Caroline Tade

OGL 345: Organizational Ethics

Professor: Christopher Glover

Planet Jockey, Moral Minefield

November 7th, 2021

Moral Minefield, Level 3

1.

2. Reflect on the scenarios presented in the game. Was there anything you found

complicated? Anything that surprised you?

The different scenarios in level three of Moral Minefield allowed for the

opportunity to learn again about the importance of responsibility, credibility,

transparency, intent, and the need to stop and gain more facts before moving forward

with a big decision. When I first began level three, I had to stop and think about the right

decision in the "Pricing Plan." The scenario focused on whether the company should

donate to the chronic pain charity with every purchase. Doing this increases customer

loyalty but may also come with some negative stigma (E.I. Game). When reflecting on
the scenario, I thought back to last week's level and the various scenarios focused on a

business's intent. While some decisions involving donating money are not always best, it

is essential to remember the intention behind donating money—i.e., does someone or

something gets something specific out of it (E.I. Games). This allowed me to understand

the intent behind the pricing plan donation and determine that it was an ethical decision.

The "location" scenario was an additional one that required extra time to think

about the next step. While I did get this question right, I had to think about it a bit more

because there was credible feedback to show that the area to move the new facility into

was, in fact, okay to move the business. With credible feedback saying something is

okay, it can be challenging to take a step back and determine the right step, especially if

time is of the essence. However, the company has a responsibility to ensure that the

location is suitable for all those involved, internally and externally, and should not make

trade-offs with the employees' lives or put their employees' lives at risk. In chapter one of

our text, "Ethics Theory and Business," we learned that rights entail responsibilities and

that the employees of the company have a right to healthy working conditions. This

means that the company is responsible for ensuring that all employees' working

conditions are healthy and safe (Fryer 2015).

One scenario that I struggled with and also answered wrong was the “celebrity”

scenario. I felt confident determining the right move, but in the end, it was not. "The

celebrity" scenario focused on a social media star who is being paid to help market Ulban

because she strongly believes in Ulban's efficacy. The question behind this scenario was

should the company disclose her support and maintain the confidentiality that she is

supporting the company (E.I. Games)? To me, I believe that people have the right to
 maintain their privacy. While this was the wrong answer, it became more evident why

maintaining confidentiality is not okay especially when money is involved.

Responsibility, transparency, and honesty are essential with those you work with and

support a business. When information is not disclosed, it can be more harmful to the

company and create a negative view of the company. Disclosing information of

supporters and endorsers allows others to understand the motivation and credibility of

both the endorser and supporter (E.I. Games).

3. Explain one of the decision-making scenarios you were given at the level and analyze it

in one of this week's theories.

From this week's simulation level, there was two decision-making scenario that I

chose to analyze to one of this week's theory, the "bad press" and "location" scenario. The

"bad press" scenario allowed us to decide what a company should do when negative press

is released to the community and whether the company should attack the source's

credibility. The second scenario, "location," focuses on whether a company should move

into a new facility despite concerns about having possible health concerns (E.I. Games).

After reflecting on both scenarios, I felt the virtue theory coincided with both scenarios.

The virtue theory focuses on character rather than action and focuses on the type

of person we need to be when making ethical decisions. Also included in the virtue

theory is that practicing Alasdair MacIntyres internal and external goods can help human

flourishing. Internal goods include enjoyment, a sense of achievement, and pride in the

things we do. At the same time, external goods include things such as money and status

By applying virtues and goods, it can allow for a person or business to achieve excellence
(Fryer, 2015). When a business carries out internal goods, they have the opportunity to

gain a sense of achievement, pride, and satisfaction from doing these goods. Still, when a

business fails to do them, they are more likely left with a feeling of dissatisfaction,

exasperation, and discontentment" (Fryer, 2015, pg. 194).

The virtue theory and both the "bad press" and "location" scenarios coincide

because they both focus on the importance of character rather than action and focus on

achieving excellence. In both scenarios from this week's simulation, we learned the

importance of taking responsibility, being honest and transparent internally and

externally. When an organization can be honest and open about any negative press or

negative concerns surrounding health, they achieve both internal and external goods and

allow the organization to achieve pride, excellence, and satisfaction. It also shows that the

organization considers how all setbacks and negativity are taken seriously and that all

stakeholders are considered before making an important decision.

Another theory that coincided with the "location" scenario is the rights theory that

we learned about in the first chapter of our text. The rights theory focuses on the fact that

every person has a right and everyone has the right to ethical entitlements inside and

outside a business. Organizations have a right to ensure all stakeholders are held to

upmost standard (Fryer, 2015). This theory and the "location" scenario connected because

Pharma Karma had a responsibility to ensure that the employees within the business were

kept safe when moving into a new location. As we discovered, the "location" scenario

challenged us on whether the business should move into a new location even though

employee health concerns were a factor. The challenge with this scenario was that the

government cleared the new site as not being a safety concern. Despite the okay to still
 move forward with the new location, Pharma Karma has a responsibility to ensure that

those who work the business are kept safe and are not subjected to anything that can risk

their health. A business should never make a trade-off with the health of a population—

i.e., the employees (E.I. Games).

4. Share how you could use the concepts discussed in this simulation in your job today. You

will relate these concepts to the other course materials and your own experiences.

In this week's simulation, we learned about responsibility, credibility,

transparency, and the importance of considering all facts before making a decision. The

concepts we learned about can be applied in my current job today by allowing me the

opportunity to take a step back and identify different factors that will affect my decision.

I can focus on my intent, reasoning, how it will affect stakeholders, and what I hope to

gain. This will allow me to be a strong leader who makes sound decisions that consider

the employees and those outside of the organization. Another way I can use what I

learned when something goes wrong, being honest and transparent about the issue with

my team. Being open about a problem does not have to be at a major level. Things can

and will go wrong within a business. Being able to step up and address the problem

builds credibility and allows others to support you. When I am honest, transparent, and

willing to learn more, I can feel fulfilled with how I am leading a team. This fulfillment

allows me to continue practicing being a good leader and will enable me to continue

growing and developing.

One scenario that stuck out to me this week was the "Bad Press" scenario. I was

able to connect with this scenario as I have had the opportunity to see it come to life in

my current job. A couple of situations occurred that required my CEO to address the
community and the board. While these situations were not specific to the organization,

they could still impact the organization negatively and potentially cause the organization

to lose supporters. My CEO still stepped up and honestly and openly addressed the

community about the situation at hand. This is something my CEO has always been

adamite about, being transparent. “You have to acknowledge a problem; you cannot

ignore it” (E.I. Games).

 References

E.I. Games (2021). Moral Minefield: Level 3 Market Preparation. [Online File].

Retrieved from, https://play.eigames.com/game/26#/level/97.

Fryer, M. (2015). Chapter 5: Virtue Theory: Virtue, Purpose, and Flourishing in Business.

Textbook, Oxford University Press.