Ethical Dilemmas in Government

Jyoti Gupta is the environmental compliance manager for a small plastics manufacturing company. She is currently faced with a dilemma on whether or not to spend money on a new technology that will reduce the level of a particular toxin in the wastewater that flows out from the back of the factory into a lake. The factory's emission levels are already within legal limits. However, Jyoti knows that environmental regulations for this particular toxin are lagging behind scientific evidence. In fact, a scientist from the university had been quoted in the newspaper recently, saying that if emission levels stayed at this level, the fish in the lake and rivers in the area might soon have to be declared unsafe for human consumption. Further, if companies in the region don't engage in some self-regulation on this issue, there is reason to fear that the government - backed by public opinion - may force companies to begin using the new technology, and may also begin requiring monthly emission level reports (which would be both expensive and time consuming). But the company's environmental compliance budget is tight. Asking for this new technology to be installed would put Jyoti's department over-budget, and could jeopardize the company's ability to show a profit this year. The following are some suggested options. Please evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options: 1. Jyoti should focus on her company's financial performance and profits and forget the environmental issue as the compliance budget is already tight. 2. As the emission levels of the company are within legal limits, Jyoti should wait for new governmental regulations first and only after that should think about taking any action. 3. Jyoti should proactively report the matter to the higher management and ensure proper measures are taken but still profits of the company should receive the utmost priority. Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options), what would you advise, giving proper reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014

Environmental EthicsCorporate Governance

Ronak has heard from his manager that their organization will be downsizing; it could be as little as 5 percent or as much as 30 percent. However, the supervisor told Ronak that "we're all under strict orders to keep it quiet" so that the agency's best employees will not seek other jobs. Mohan (one of the finest professionals in Ronak's unit), upon hearing the downsizing rumors, told Ronak that he was sure that he could get another job at a new business if a reduction in force occurred. However, openings at the new business will close soon. Mohan asked Ronak, "Will there be layoffs?" and "Should I get another job now?" (a) What are the options available to Ronak? (b) Evaluate each of these options and highlight which option you would have preferred, giving reasons for the same.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentTransparency and Information

What are the major ethical concerns governing the functioning of government organisations? How are they different from those in private organisations?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCorporate Governance

Mr. Sinha assigns a research problem in a high school calculus class. The problem is quite difficult and will require collaborative time and effort of a team. Mr. Sinha divides the class into groups of four students, gives them instructions, and tells them when the problem will be due. Pradeep's group has an initial meeting and decides to divide up the work and then collaborate the information. Veena, one of Pradeep's group members, offers to write a particular section of the paper based on some great information she found on the Internet. The other members of the group, including Pradeep, divide the remaining work and proceed with their respective research. One week before the project is due, Pradeep finds out that Veena has chosen to "copy and paste" most of her paper from the Internet source. Pradeep picks up on Veena's plagiarism and knows it is wrong, but he needs an "A" on this research problem in order to pass Calculus. Pradeep confronts Veena and asks her to redo her paper without plagiarizing, but Veena claims she is too busy with her other class work. She assures Pradeep that Mr. Sinha will never discover the plagiarism, and that if he does, she will take complete blame for it. Pradeep finds himself in an extremely uncomfortable position. He feels partly responsible for the plagiarism because he is a part of the same group and he knows about it as well. The following are some suggested options. Please evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options: 1. Pradeep should forget about plagiarism as it is a common practice and ultimately he is not the one who did it. 2. Pradeep should highlight the issue to the whole group and then decide after taking everybody's advice. 3. Pradeep should talk directly to Mr. Sinha and leave it to him to take the right course of action. 4. Pradeep should himself redo the work of Veena and then submit the paper. Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options), what would you advise, giving proper reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014

IntegrityEthical Dilemmas in Government

A terrorist group states that it has concealed a nuclear bomb in Delhi. The authorities have captured the leader of the group. He says that he knows the location of the bomb. He refuses to reveal the location. Torture is guaranteed to produce the information needed to ensure the diffusal of the bomb. (a) Is it ethically acceptable for the authorities to have him tortured to find out where the bomb is and thus save thousands of lives? (b) Suppose instead of catching the leader, the authorities have captured his 16 year old daughter. She is refusing to cooperate with the authorities. In your opinion is it morally justified to have her tortured to acquire necessary information and save thousands of lives?

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEthical Theories