Management

Jacob and Krystal worked in a small ad agency in Topeka, Kansas. The firm started five years ago and was making a profit, but barely. The ad agency needed some larger clients and put in a bid for a city government contract. The firm was one of two agencies up for a large government contract to do the ad work for the Topeka’s government day campaign.

Jacob being preoccupied with a sick child left much of the work for Krystal to do. Having pulled the entire presentation together Krystal went over everything the day before the final client meeting with Jacob. Since Jacob had better speaking skills, they decided that Jacob would present the majority of the work and Krystal would supplement information in a few areas. 

The presentation was a huge hit. The contract was awarded to the agency garnering Jacob many accolades. So grateful were the owners of the business, they approached Jacob with a bonus check in the amount of $10,000. Jacob was torn because this money would help with the medical bills for his son but at the same time knew that Krystal did all the work and deserved the bonus money.

Purpose: 

Business stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and the general public, receive positive benefits from businesses that follow ethical principles and practices. In the workplace, employees may find themselves in situations in which they have to choose the appropriate behavior. It is possible to encounter situations that give rise to conflicts of interest, conflicts of loyalty or issues of honesty and integrity. When they do, you will be called upon to make difficult decisions.

Outcomes Met With This Assignment:

• describe the ethical and social responsibilities that confront a business

Instructions:

This assignment is the first of two assignments. Students will read a case study related to business ethics. In completing the assignment, students will analyze a case study scenario and apply the concepts learned in week 3 by answering a series of question. In completing the assignment, students will answer the questions in narrative form and will follow the steps provided below:

Step 1: Review “How to Analyze a Case Study” under Week 4 Content.

Step 2: Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced, 12-point font. The final product will be between 2-3 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.

Step 3: Review the grading rubric for the assignment.

Step 4: Follow this format:

oTitle page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;

oIntroduction;

oBody, in paragraph form using the following section headings:

• Jacob’s Ethical Dilemma
• Employees’ Roles/responsibilities in Ethical Situations
• The Organization’s Role/responsibility in Ensuring Ethical Practices

oSummary paragraph

Step 5: In writing a case study, the writing is in the third person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person

Step 6: In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content and How to Cite and Reference, also under Week 4 content.

Step 7: In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html

Step 8: Read critically and analyze the scenario provided under Week 4 Content. 

Step 9: Write down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper. 

Step 10: In your paper, respond to the following questions:

1. What the ethical dilemma Jacob is faced with now;
2. Explain what Jacob should do and why; 
3. Discuss the factors that contribute to employees not operating ethically in business? Be sure to review the grading rubric for specific detail;
4. When faced with an ethical situation, what steps can an employee take to try to make the most appropriate decisions? Be sure to describe in detail;
5. Discuss how an organization can help employees make appropriate decisions when faced with making a mistake in judgment?;’
6. Identify and discuss the steps an organization can take ensure that all parts of the organization operate ethically?
7. Always support your reasoning using the course material and the literature from external sources. Note: Whenever material is taken from any source, it must be cited and reference
8. View and use the information under Week 4 Content on how to cite and reference the course material.

 Step 11: Create the introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper but is typically written after writing the body of the paper (Questions students responded to above). View this website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html

Step 12: Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s) of the essay. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.