Ethical Frameworks Student Example

Exploring Ethical Frameworks
Individual Activity (50 points)
Name: Jane Doe
Case Study Title: Study #6 Coworker Caper
Directions: Using the ethics case study you’ve selected or been given, discuss and
answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
Step One: Identify the Issue
1. What is the dilemma/problem to be solved in this case and ultimately, what is the
key decision that must be made? Write this so that a “stranger” could readily
understand the dilemma. Include enough detail to make sure the dilemma is clearly
defined and include the key decision written in the form of a question.
Angela has quite a dilemma; she loves her job at a well known retail store and has made
new friends as well. The manager explains that there has been some theft and new
security and other policies will be in effect because of it. Angela is on break with her
close friend Brooke who confides in Angela about being the one who has stolen
merchandise from this huge store chain (as much as $10,000.00 worth) and Brooke
KNOWS Angela is a good friend who will NOT tell on her. Angela has to decide
whether to keep her friend’s secret or should she turn Brooke in to the manager?
2. Who are the stakeholders in this dilemma? (Note: Stakeholders are any individuals,
written about in the case or not, who may be affected by the decisions that are made;
check the column that fits.)
Also
STAKEHOLDER In the Case possibly
affected
1. Angela X X
2. Brooke X X
3. Manager X X
4. Brooke’s family X
5. Angela’s family X
6. Other employees X
7. Police X
8. Retail Store Chain X
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Step Two: Outline the Options
3. Consider as many ways to resolve this dilemma as possible and list them below. It’s
likely that you will want to “solve” the problem, but this step asks you to extend your
thinking beyond your initial reaction.
(Note: Step Four, Question 6 asks that you return to this question to label the frameworks
associated with the possible resolutions.)
Ethical Framework (see Step Four,
Options for Resolving Dilemma
Question 6)
Encourage Brooke to turn herself in! Utilitarian
Go to the manager and turn Brooke in! Practical
Go with Brooke to tell the manager and
Moral Right
help her do the right thing!
Anonymously tell the manager about
Brooke after you encourage her and she Justice
doesn’t turn herself in.
Step Three: Gather Evidence/Interview Others
4. Using the key dilemma posed in Step One, interview 10 people on how they would
resolve the problem and why. (Note: As interviewer, please do not share your thoughts
on how you would resolve the problem.) Use the table located on page 6 of this
worksheet to record their responses.
Step Four: Construct Ethical Arguments
5. Practice using the four ethical frameworks we have examined in class (utilitarian,
moral rights, justice, and practical) and list one resolution for each framework and
explain why it fits there.
If you follow this rule when faced with

You will make a decision based on…
a dilemma…
the greatest good for the greatest
utilitarian
number (or the least harm to others)
moral rights the way you would want to be treated
justice what is fair and equal for all involved
whether or not the “typical person”
practical would find your decision to be
acceptable
a. utilitarian: As her close friend I would encourage Brooke to turn herself in!
Why does this fit the utilitarian framework?
This fits the utilitarian framework because this will allow the LEAST harm to others:
Brooke may get an opportunity to return or repay the company before she gets into
trouble plus the store will benefit by knowing who has been stealing and have the
merchandise recovered or paid for and I won’t have a guilt complex for knowing that
Brooke was the theif.
b. moral rights: I could go with Brooke to the manager to help her turn herself in
before she gets arrested.
Why does this fit the moral rights framework?
This fits the moral rights framework because this is the way I would want to be treated:
I would have more courage to admit my wrong choices with a friend’s help and hopefully
the consequences would not be as severe.
c. justice: After encouraging Brooke to turn herself in, I would anonymously tell the
manager so they know who the thief is, just in case she doesn’t own up.
Why does this fit the justice framework?
This fits the justice framework because I feel it is fair and equal to all involved: I won’t
have to be involved if I tell anonymously and the company will know who the thief is and
Brooke would be given the opportunity to turn herself in.
d. practical: I would go immediately to the manager and turn Brooke in!

Why does this fit the practical framework?
This fits the practical framework because most responsible people would consider this as
the right thing to do. If not, the company is in jeopardy and many employees could be
affected. Brooke needs counseling and would have to be reprimanded for her bad
choices before she does something worse.
6. Now, go back to your interviews with others and your own options to solve the
dilemma (see question #3) and label each with the appropriate ethical framework.
Step Five: Evaluate the Arguments
7. Reviewing the responses from the individuals interviewed in Step Three as well as
your own options to solve the dilemma, consider how stakeholders you have identified
in the case might best benefit. Then, rank the frameworks below according to their
perceived merit, with “1” being the highest ranking. (Note: Often we “stick” to our first
thoughts on how we would resolve the dilemma; this step asks that you expand your
thinking to be more inclusive of others’ perspectives when ranking the frameworks.)
# _____Utilitarian____________ framework
#2_____Practical___________ framework
#3______Moral right________ framework
#4_______Justice___________ framework
Step Six: Make a Decision/ Evaluate the Impact

8. Considering all the possible outcomes that you and those you have interviewed
have associated with each ethical framework, make a decision on how you would
resolve the case.
To resolve the case of the Coworker Caper, I would first try to make my friend, Brooke,
realize how her choices are not right and strongly encourage her to turn herself in! If she
doesn’t go immediately to the manager to tell the truth, I would go to the manager
myself.
9. Explain in some detail why you made your decision.

I made this decision because I really want my friend to do the right thing and be honest.
Maybe if she turns herself in, they will give her the opportunity to return or repay the
items that were stolen and go to counseling for help. Also, my conscience would not let
me keep that information to myself, knowing how many people would be affected in the
end. Not just Brooke but her family and friends would be affected when she gets caught
and also the amount of merchandise stolen would affect the business and it’s employees.
My family would also be affected because they would see my anxiety of the dilemma as
well.
10. Explain how each of the stakeholders you listed in Question #2 might be affected by
your decision.
STAKEHOLDER How might they be affected?

Hopefully, Brooke would be given the
opportunity to return or pay for what she
1. Brooke stole because she told the truth and also
get the help she needs to never want to
steal again.
Angela would not get into trouble because
she encouraged Brooke to tell the truth.
2. Angela
However she will most likely have to go
to trial and testify against her friend.
The manager’s job would not be in
jeopardy because the case would be solved
3. Manager and hopefully no more theft would occur
at his store. However he too will probably
have to appear in court.
Brooke’s family will be seriously affected
because they will first be devastated by
4. Brooke’s family her actions, then have to help her return or
pay for the items she stole or possibly be
separated from her while she is in jail.
Angela’s family would be affected
5. Angela’s family because they would witness the anxiety
that Angela endured during the dilemma.
The other employees at the store were
already affected because of the new
6. Other employees
policies and security that had to be
enforced because of Brook’s stealing.
The law enforcement team would be
affected because they will have to file
7. Police/detectives
reports and do investigations and probably
go to trial.
This incident will probably affect the
8. Retail Store Chain stores within this chain by having new
policies and securities in effect.
Which ethical
What would they
Person Why? framework did
do?
they use?
Anonymously tell To save the
1 Susan #1
the boss that employer time and
Practical
Brooke is the thief. money.
Pretend he didn’t Don’t want to get

2 Taylor hear Brooke. involved. Moral right
3 Kacee Not be Brooke’s Protect myself from Moral right

friend anymore but getting into trouble
tell if the company or getting
wants anyone to retaliation from
come forth with
Brooke.
information.
Tell Brooke that
I’m telling the Boss Because I can’t
4 April Utilitarian
so go tell them stand liars!!!
before I do!
Recommend to Give Brooke the
Brooke to turn chance to turn
5 Rob
herself in before herself in and
Justice
she gets caught! protect myself by
Report her telling
anonymously. anonymously.
Make sure
Protect myself but
6 Jake SOMEONE told on Practical
help the company
her but not me!
Go straight to the
manager and tell For my conscience,
but hope that telling would be the
7 Heather Utilitarian
Brooke doesn’t only right thing to
harm me or my do.
family.
I would tell Brooke Then, maybe that
8 Cathy that management is
would scare Brooke
asking me because Justice
into telling the
they think they
know who it is! truth.
Tell Brooke to tell

9 Sue #2 To give her a
their manager
chance to come Justice
before the police
clean!
are contacted!
Brooke is not the

person I thought
she was and I don’t To protect myself
10 Jeff Practical
trust her anymore and my family.
so I wouldn’t tell.
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Exploring Ethical Frameworks

Individual Activity (50 points)

Name: Jane Doe

Case Study Title: Study #6 Coworker Caper

Step One: Identify the Issue

Step Three: Gather Evidence/Interview Others

Step Four: Construct Ethical Arguments

If you follow this rule when faced with

d. practical: I would go immediately to the manager and turn Brooke in!

Step Five: Evaluate the Arguments

#3Moral right__ framework

Step Six: Make a Decision/ Evaluate the Impact

9. Explain in some detail why you made your decision.

STAKEHOLDER How might they be affected?

Pretend he didn’t Don’t want to get

3 Kacee Not be Brooke’s Protect myself from Moral right

Tell Brooke to tell

Brooke is not the

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