Business Ethics Individual Assignment - Hodo Recycling Equipment

Business Ethics Individual Assignment

     Based on the Hodo Recycling Equipment case study that I had read, there is a few ethical issue can be identify in the case study. Ethical responsibilities, whereas it may not break the rule but still not ethically right to act. The example, in this case, John’s ethical attitude can consider him as an ethical person as he was wondering about the organization’s action of ignoring the upgrade of the waste facilities, which having doubt against the organization’s casual action and planning towards the environment. John’s choices of action aren't much, as there is a chance of degrading his rank or his income, or at worst case is him being fired from his job if he’s acting against the organization’s favor. Most he could have done are probably a few choices, examples like whistle blowing, approaching the manager to explain the concerns, list out concerns and effect during a meeting, or in a more indirect way, doing better than their competitor by running latest standard compare to their competitors. In this case, stockholders want the best value for their stock. Hence the low-cost operation of not upgrading the facilities, but in a long-term view, it could increase the value of their stock with these upgraded facilities due to the organization now having a better reputation and more willingly to invest or support the better for the environment. As for the organization, by upgrading the facilities, they could gain an upper hand against their competitor, also this will make their employee proud to work at their organization as the organization is taking the environment into its concern, hence gaining people’s trust as well. Comes to the worst-case scenario, chemical pollution may cause severe damages to the environment, John’s reason leave the company may be due to the unethical method used by the organization, hence result into whistle blowing

     Bob, as the company's president, must take into account of many stakeholders, both primary and secondary. Bob does not agree to spend more fund into upgrading the waste treatment facilities which would measure up to the current federal standard but not a higher, stricter industry standard. The consequences of this action could be severe to the environment which Bob and many of the shareholders do not treat it as a significant issue. However, natural resources would come to an end one day and could bring danger to the livings. Long ago, there were two philosophers who formed two different proposition of moral philosophies. Jeremy Bentham, the utilitarianism that acts on the amount of happiness on a greater number of people; Immanuel Kant, the Kant theory which judges the moral rightness of an act. Perhaps Bob was taking funds and costs of the company into consideration that, he had rejected the idea of pursuing a better waste treatment facilities. Nevertheless, he had clearly taken the idea of utilitarianism. The three main traits that made up utilitarianism are the greatest happiness principle, universal egoism, and the false identification of one's interests against others (Alexander Moseley 2016). By maintaining the current waste treatment facilities, Bob also cared for the 'happiness' of his employees. Although this decision might have surprised staff like John with no true knowledge of pollution issues, it is also outside of their professional area. Be that as it may, Khan would have disagreed with this decision as he respects the goals of humanity. Looking at a larger picture, mankind would be the one who suffers most in prior to actions or decisions made by capitalist such as Bob. To put it simply, Bentham would have first considered the aftereffect of whether or not, to upgrade the current facilities and assess how much pleasure or pain either action would bring. While Kant would consider the act of not upgrading the facilities, polluting the earth, bringing harm to all living organism, and assesses if the action is morally 'right' or 'wrong.' Both theories are equally flawed. Bentham's theory ignores minority and focuses solely on the happiness of human. Kant's, on the other hand, ignores the outcomes of a moral action. It is only natural for Hodo to modernize their facilities as the improvements could give them an upper hand in their platform, and provide chances to future generations.

     Over the globe, there are numerous kinds of pollution and damage being done to Earth that affects the life of all living creatures and ecosystem. In the 21st century where everything has evolved and matured, people like John, with high moral values, started to protect the Earth in various ways. While on the other hand, fortune has blinded many men such as Bob. To brush off waste treatment facilities is no small matter as it brings severe damage to Earth. Quoted by pollutionissues.com, "No company can operate on purely pro-environmental decisions, nor can a company run solely on the basis of maximum profits".

   As a medium-sized manufacturing corporation that contributes high emission of toxic waste, water is one of the essentials that powers the entire process of production. After a series of fundamental process, the water then comes into contact with various substances. These includes harsh chemicals and radioactive waste that could threaten our habitat. The water, now contaminated, will then be released to river streams and open oceans. This act will result in water pollution. Many of our primary sources will have a hefty amount of industrial waste. Farmers then use the same water to irrigate crops; quality of food will decrease (Rinkesh, 2009).

    As mentioned above, the contaminated water flows to crops. This creates problems in the agriculture sector and destroys local vegetation. Furthermore, it also gives rise to health issues to the laborer’s that come in contact with the ground in the long run. To put it simply, industrializing also pollutes the soil. Without an appropriate pH, the microorganisms that are crucial in playing parts of providing nutrients strive to survive. As a result, we can lose the privilege of fertile land for purpose such as forest cover.

    Bob’s rejection of upgrading waste disposal may causes harm to the air, in short, air pollution. Polluted air also means poisoned air. Above all of that, it is also doing harm to the surroundings and also living organisms. Most of all, the ecosystem will be affected as well. The ozone layer, which is significant for the ecosystem is slowly depleting due to the increased of imbalanced gases in the air. As the current waste disposal equipment is not adequate, there will be a high number of gases produced in the atmosphere as a direct result of fossil fuel combustion.

   Carroll’s CSR model can also be called as corporate social responsibility model. Carroll categories social responsibility into 4 layer of pyramid and this pyramid is called as pyramid of pyramid of responsibility. The 4 layer in the pyramid is the economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility and also philanthropic responsibility (Carroll and Buchholtz, 2003). To be profitable, adopt a sensible strategy decision, increase the sales and decrease the cost are at the base of economic responsibility. The second layer will be legal responsibility. Under this responsibility, the company are required to follow the law, because law mirror shows the society is a view of accept or unaccepted. However for ethical responsibility, organization’s ethical responsibility is include being profitable in order to provide a return on investment to shareholder and owner (Regina Anaejionu, 2016). Lastly, philanthropic responsibility is at the top layer of the pyramid. The aim for this is to improve and provide a better quality life for the society.

...