Business Management Case Analysis - Essay Example

Google in China Ethical Dilemma When Google had decided to launch Google in Chinese, it faced the challenge of the Chinese governments censorship.Being a company from a democratic country, Google had to decide whether it should operate from within China with restrictions on information dissipation as specified by the discretionary agreement with the Chinese government, or not at all. Once decided that Google would establish Google.cn from within China, the company is faced with the ethical dilemma of self-censorship or go against the Chinese government in accordance with US style of freedom of expression.

If Google chooses to adopt freedom of expression then it faces the consequences of being the source of arrests of users who go against the law or posting or emailing or organizing information against the Chinese government. On the other hand if it chooses to comply with the Chinese government, then it faces criticism from users, and critics not to mention going against its companys mission (Baron 1). 2. Course of ActionIn making an ethical decision, the decision maker is faced with the challenge of complying with all stakeholders and shareholders concerned.

In the case of Google, the companys ultimate aim is to satisfy its shareholders and stakeholders. The best course of action, as its cofounder explains, is to avoid harming the company and the Chinese people (Baron 1). By adopting a neutral approach to corporate governance, the company complies with the local laws and maintains a self-filter of censored materials. Censored materials, as deemed by the Chinese government, comprise of blogs, email, and search generated materials which could jeopardize the government.

This approach serves the higher good of the Chinese population, and the world. This is congruent with the constructivist approach as prescribed by Mill and Bentham (Course Notes) who are of the view that ethical decisions should benefit the larger good than the morality of the individual.This decision would also be congruent with Googles corporate goal of serving its shareholders. By entering into China, it would be able to harness new market and new consumers regardless of the restrictions of censorship.

By complying with the local government, Google would be avoiding costs of legal battles, and operational costs involved in disseminating information to the government in case it loses at court. These would affect the profitability of the company which would ultimately harm the interests of the shareholders (Course Notes).3. Consequences of ActionBy adopting this course of action however, Google loses some of the trusts of its users for withholding information. However, this can be rectified by putting a disclaimer that the users activities are being monitored by the Chinese government and has nothing to do with the companys operations (Baron 5).

Moreover, as far as going against the companys mission of disseminating information and freedom of expression are concerned then it would be better to curtail harmful information than having users arrested for possessing information they may not even consider harmful Such information may proliferate state instability, conflict and insurgency (Baron 5).These consequences do not actually serve any good to the society, whether in China or across the world. There is a moral obligation that the company should not withhold information but it should not be at the cost of arrests or state instability in any country.

ReferencesCourse Notes. Corporate Governance. Baron, David P. Google in China. Stanford Graduate School of Business. November 15, 2006.