The notion of duty or deontological ethics is many ways the opposite of the utilitarian ethics you learned about in Module 3. It is often the case that completely different decisions will be made if you use a deontological approach rather than a utilitarian approach. For this assignment, you will be applying the concepts of utilitarian and duty ethics from Brusseau (2012) and “Duty-based ethics” (2014) to some real-world ethical dilemmas faced by corporations.
Apple has gotten a lot of criticism for having iPhones and other products manufactured in China. However, iPhones would cost dramatically more (as much as $2,000 for a low-end model) if they were produced in the United States.
Is it ethical to own an iPhone?
How much would an all-American iPhone cost
Another ethical dilemma many multinational corporations face is that they often have to deal with foreign government officials in order to obtain contracts. Even if managers are personally offended at the idea of paying bribes, keep in mind that American companies have to compete with companies from other countries that are more than happy to pay a bribe. A recent case involved Hewlett-Packard (HP) when their affiliate in Russia was busted for a paying a bribe to a government official in order to obtain a contract. For purposes of this assignment, forget that this is illegal. Instead, think about whether this is ethical. Remember that HP has had financial struggles and has had to lay off many American workers, and obtaining foreign contracts can save jobs back in the United States. See the following articles for more information:
First, make sure you are clear on the distinction between duty/deontological ethics and utilitarian/consequentialist ethics from the readings in Modules 3 and 4. Then think carefully about the ethical dilemmas faced by Apple and HP using the articles above as well as your own research. Then write a 4- to 5-page paper addressing the following issues:
- Analyze Apple’s decision to have their iPhones built in China based on a utilitarian/consequentialist approach. Use the Utility Test and discuss which stakeholders benefit and which ones are harmed by having their iPhones manufactured in China rather than the U.S. Should they keep their manufacturing in China based on the Utility Test?
- Now analyze Apple’s decision to have their iPhones built in China based on a deontological/duty-based approach. Are there any categorical imperatives violated by Apple choosing to manufacture their phones in China? Is your ethical assessment different for you when you use a deontological/duty-based approach rather than a utility approach?
- Analyze HP’s use of bribery to obtain foreign contracts based on a utilitarian/consequentialist approach. Use the Utility Test and discuss which stakeholders benefit and which ones are harmed from HP’s use of bribery. Was more harm done than good, or vice versa?
- Finally, analyze HP’s use of bribery to obtain foreign contracts based on a deontological/duty-based approach. Are there any categorical imperatives violated by HP’s use of bribery? Is your ethical assessment different for you when you use a deontological/duty-based approach rather than a utility approach?
