Portfolio Activity Unit 1

Donte Lamb
University of the People
BUS 5115-01 Business Law, Ethics and Social Responsibility - AY2024-T3
Jacent Gayle
February 8, 2023
Introduction:

Ethics plays a crucial role in guiding decision-making processes within organizations that can

impact their integrity. Presidential Pressure, according to Bartlett (2015), looks at how

leadership pressures can impact vital decisions for a small company that tests electronic

products. This case provides a in depth view for exploring ethical and legal dilemmas faced by

individuals in an organization, especially when they are torn between falsifying data or losing

business from phone companies. Tony, a business professional, must now make a key decision

that revolves around ethical and legal positions.

Analyzing Ethical and Legal Issues:

Analyzing the first approach to the issue, Tony faces the ethical dilemma of folding under

pressure from the president to administer skeptical financial measures to grow the business to

have more phone companies use their services for testing out new phones that they are

promoting to put into the market. From a legal point of view, this position raises issues

connected to corporate governance, financial integrity and honesty, and potential violations of

legal statutes that can lead to state disciplinary actions for the small company. On the other hand,

if the approach is taken to stand ethical and legal ground from the pressure, while upkeeping

integrity, Tony possibly will be facing harsh disciplinary actions that can impact his career

moving forward and ruin current and future relationships with those in this field. Moreover, as

previously mentioned, this can be on the macro level a big hit to the company.

Decision Scenario Potential Action Positive Consequences Negative Consequences

Fold Under Pressure - Can lead to career incentives - Compromise ethical - Disciplinary action legally
 Decision Scenario Potential Action Positive Consequences Negative Consequences

principles

- Positive relationship with - temporary financial

leaders and Stakeholders incnentive - Personally threaten integrity

Stand Ground on - Protect integrity long

Pressure - Upkeep ethical practice term - Limit career growth

- Set the ground work for - damage relationship with the

- Upkeep legal practices trust president

Analyzing the second approach, Tony is in another ethical dilemma related to providing falsified

data to stakeholders. From a Legal perspective, this incorporates issues of integrity, honesty, and

potential fraud.

If Tony was to hold his ground on maintaining integrity with his work. This position would

represent honesty and bond to legal obligations. However, this can filter into negative

consequences such as a break in trust from stakeholders or career disciplinary actions from the

company. Nevertheless, Tony would still have his professional integrity and if he prepares for

the worst, while it can be a dismissal or block in any promotion, he can still have opportunities

elsewhere. According to Grace (2014), “unfortunately, nine times out of ten, the interests of

profit blatantly conflict with the interests of people and planet, at least according to any

reasonable calculation.” Sometimes decisions from companies can even impact their own people

which leaves its employees in a peculiar position.

Significance of Ethical and Legal Behavior:

By analyzing Tony's ethical and legal situation regarding the testing of the phone, it is important

to make note of the relevance of ethical and legal behavior in maintaining long-term business

success and business growth. Ethical behavior influences trust among stakeholders if ethical

position can be justified to maintain the companies’ integrity. In addition, it can also improve

organizational reputation, and contributes to a sustainable business “eco system”. Maintaining

good legal practice can lead to the organization being free of any potential legal actions, by

stressing the extent of the law to the organization.

Ethically and Legally Sound Choice:

Therefore, ideally the ethically and legally sound choice for Tony in both decision scenarios is to

not fold under pressure and administer true data communication. Admittedly in the interim it

may be beneficial for the company to skew the data for financial gain. However, once they are

identified to be falsifying data it can lead to a hit in reputation. This can cost more to build back

reputation than the short-term financial gain. Ultimately, Tony would be a prime example that

can influence and establish a corporate culture that prioritizes integrity, honesty, legal integrity,

and responsibility. This choice would be championed based on legal grounds. Tony would

essentially be putting the business first even if the president is not on the same page as him, to

ensure that there no legal scandal that can potentially ruin the business.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the case of Presidential Pressure between Tony and the president of the company

provides in depth learnings about the exploration of ethical and legal positions in the

organization. This case analysis, provides details of the choices members of a organization make
in such situations can have profound consequences for their career growth, organizational

integrity, and honesty. Tony's decision to not fold under pressure and champion honest

communication is not only ethically and legally important but also aids to the overall success for

long-term success and integrity of the business.

808 words
 Reference

University, S. C. (2015, August). Presidential pressure. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-ethics/engineering-ethics-

cases/presidential-pressure/

Grace, J. (2014, January 8). Let’s be honest: Real sustainability may not make business sense.

The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/blog/sustainability-business-

sense-profit-purpose