Moral Issues 1
Moral Issues – Case Study Analysis
Making good ethical decisions is something that is not easy (Montgomery, Lipshitz
and Brehmer 2005: 280). It involves (1) moral judgment, (2) moral sensitivity or
awareness, (3) moral motivation, and (4) moral character (Rest et al. 1999, As cited from
Trevino and Weaver, 2003: 160). Indeed, it requires a trained understanding to ethical
issues as well as practiced approach for exploring those ethical aspects of a decision and
weighing ethical considerations that should make an impact in one’s course of action. To
continue, let us examine each of the case studies and their moral issues.
Case Study 1: The Ethics of the “Family Friendly” Organization
From the case study, we have noticed how much there seems to be a discrimination
of single employees as portrayed by Rob, a former single employee who got engaged and
married and experienced the total shift from being a single employee to a married one.
The moral issue that seems to be inherent in this case study is the issue of blame.
Who is to blame? Is it the organization? The managers? Or the employees?
The moral solution that may be applied to this case study is increasing the moral
awareness of the employees through trainings. According to Gilliland, Steiner, and Skarlicki
(2007: 215), many employees lack the awareness of the moral issues that they face in their
positions or industry. Therefore, it is very important that the organization must have a
clear set of policies that will not discriminate its employees regardless of their status, so
© Academic Writing Consultancy 2009-2012
Moral Issues 2
that when they transfer knowledge of moral awareness to their employees, employees will
have a clear understanding regarding their rights and privileges as employees.
Case Study 2: The Wal-Mart Way
The second case study focused on Wal-Mart and its economic impact on the ability
of local businesses to survive. The case study showed that when Wal-Mart enters a small
town community, there is a sudden shift of buyers. Instead of buying at the local stores,
people would now buy at Wal-Mart because it is a one-stop shop for all your needs; thus,
greatly affecting the local businesses.
The moral issue that is inherent in this case study is the issue of admiration and the
issue on what is the end result. Before anything else, one cannot deny admiring Wal-Mart
for developing a strategy in having everyone’s wants and needs all inside one shop and
entering every community there is all over the world. As Wal-Mart enters a small town
community, competition for Wal-Mart is not an issue at all because there is absolutely no
way that the local businesses could keep up with them. This one side is in favor of the
genius behind Wal-Mart.
However, as Wal-Mart enters a community, there is a price to pay: the dying of local
businesses. This is where is issue on what is the end result comes out. Has Wal-Mart ever
thought of how entering into these small town communities affect the local businesses?
Perhaps yes. Perhaps Wal-Mart never intended to devour the local businesses, but to
accommodate the needs and the wants of the local citizens.
© Academic Writing Consultancy 2009-2012
Moral Issues 3
Business is business and Wal-Mart is not expected to protect these local businesses.
The business world is a fierce competition, but Wal-Mart paved its way to the top by its
strategy of expanding in small town communities.
Case Study 3: Working at Home and Playing at Work
The last case study portrays how new communication technology such as text
messaging, cell phones and email blurs work and private life. In this specific case, the
inherent moral issue is the issue of obligation and duty. Perhaps, as of today, work and
private life is already entangled as one can bring work at home and social relationships can
also be brought to work.
The only problem with this in the organization is when too much of social
relationships are brought to work, like for example, email and chatting in the office taking
the work time of the employees. However, this can be set by orienting the employee his or
her duties and responsibilities within the organization, making it clear of what needs to be
done must be done. Because sometimes, when you have the internet in the office, you can
no longer control how much time the employees spend in email or chatting. Therefore, the
moral solution this writer believes is that employees could continue such usage of internet
as long as they meet their target deadlines for them.
© Academic Writing Consultancy 2009-2012
Moral Issues 4
References
Gilliland, S, Steiner, DD and Skarlicki, D 2007, Managing Social and Ethical Issues in
Organizations, Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC.
Montgomery, H, Lipshitz, R and Brehmer, B 2005, How Professionals Make Decisions,
Routledge, New Jersey.
Trevino, LK and Weave, GR 2003, Managing Ethics in Business Organizations: Social
Scientific Perspectives, Stanford University Press, California.
© Academic Writing Consultancy 2009-2012