Business Ethics - Chemical company - Case Study Example

It characterises Bethany, Boris stone, and the company to represent the case. The plant is new to manufacture lubricants of high standard that could be sold in the most competitive market at the highest price possible. The waste from the production process is to be dumped into the neighbouring river Don. Most of the chemical companies in the vicinity dispose their wastes into that river only. This company has the valid licences from the government authorities for waste disposal in that river.

Bethany is very conscious about environment and intelligent enough to read the advanced requirements of maintaining the environment standard. She could note that the permission granted is to release more wastes in the river than anticipated in the past. There was need for introducing additional process in the plant that could reduce the wastes by recycling it and thereby save the river from bearing extra burden. But because the licensing authority had already given the permission the company did not feel the need for this additional cost involvement.

The company took opportunity to utilize funds for other essential profit motives. The company, however, was responsible for protecting environment from waste materials and had declared this publicly. Bethany pointed out the need for additional process machinery to her supervisor and sought for his advice to do the needful. Her boss did not advise with positive notes. That created a dilemma for her and therefore some ethical issues arose and identified in the followings. Ethical Issues:"There are two concepts of ethics have also been identified as right, which places an obligation on the individual to act in a certain way; good, which is the value individuals place on things or on human actions" (McEwan, 2001).

As an individual Bethany could work for her self interest that is secure her job in the company and earn as much as possible with appreciation and promotion. But eenvironment is a social issue and she is to protect that. Environment is broadly the responsibility of the government. People, society and companies are supposed to co-operate with the government by actively following the rules and regulations framed by the government. Bethany is a professional and employee in the company whose duty is given to oversee the construction of the plant.

When Bethany becomes concerned about the environmental problem in the future and approached her boss, the plant supervisor Boris he replies, "It's up to the government agency to protect the river from excess waste, and the company only had to meet the agency's standards" His concept was concentrated to the rule books on company motives and profits. Kant's FIRST principle requires that everyone be treated as a free and equal person. He advocates for treating humanity as an end and not only as means.

What Kant means by "treating humanity as an end" is that everyone should treat each human being as a being whose existence as a free rational person should be promoted. What the supervisor has done is to deny this right to Bethany. Bethany must stand out to defend her moral right to do the right thing that promotes common good for all and not to an individual as Kantism stands for.The problem of ethics rises because the government agency has committed a mistake in measuring the standard and the lacuna has been identified by the intelligent and responsible Bethany.

As a responsible manager and citizen her duty is to