoretical concept of normative ethics is crucial in upholding the core values of a commercial organization in addition to the norms of the society. References Fishburn, P. C. (2000). Utility theory for decision making. New York: Wiley. French, S., Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications., & University of Manchester. (2003). Multi-objective decision making: Based on the proceedings of a conference on multi-objective decision making. London: Academic Press. Lu, J., Jain, L. C., & Zhang, G. (2012). Handbook on decision making: Vol 2. (Handbook on decision making.) Heidelberg: Springer. Rao, R. V. (2007). Decision making in the manufacturing environment: Using graph theory and fuzzy multiple attribute decision making methods. Berlin: Springer. Shapira, Z. (2007). Organizational decision making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Van, G. J. P. (2007). Decision making about decision making: Metamodels and metasystems. Cambridge, Mass: Abacus Press. Read More