Ethical Leadership and Ethical Dilemmas - Case Study Example

Ethical Leadership and Ethical Dilemmas

Part A

Ethical News

Should e-cigarettes be controlled like a medicine? e- Cigs could be big business for manufacturers. Users get the nicotine ‘hit’ without tobacco smoke, and it is claimed that dangerous passive smoke inhalation is avoided. What is the Utilitarian argument? Does the EU have the right to restrict and raise prices on a product that is safer for smokers? Should e-cigs be controlled like nicotine patches? (The Daily Telegraph, UK).

Ethical dilemmas are difficult circumstances which involve a clear psychological conflict among ethical imperatives in such a way that to comply with one will lead to disobeying another ( Alexander, ‎Harrison &‎ Hass 1996). They are also occasionally referred to as ethical paradoxes in ethical values and they are frequently raised to disprove a moral structure or code or even to develop it in order determine the paradox (Gostin &Wiley 2016). Moral values might denote diverse things to different groups of people, although it mainly centers on a crucial sense of what the community identifies as right or wrong (Bagby & McCarty 2003). In the business environment, it includes making judgments that side with that sense of moral or immoral and also through the law (Trevino &‎ Nelson 2010). Possibly the generally mentioned moral conflict is the one between an imperative or sanction not to steal and the one of caring for one’s family and yet you cannot meet their expense having to steal the money ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). In an ethical structure, stealing is immoral and also letting your family die of hunger is also unethical, hence a person faced by such a circumstance may be forced to give in to one wrong so as to avoid the other (Trevino &‎ Nelson 2010).

Nevertheless, there lacks valid moral systems within which stealing becomes more unethical than letting a family starve to death (Alexander, ‎Harrison &‎ Hass 1996). In fact, moral systems sometimes permit certain precedence in decisions. Several illustrations of ethical dilemmas in modern business environment include discrimination cases, issues of side contracts and gross negligence while making sensitive decisions (Gostin &Wiley 2016). Since there is hardly any economy that can easily operate in a disorganized environment, the dilemma may seem easy to determine, but because incorrect excuses for limiting trade are simply anticipated, the apparently evident decision becomes difficult due to the issue of illegal motivation (Alexander, ‎Harrison &‎ Hass 1996).

Why Electronic Cigarettes is an Ethical Dilemma

E-cigarettes have the probability of essentially reducing harm to human health in comparison with the real cigarettes according to public health’s perception ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). They also have a possibility of reduction and eventually total eradication of cigarette smoking because there is no direct inhalation of nicotine and the smoke that comes directly from actual cigarettes (Stauber 1995). The fact that e-cigs reduce reduces harmful health effects is justifiable to encourage them as an alternative for the actual cigarettes which are so much harmful to the health of both the smoker and those that are exposed to it. Take for example the issue of saving lives from such disease s as cancer which are caused by inhalation of toxic substances from tobacco products (Kaplan 2014).

This seems the right thing to do for the good of all people. However, smoking in general is an unethical issue and has many negative effects and should therefore not be encouraged whether cigarette smoking or in that case the e-cigarettes because in the long run it is an addictive behavior and not good for human life (Mendonca, Manuel, ‎Kanungo & Rabindra 2006). In This line of thought, then nicotine uptake becomes a wrong thing to do because it does not adhere to societal moral values. This then brings out the big question whether to control e- cigarettes as a medicine (Trevino &‎ Nelson 2010). Those in favor of the argument because it favors the majority would want to endorse their views and encourage e-cigs uptake rather than the real cigarettes since this seems to be the lesser evil and this will favor cigarette companies and other non users of cigarette (Kaplan 2014). The people taking sides with the argument that e-cigs are the better alternatives for cigarette smoking tend to advocate for regulations that favor the e-cigarette business such as reducing taxes, advertisements focusing on the health safety rather than the overall effects of high nicotine uptake, as well as the accessibility which might lead to under-age youths gaining access to them (Stauber 1995).

On the other hand, those who oppose this point of view will campaign for a total ban of cigarette smoking because it is the ethical code or rather the right and thing to do. However this may have adverse effects on tobacco businesses and may even lead to closure or overall elimination of these companies who have a large number of employees working under them (Trevino &‎ Nelson 2010). This will definitely lead to loss of numerous jobs many families will become affected by such a decision since they will lack upkeep income which may result to other vices such as crime in the end (Stauber 1995). The public health recommendations are that until the e-cigarettes ought to follow similar selling and marketing limitations as those of cigarettes because evidence for this argument has not been verified. They also recommend that they should be forbidden from being used in areas where cigarettes are prohibited and that they must not be put on the market for underage people except under doctor’s prescription (Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). The dilemma lies in which way to go concerning these ethical issues. In the real sense, the first option of adopting e-cigs as an alternative to real cigarettes seems the best solution to take though it is not ethically correct because it will ensure the continuity of jobs for workers and safety for nicotine users and the society as a whole ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). On the other hand banning the production of nicotine products which is ethically correct may prove detrimental to not only nicotine users but also to the cigarette companies and their employees (Gostin &Wiley 2016).

Ethical Solutions to the Dilemma

Electronic cigarettes are created to resemble the traditional cigarettes in many ways especially in the way they look and how they are used since it involves inhalation just like the conventional cigarettes and therefore it becomes difficult to classify them as medicine or tobacco (Bagby & McCarty 2003). At the present moment, the arguments symbolize a resistance on whether these products will be formed into reliable medicine, a daily consumer product or a complicated leisure drug (Stauber 1995). The way to go in regulating electronic cigarettes symbolizes one of the major public health problems in our contemporary society ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008).

The fact remains that e-cigs have the potential to reduce harmful healthy effects in the body compared to the traditional cigarettes and may help a great deal in averting lots of the numerous deaths caused by the combustible cigarettes (Stauber 1995). However, careful considerations should be taken while regulating the electronic cigarettes. In my opinion, the electronic cigarettes should be regulated in such a way that ensures continued safety for the users because little is known on the security of these new products and therefore, regulations ought to produce a system enables exposure of any unfavorable measures that may arise over the intake of the e-cigs (Bagby & McCarty 2003). The existing outlaws on smoking also need to be extended to incorporate electronic cigarettes such as bans in specifically prohibited zones so as to avoid the possibility of exposing non smokers to harmful chemicals in the vaporizer emitted through the use of electronic cigarettes (Gostin &Wiley 2016).

In addition, there ought to be regulations that stop teenagers from gaining access to electronic cigarettes. For instance, the candy and desert flavors are particularly appealing to the young generation and doing some tricks of smoking with such vapors have become trendy on the social media like you-tube and Instagram ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). The youths get interested in such products and desire to try them.The underlying problem is the fact that electronic cigarettes can lead to addiction of nicotine among the youths which become an exceptionally difficult problem to solve in future. Another issue is that nicotine has detrimental effects on the developing brain of a young person and therefore carefully labeled regulations may help to protect the teenagers from getting addicted to nicotine substance (Stauber 1995). The vaporized liquid used in these e-cigs may produce chemicals known as aldehydes, which are associated with the development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases (Kaplan 2014).

The concentration of those chemical substances in the vapor increases immensely at high temperatures ( Freeley & ‎ Steinberg 2008). Originally, e- cigs were sold by small companies in the UK but as per the moment, most tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco (BAT) are now switching to electronic cigarettes marketing them as approved medicine (Stauber 1995). Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization structure on Tobacco Control states the significance of safeguarding public health rules and regulations from the vested and profitable interests of the tobacco production industry (Alexander, ‎Harrison &‎ Hass 1996). As more companies from the industry venture into the e-cigarette market, there is a likelihood of shaping e-cigs in a manner that causes health risks to the population (Bagby & McCarty 2003). Therefore, there is a critical need for extensive communal debates over how e-cigarettes will be regulated to guarantee that social and moral concerns are put into consideration. It is also essential that considerations as to whether the obsession to a substance should be overlooked if the substance is not unsafe to the consumer and the public ( Alexander, ‎Harrison &‎ Hass 1996). Questions on balancing the health benefits of an individual and potential destruction to a population as well as issues to do with commercial interests like those of companies and pharmaceutical industries by the policy makers should be given careful consideration (Gostin &Wiley 2016).

Part B: Portfolio of Evidence Contents

Appendix A: Ethical Leadership Debate

Corporate ethics represent the way the board members of a company decide to conduct them in the process of accomplishing their role in management (Leigh 2013). The board needs to incorporate high levels of skill and ability with managers taking up their responsibilities carefully and perpetuating high standards of fairness and reliability. The organizational culture is deeply affected by the quality and the nature of the management as well whereby poor board leadership will bring about discrepancies in ways of performing and implementation (Leigh 2013). It is the company board’s duty to establish, articulate and communicate the ethics and values of business to ensure that its policies and procedures in place are aimed at establishing instead of obstructing the moral values all through the industry (Mendonca, Manuel, ‎Kanungo & Rabindra 2006).

Alvar at AB Company missed out on this and rather embraced values that were maximizing their benefits rather than considering the moral issues (Fluker 2009). They should have ensured proper implementation of their good governance principles rather than letting their employees work on their directives. Mike and other stakeholders of Alvar at AB Company were justified in participating in the occupy protest since the company was not adhering to the corporate code of ethics and probably this could help the business get back on the right track (Leigh 2013).

Alfarat Company should seek to implement the good corporate ethics it has formulated so that it might benefit the good of all (Tricker &Tricker 2012). Losing the generation of the young university graduates like Anna to money-minting generation may eventually affect the future ethical leadership of businesses (Simpson & Taylor 2013). Apart from making money, there are other issues which regard to life and relationships, and these other factors should be considered so as to make a good company reputation (Mendonca, Manuel, ‎Kanungo & Rabindra 2006).

Appendix B: The Seminar Case

Jan, the CEO of Clean solutions company has demonstrated excellent leadership ethics and skills in the way she runs her business (Mendonca, Manuel, ‎Kanungo & Rabindra (2006)). She has ensured that the company is participating in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), by way of supporting programs aimed at providing learning services in Guatemala, offering her time to advise the local small business owners as well as raising new entrepreneurs s( Thornton 2013). In addition, she and her employees spend a good percentage of their working hours to help the less privileged in their locality. In regards to her workers, Jan is working to ensure that apart from the educational qualifications, they also receive extra training in enhancing quality leadership in her company (Malan 2001). This is evident in her discussion with the company’s vice president and her desire to change the trend of producing institutionalized college workers (Brink 2011). The CEO has also satisfied her investor's confidence in her since her quality leadership has brought great rewards to the company hence there is no cause for alarm (Thornton 2013).

Mei-Hua, a senior manager of WCP Company, has done a fair share of corporate responsibility by engaging in various charities with various developing countries although they use this as a marketing strategy rather than a way of giving back to the people without vested interests (Leigh 2013). Although he believes in strong codes of expert behavior, this senior manager has acted severally out of ethics by involving the company into bribes and corruption so as to evade certain legal issues facing the company. For instance, the WCP Company has in recent times parted with a huge chunk of money to the US state’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to avoid a case concerning them in court by settling the case out of court (O'Toole & ‎Mayer 2013). In addition, Mei-Hua has been implicated in establishing several tax evasion schemes which have helped the company to save millions of money meant for tax payment which is not morally right ( Thornton 2013).

Deshi, a student at a UK university, has worked hard to secure a place in the university with an objective of getting a better job in future because part of obtaining a favorable job opportunity will require excellent academic qualifications. He has also gained substantial work experience through temporary jobs during his summer semesters (Fluker 2009). Nevertheless, Deshi needs to acquire good corporate governance skills and therefore it is inevitable that he gains these skills through embracing the course on Business Ethics so that the skills may help him in making appropriate business decisions in future which is highly required in the modern complex business world (Leigh 2013).

The business world is changing very often influencing all businesses globally leaving the future advancement and business competitiveness at risk. There is, therefore, the need for ethical leaders more than ever before who are going to comply with the changing currents of the business environment (O'Toole & ‎Mayer 2013). It is wrong for the company to overwork employees by the company’s benefits and excessively put sanctions on their employees for failing to meet business deadlines. The company should consider the needs of its workers even as it works towards maximizing profits (O'Toole & ‎Mayer 2013). Even though the company pays well, this should not be the basis of mistreating their employees (Fluker 2009).

The employees need a trade union to fight for their rights. The company account executive should have been considered for the holiday despite the fact that there was an urgent business event because his case was genuine and essential (Thornton 2013). The company could have looked for an alternative solution for while Borries was away (Simpson & Taylor 2013). Also the fact that Borries canceled his holiday influenced the workers as they felt betrayed by his decision as it would also affect them in future (Leigh 2013).

Appendix C: Interpersonal and Team-working skills

Our Interpersonal and team-working skills were used to promote learning and inventiveness because as people work as a team, they come up with ideas which are distinctive and hence the team comes up with more efficient solutions other than when working as an individual (Riggio & ‎Tan 2013). I realized that my personal experiences differed with those of my team mates and therefore our shared knowledge contributed to the good of all of us as a team (McCoy 2007).

Working as a team also helped to build the ability of each teammate because each member of the team is gifted differently (Silver, ‎Kaplan & LaVaque-Manty 2013). We shared our abilities as a team, and this helped us achieve excellent results. Another way that out skills were used was to promote our interpersonal skills as a team (Harvey, ‎Moon, & ‎Geall 1997). Working with fellow team mates helped us to organize schedules, meet deadlines and also decision making and this helped to reinforce our relationship with a team (Silver, ‎Kaplan & LaVaque-Manty 2013). The team-work spirit also contributed to come up with better outcomes as we drew emotional support from each other (Malan 2001). Another factor is the building of trust among one another in the team which strengthened our bond as a team (Malan 2001). This also helps the team to work together despite the occasional discrepancies and conflicts since we are created uniquely (Harvey, ‎Moon, & ‎Geall 1997). Working together helped us to build trust with one another, and this enhanced a sense of ownership in the team, and still it helped us solve minor conflicts that could have hindered our working together efficiently (Silver, ‎Kaplan &LaVaque-Manty 2013). Through trust, we would open to one another and his enhanced our communication skills which were very significant in producing effective solutions (Riggio & ‎Tan 2013). Therefore, this increased the cohesiveness of the group and helped us to feel a sense of belonging and satisfaction in our contribution for the common good of the team members (Silver, ‎Kaplan & LaVaque-Manty 2013).