University of Greenwich ID Number: 001284355

Module Code: BUSI1314

Module Assessment Title: Summative report

Lecturer Name: Nguyen Thuy Linh

Submission Date: 1/12/2023

Table of Contents

PART A: REFLECTIVE ESSAYY ........................................................................................................ 3

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 3
REFLECTION_GIBB’S REFLECTIVE MODEL ......................................................................................... 3
Description ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Feelings .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Evaluation ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 5
Action ............................................................................................................................................. 6
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................... 6

PART B: THEORETICAL ESSAY ....................................................................................................... 6

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 7
ETHICAL DILEMMAS ........................................................................................................................... 7
Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance ............................................................................... 8
Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style .......................................................................... 9
CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................ 9
Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance ............................................................................... 9
Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style ........................................................................... 10
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................................... 10
Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance ............................................................................. 10
Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style ........................................................................ 11

REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Part A: Reflective Essayy

Introduction

Our group Onion, composed of Nguyen Huu Hung, Nguyen Vu Thanh Hai, Vu Hoang
Quan, Nguyen Nhu Y, Phan Nguyen Mai An, and Dao Ba Duc, presented a
performance concerning business ethical Dilemmas called “ A Smartphone Recall“.
The storyline develops as Elon, an expert in stringent quality control, discloses a subtle
yet potentially hazardous design defect in a newly introduced smartphone. The group
deliberates on the merits of product recall, taking into account the potential financial
and consumer safety consequences. This essay applies Gibb's Reflective Model as a
framework for evaluating the team's performance, with a particular focus on the
recurring stages of preparation, feelings, assessment, analysis, conclusion, and action
plan. By adopting this introspective perspective, I explore the working process of my
team, the performance of my contribution in teamwork and what I could have done to
improve in the future.

Reflection_Gibb’s reflective model

Gibb's reflective model, created by Graham Gibbs in 1988, provides a systematic framework for
learning from events (The University of Edinburgh, 2020). The framework provides a structure for
analyzing experiences, and due to its cyclical character, it is especially suitable for repeated encounters.
This allows you to learn from both successful and unsuccessful outcomes and make informed plans.
The subject matter includes 6 distinct stages:

 Description of the experience

 Feelings and thoughts about the experience
 Evaluation of the experience, both good and bad
  Analysis to make sense of the situation
 Conclusion about what you learned and what you could have done differently
 Action plan for how you would deal with similar situations in the future, or general changes
you might find appropriate.

Description

A few weeks after we began studying business ethics, our instructor, Ms. Thuy Linh,
instructed us to demonstrate an ethical dilemma in business in groups of four to six
individuals. The members of our group, Onion, which consisted of Ba Duc, Huu Hung,
Nhu Y, Mai An, Thanh Hai, and Quan, gathered to generate concepts and strategies for
the performance. The group did, however, have minor disagreements regarding the
topic during the ideation phase. After assigning each member, including myself, a task
of generating ideas, the entire group convened for a collective discussion and decision-
making process. Given that every individual possesses an opinion, each desires for their
 idea to be selected. Nonetheless, this tension is essential for the group to select the
concepts that most closely align with its aesthetic preferences. Our group reached an
agreement to perform a play titled "A Smartphone Recall" following deliberation.
Furthermore, the participants actively contributed suggestions to finalize the script.

Feelings

The members of the group all made contributions to the shared product that the group
was working on, and as a result, I was filled with joy since everyone demonstrated a
sense of solidarity throughout the process of working together. However, occasionally
individuals lose attention on side tales, leading work to be late. In addition, as the leader
of the group, I made the error of forgetting the date of the group's performance, which
resulted in the group being unable to practise together for a longer period of time.
Therefore, before to the performance, I was pretty anxious; but, when my group
performed in accordance with the script, I felt a sense of relief.

Evaluation

During the time that our group was working together, I believe that it was a productive
time of collaboration, during which each member contributed to the achievements that
the group achieved. Our performance may be believed acceptable, according to the
assessment that was conducted by the Montero group; the story that was presented by
the group was well communicated to the listening audience. On the other hand, I feel
that if I had the ability to change the circumstances, I would improve my ability to plan
and I would put a higher focus on the responsibilities and deadlines that the team has.
Furthermore, I think that if we were to perform again, we would be able to do a better
job of portraying the feelings that our characters are experiencing and displaying body
language that is more unique at the same time. Because of this, the performance has
the potential to elicit a wider spectrum of feelings in the audience. In conclusion, I am
of the opinion that our group is capable of making use of classroom assets such as TVs
and projectors in order to create an atmosphere that is more suitable for the scenario
that the group is presenting..

Conclusion

I am certain that our group will be able to achieve an agreement on weekly schedules
that will encourage everyone to be better organised with their time, despite the fact that
 there may be difficulties linked with the production of ideas and the organisation of
rehearsals. Because of this, the atmosphere in which people are able to operate may be
improved, and everyone will be able to feel comfortable interacting with one another.
In addition, it will be essential for all members, including myself, to cultivate a larger
capacity for flexible body language at some point in the future. Those who are
preparing for a presentation or performance may find this to be helpful.

Action

For the purpose of improving my ability to manage my time effectively, I have been
participating in the practise of planning out my daily activities and schedule in advance,
with the intention of adhering to it on a regular basis. In addition, I made use of the
Notion programme on my mobile device as well as a notebook in order to keep a higher
level of accuracy about my work and timetable. In conclusion, I feel that task
breakdown makes it easier for me to stick to my agenda in a more consistent and
uncomplicated manner. For the purpose of developing my language ability, I feel that
I should increase the number of books that I read, especially those that are linked to
literature and economics, in order to broaden my vocabulary.

Conclusion

For the purpose of providing the most objective remarks and evaluations possible on the benefits and
drawbacks of the group work process, the report makes use of Gibb's reflective model. Following the
completion of this investigation, I came to the realisation that abilities in managing tasks and time are
highly significant, as they may assist us in resolving tasks in a more accurate and efficient manner. In
addition, I feel that there have been possibilities for me to grow and develop as a result of this
experience. On top of that, working with individuals I know helps me feel fairly at ease while we are
working together. On the other hand, working with people I do not know might be challenging for me.
In the future, this kind of expertise will be of great use to me as I go forward in my professional life.
By doing so, I am able to obtain a deeper comprehension of my capabilities and to gain knowledge
from my shortcomings. From that vantage point, I am able to pursue expansion that is both broad and
sustainable.

Part B: Theoretical Essay

Introduction

"The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) raises ethical questions about personal integrity and career
development. Andrea Sachs, the protagonist, must decide whether to compromise her ideals to
advance in fashion journalism, a highly competitive field. Miranda Priestly, the journal's editor-
in-chief,'s unethical leadership and actions create the second ethical dilemma. This scenario
raises concerns about how centralised power may affect the organization's principles and its
members' ethics.

This article uses virtue ethics and deontological ethics to examine these ethical issues. The
deontological approach, linked with Immanuel Kant, emphasises morality regardless of results.
The scenario will provide a complete understanding of Andrea's dilemma, which involves her
ethical values and professional duties. However, Aristotle's virtue ethics paradigm emphasises
virtue and behavior's impact on ethics. Miranda Priestly's leadership strategy and its effects on
organisational principles are examined in this study.

Parts of the essay will be separate. The first section will introduce ethics and summarise the
film. This section will use the deontological framework to assess Andrea's moral dilemma in
the workplace. The next section will use virtue ethics to investigate Miranda Priestly's immoral
leadership in the workplace. In conclusion, this paper will examine the ethical implications of
the issues and recommend ways to manage similar situations in real-world vocational settings.

Ethical Dilemmas

Being accountable and accepting responsibility for one's actions constitutes an essential characteristic
of the human species (Sitkin and Mangion-Thornley, 2020). To regulate our conduct, human have
devised principles that define acceptable and unacceptable conduct within a specific culture. Everyone's
ethical conduct is determined by their individual ethical standards. Therefore, ethics can be defined as
an individual's values that determine the acceptability and appropriateness of a particular action.
A study of business ethics is crucial from the perspective of management due to the possibility that
employees will be required to execute a task or undertake an action that contradicts their personal values
and ethical convictions. This request generates an ethical quandary in which the appropriate course of
action for the individual is constantly uncertain. Consequently, an ethical dilemma arises when an
individual is obligated to determine which course of action society and/or the organization may consider
ethical or unethical (Sitkin and Mangion-Thornley, 2020).

Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance

In the film “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), Andy Sachs is confronted with ethically intricate
circumstances. The advancement of her career often requires her to compromise the quality of
her personal life to uphold the principles of professional development. An exemplification of
this phenomenon occurs when Andy is confronted with the dilemma of either staying at the
Parisian gathering, where she has the opportunity to meet the editor-in-chief of the New York
newspaper, or leaving early to take part in her boyfriend’s party (The Devil Wears Prada, 2006,
1:01:10). The situation arises when her first assistant got sick before the charity event, which
happened on the same day as her boyfriend's birthday party. Thus, Andy chose to go to the
charity event.

Andy's situation presents an ethical conundrum as she must choose between two values: her
ideals and her career advancement. Andy was forced to comply with Miranda, her boss,'s
request even though she had intended to go to the birthday celebration with her boyfriend due
to the first assistant's sickness. She is forced by her decision to put her work commitments
before of her personal ones, which means she will miss her boyfriend's birthday celebration.
Additionally, it causes her to experience internal conflict between her drive for job development
and her need to preserve personal ties. Unfortunately, Andy's circumstance doesn't provide an
obvious moral solution that neatly fits with her ideals. In a crystal-cut ethical dilemma, ethical
principles may give a straightforward resolution. It's a conundrum because whatever she
chooses will need her to make a sacrifice or compromise in one aspect of her life. There is no
clear-cut "correct" option, therefore she must choose between the larger of two benefits or the
smaller of two harms. If Andy chooses her career over her personal life, she may succeed
professionally but damage her relationships. Conversely, prioritizing her personal life could
mean sacrificing her career opportunities, which leads to regret and professional dissatisfaction.
Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style

In the moment when Miranda pushes Andy to travel to Paris in the film "The Devil Wears
Prada" (2006), various ethical dilemmas occur, leading to opposing ideals and choices. Andy's
personal beliefs, work-life balance, and professional progress are central to this scene's
situation. Miranda's unilateral decision to send Andy to Paris runs against to Andy's personal
principles and the delicate balance she tries to strike between her personal life and her
demanding career at Runway magazine. Andy is divided between the professional potential
given by the Paris trip and her desire to maintain a good work-life balance. Miranda tells Andy
to join her to Paris for Fashion Week in this scene (The Devil Wears Prada, 2006, 1:09:01),
despite Andy's own plans and her commitment to her partner. This forces Andy to choose
between grabbing a career-defining chance and prioritising her personal life, posing an ethical
quandary for her.

Because of the contradictory ideals and options, this scenario is more of an ethical dilemma
than an ethical problem. Andy's personal connections, professional advancement, and the
search of work-life balance are among the ideals at stake. The tension arises from Andy's
attempt to prioritise her personal life while maintaining honesty and authenticity in the face of
Miranda's demanding and unethical leadership. The correct answer is not obvious in this
circumstance since Andy must balance her devotion to her profession with her desire to respect
her personal beliefs and maintain a good work-life balance. While the career potential in Paris
is enormous, it comes at the expense of abandoning personal commitments and ideals,
confronting Andy with a difficult ethical quandary.

Context

Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance

The first ethical dilemma is about Andy's balance between job and personal life. The scenario
involves Andy, her love partner, and her superior, Miranda. The problem develops when
Miranda presses Andy into attending the charity event, so presenting her with a dilemma
between her personal and professional life. The option she has made is to follow Miranda and
Emily to the charity event, while postponing her boyfriend's party. This choice has caused
tension between Andy and her boyfriend. Due to the demands of her employment, Andy is
compelled to compromise her personal principles in order to enhance her prospects in the
workplace. If Andy has disclosed to her boyfriend the challenges and hardships she has had in
 her demanding career, it is possible that her boyfriend may feel pity for her. Nevertheless, in
the event that her partner has informed her about the significance of the meeting, Andy would
choose to remain and participate in the meeting alongside her boyfriend.

Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style

The second ethical quandary pertains to Miranda coercing Andy into accompanying her to Paris
under the threat that her career prospects in the field of journalism will be severely
compromised otherwise. The scenario includes Miranda, Andy, and another assistant named
Emily. The difficulty arises when Miranda leaves Andy with no alternative but to accept the
offer. Andy prioritised her career over Emily's long-cherished desire of coming to Paris, despite
being well aware of Emily's aspirations and the effort she had put into achieving them. Andy is
faced with an internal dilemma, as she must decide between progressing in her job and
maintaining her connection with Emily. Consequently, Miranda's influence heavily impacts
Andy's decision-making process. However, if Emily had been aware of Andy's condition and
Miranda's unethical leadership, she would have shown sympathy towards Andy's predicament.

Ethical considerations

Following the discussion of the two ethical quandaries in the film, an analysis of topics relating to an
ethical quandary is based on Utilitarianism, Deontologica, and Virtue ethics. Utilitarianism is a moral
philosophy that urges individuals to behave in order to generate the best possible result for the largest
number of people (Driver Julia, 2006). Deontological ethics is an ethical theory that is founded on
conceptions of responsibility and rights that can be established rationally and exist independently of
experience (Micewski and Troy, 2007). Virtue ethics is the third ethical viewpoint. Virtue ethics is
concerned with doing virtuous acts such as honesty, compassion, and sympathy (Sitkin & Mangion-
Thornley, 2020). The ethical difficulties in the film "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) will be appraised
based on three ethics approach theories, and alternative decisions will be explored to better their
decision making.

Ethical Dilemma 1: Andy’s work-life balance

Andy, in the initial ethical quandary, has made the decision to accompany Miranda and Emily to the
event while setting aside her personal affairs. The deontological approach posits that the moral worth
of an action ought to be determined by its own inherent rightness or wrongness in accordance with a set
of rules. Andy is professionally obligated to provide support for her supervisor and colleagues, as well
as to represent the organisation at the event. Through her attendance at the event, she demonstrates her
commitment to her job and exhibits esteem for both her supervisor and the organisation. Andy's choice
to accompany her supervisor to the event may be interpreted as a chance to exhibit virtues such as
professionalism, loyalty, and regard, in accordance with virtue ethics. By demonstrating loyalty and
support for her supervisor, Andy can foster the development of virtuous qualities that are beneficial to
her moral growth.

Conversely, an opposition to this decision from a deontological standpoint could contend that Andy's
autonomy and dignity are also significant. It could be contended that in the event that her attendance at
the event disrupts her personal values or induces considerable distress, her obligation to prioritise her
own welfare and self-interest supersedes her obligation to her employer.

Ethical Dilemma 2: Miranda’s leadership style

The film "The Devil Wears Prada" effectively demonstrates Miranda's unscrupulous approach to
leadership through her coercion of Andy to travel with her to Paris. Endorsing Miranda's decision to
compel Andy to travel to Paris could be rationalised from a deontological perspective, in accordance
with the principles of duty and moral obligation. In her capacity as the editor-in-chief of a renowned
fashion publication, Miranda might argue that it is incumbent upon her to ensure that her subordinates
possess the requisite expertise to manage challenging situations, and that a visit to Paris is an
indispensable component of the job. From the perspective of virtue ethics, one could argue that
Miranda's decision aligns with the virtues of perseverance and resolve. Miranda might argue that she is
encouraging Andy to develop essential qualities such as perseverance, flexibility, and energy, which
are particularly critical qualities in the fiercely competitive fashion sector.

On the contrary, a deontological counterargument to this verdict might underscore the violation of
Andy's autonomy and dignity. In lieu of recognising Andy as an autonomous person with her own
agency and rights, Miranda's conduct might be construed as if she regarded her merely as a means to
accomplish her own objectives. From the standpoint of virtue ethics, it could be argued that Miranda's
actions demonstrate a lack of compassion and concern for the well-being of Andy. Virtue ethics places
great emphasis on the development of admirable individual attributes, including compassion and regard
for others; however, Miranda's conduct might be interpreted as deficient in these virtues.
Miranda could have opted for an alternative course of action from an ethical standpoint if she had
granted Andy a significant vote and the opportunity to voice her concerns about the situation. Ethical
theories that prioritise the value of individual autonomy, empathy, and the advancement of both
collective and individual well-being are consistent with this alternative.

References

Gavai, DA 2010, Business Ethics, Global Media, Chandi Chowk. Available from: ProQuest Ebook
Central. [1 December 2023].

Micewski, E.R. and Troy, C. 2007. Business ethics – deontologically revisited. Journal of Business
Ethics, 72(1), pp. 17–25. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9152-z.

Sitkin, A. and Mangion-Thornley, K. (2020) Absolute Essentials of International Business, Routledge.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Directed by David Frankel. 20th Century Studios.

Driver, J 2006, Ethics : The Fundamentals, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, Oxford. Available
from: ProQuest Ebook Central.

The University of Edinburgh (2020) Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, The University of Edinburgh,
[online] Available at: https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-
experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle (Accessed December 1, 2023).