The Pictorial Presentation - Essay Example

 Table of Contents Title Page # Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 1 Seven step model……………………………………………………………….. 1 Evaluation according to Utilitarian Concept…………………………………… 2 Evaluation according to Kantian Concept……………………………………… 3 Evaluation according to Justice Concept……………………………………….. 4 Decision as to the action Darren should take………………………………….... 5 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………… 5 Introduction: Darren Birt who is the buyer of artifacts and an importer of ethnic arts had to work for his boss Sam Freeman and Fredrick. He had to tell the idea of Fredrick to the Puna Native American’s. But Darren was not very much sure that whether he would be successful to convince Puna Native American’s for the deal (to change their artwork) and also to involve male members in order to complete the large project within short span of time. According to Darren, many societies became fragile when they change their basic cultural symbols; change their values as change has strong relationship with the people of an area, its process, culture. It is not very easy to adapt change suddenly, it take time and has a strong effect on the people, culture, society, ambiance etc.1 The Pictorial presentation of change is shown in appendix figure 1. Because of these reasons, Darren was feeling that it is highly unethical to change the artwork of a country, change the tradition (involving men whereas traditionally it’s being done by the females) and satisfy them by just paying a handsome amount. Traditions and artifacts mostly represent the people of country, their rituals, history, important events etc. Changing the artifacts and traditions means changing the base of the country. Darren stuck into a problem; because he does not want Puna’s to change their art work, tradition but on the other hand her boss wanted him do so for the Fredrick. Seven step model: Generally, ethics are considered important for the success of any business. Basically ethics and seven step model recommends the concept of righteous of action. Righteous of action means that any task you do for any one it should be trustful. It should meet all required obligations. Every thing or deal made should be crystal clear. 2 Ethics also recommends the respect for other decisions, values and tradition. One should make decisions regardless of differences of religion, age, sex and position. Ethics highly recommend the fair decisions, sense of responsibility of each other. Thus, ethical decisions should be made by keeping these all facts in mind.3 "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." (Alan K. Simpson) Darren also believed in the concept. But Darren is not fulfilling the ethical requirements according to the seven step model. Darren should take the following steps. According to the seven step model, an organization should be trustful with its customers, internal and external members of the organization. If the company does not do this; it would be ethically wrong. Here, Darren should be trustful with Puna Native American’s. He should tell them the pros and cons of doing this commitment with the Artifacts, LTD i.e. tell Puna Native American’s that societies, countries became weak when their basic cultural symbols are change. Whereas, he did not did that as his boss wanted him to do so for the Fredrick and the profit of the company. According to the model Darren should motivate Fredrick and her boss to think on some other idea or plan; so that Puna Native American’s should not have to change their basic cultural symbols or make Puna Native American’s clear about the changes that could occur after doing the commitment of changing their artwork according to the Artifacts, LTD. Darren should inform them that they have to work on a large project of making baskets within a short span of time. For which they may have to involve the male members which they traditionally not involve in making the baskets. Evaluation of Decision Option according to the Utilitarian Concept: Utilitarian concept of ethical decision making was given by John Stuart Mill (1806–1873).4 The concept says that one should take decision that would result in greatest good for maximum number of people or does the least harm.5 He gave the concept that what is right and what is wrong.6 According to Utilitarian concept Darren have decision option either to tell the Puna Native American’s truth about the project that they have to involve men as well for fulfilling the company’s demand in short time. Another option with Darren is to work for the company and her boss only. But according to the Utilitarian concept, Darren should make such a decision which would result well for both; the company and the Puna Native American’s. So it would be better decision to tell the truth to Puna Native American’s that they have to employ men and change their traditional baskets designs, pattern and color according to the Fredrick if they take the project. He should also tell them that what harm could be happen or aftereffects of signing the deal with the Fredrick i.e. effects of change in baskets is not only the change in design and pattern of baskets but it is more likely to change the culture because the woven baskets which they made is the heritage of their culture which would be longer exist with the change designs, colors and patterns. If they still show willingness after telling all the aftereffects then Darren should not hesitate to sign a deal with them. Evaluation of Decision Option according to the Kantian Concept: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher. According to Immanuel Kant, the correctness or wrongness of actions depends on its consequences. He said that the bad deeds i.e. murdering someone even for the good cause is not acceptable. According to him we should not commit such deeds which are the source of happiness for our personal level only and are not acceptable socially. Before taking the decision about any action we must think about the reaction. We should think about the result of our action. The result of the action should not be limited to us, our friends and family but its effect on the whole society.7 For Example: If a person’s son is at the last stage of cancer and he need money to cure cancer. If a person has no way for earning money and he decided to commit a murder of a rich man. This decision would be wrong because murdering, killing and other acts like that are not socially acceptable even if they are done for some other good cause. It had bad effect on society. Kant also emphasize on the concept of Categorical Imperative. This theory emphasize a lot on basic morals such as good, evil, right, wrong, justice and injustice. The Categorical Imperative recommends that we should place mortality at the top of ladder before taking any decision. It would help us take just and fair decision. So according to the Kantian concept Darren should go for a decision which would fulfill the requirement of his duty but would not result in action which is socially prohibited. As Darren is the subordinate of Sam; he could not refuse to what his boss has assigned to do so. He has to find the middle may to make the best decision suitable and socially acceptable for both. He should tell clearly to Puna Native American’s that they the change in the pattern, designs of the woven baskets may later on became the reason of change in their heritage .If the work which is assigned to Darren is acceptable happily and without any pressure to the people of Puna Native American’s then Darren must not hesitate to fulfill his duty. He should tell clearly Evaluation of Decision Option according to the Justice Concept: Justice concept was given by Aristotle and other Greek philosophers. According to them, all human beings should be treated equally or if not equally then reason must be at least justified.8 So according to the Justice concept Darren have the only option; to treat the Puna Native American’s and Fredrick equally. Darren should not show biased behavior by working for the Fredrick and her boss only. He should tell them clearly that have to employ men and change their traditional baskets designs, pattern and color according to the Fredrick if they take the project. Conclusively, in today’s complex global business ambiance, ethical decision making is rarely easy. However, there are several models for analyzing the ethical dilemmas and make decisions. Sometimes one approach is more suitable as compare to the other one.9 That’s why one should spend enough time in pondering to consider the suitable outcomes in order to make a decision that is ethically correct. Decision as to the action Darren should take: Making good ethical decision is not an easy task. In order to make good ethical decision one must be clear about the issue.10 One must be clear that what good or bad could happen after making the decision. Good ethical decision also requires proper facts and figures of a problem.11 If one does have general knowledge about the issue good ethical decision cannot be made. Moreover for the good ethical decision making one should also measure the other possibilities to solve the issue. One should try to find two or three best possibilities and then select the one which could give least harm and more good.12 The pictorial representation of the good decision making model is shown in appendix Figure 2. If I would be in the position of Darren, I would take the action according to the Justice and Utilitarian concept. Firstly I would try my best to treat both; the Fredrick and Puna Native American’s equally. I would treat them equally by telling the pros and cons to the Puna Native American’s before signing a deal with them. I would inform them that their women may have to employ their men as well which is not their tradition to go efficiently with project. Moreover the baskets which they made envision the tribe’s long history. So, the change in the designs and the pattern of their woven baskets could affect their cultural values, traditions, ambiance of the society. If they still show their interest in doing the work for the Fredrick then only I would Sign a deal with them. Conclusion: In a nutshell, ethics must be the heart and soul of any organization. We should consider all the aspects i.e. virtue, justice, right and wrong before taking any decision. _____________________________________________________ Appendix: Figure I, Aspects of Change 13 Figure II, Rational Decision Making 14 References: Apex Leadership Ltd 2007-2010, the Happy Manager, 05 November 2010, < http://www.the-happy-manager.com/rational-decision-making-model.html> De George, R T (2006), (6th edition)Business Ethics, Pearson Prentice Hall F. 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