CHOOSE A CASE STUDY

Please choose one of the case studies below. All of the cases are found in the Jennings text book. Peruse the cases and identify one that is of interest to you -- because of the types of ethical dilemmas addressed, or the industry, company, or the people involved in the case.

Case 4.23 HeathSouth: The Scrushy Way . . . page 300 of the Jennings text

READ THE CASE STUDY

Please begin this project by reading thoroughly the case study you chose.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH

In addition to relying on the information included in the text book, you must perform outside research to update and supplement the material provided in the text book. There are plentiful sources of information available. Please be thoughtful about and critical of the sources you find. Are they respected outlets? Is the information accurate? Reliable? There is a significant difference between an article in the Wall Street Journal and one found in an online tabloid.

SUGGESTED CONTENT

Following are suggested topics and issues you should consider when analyzing your case study. You are not obligated to strictly stick to the following format. It is merely a guide to help you analyze your case study. You should organize the material and information in your case study analysis in a way that is most meaningful for the reader.

Use your critical thinking skills and your common sense.

Please rely on the decision making framework (Ppt Five in Module 2) we adopted this semester. Keep the big picture in mind. Why are we analyzing this particular case study? What ethical dilemmas were faced by the individuals involved? What are the key issues? What mistakes were made in the decision making processes and actions taken by those involved? What can we learn that would help us avoid similar mistakes?

The Big Picture

(the most important takeaways from your analysis)

1. What is/are the key issue/issues in the case study?
2. What went wrong?
3. What were the consequences of the decisions made and actions taken in this case? What rules apply to this type of situation? Consider laws, regulations, principles, duties, rights, and other ethical obligations. What behavior is right in this type of situation? What would a person of good character do?
4. What should they have done instead? What can we learn from this case study?

FORMAT

(You may use this format, you may modify this format, or you may use another format. Choose a format that best suits the information youre sharing.)

Background Information

Should you provide any background information in order to make sense of the case study youre analyzing? Think about whether you should define terms, introduce people, or explain concepts and/or laws and regulations that are critical to understanding your case study. Do some research!

Facts

What happened? Is there any information you wish you had, but dont? Are you making any assumptions? Would it be helpful to include a timeline of events? To highlight key events? You may introduce facts in chronological order, or in any other way that makes your analysis understandable to the reader. You are welcome to include photos or graphics if they help you better explain the facts of the case.

Cast of Characters/Key Individuals and/or Organizations Involved

Individuals involved? Organizations involved? Who were the bad actors? Who were the injured parties? Additional research will likely be necessary to thoroughly introduce the key individuals involved. Tell the reader about their backgrounds. Include photographs if that would help the reader better understand the people and organizations involved in your case study.

Ethical Issues

Identify the ethical issues in your case study. You should present them in a logical manner. Be sure to think about ALL of the ethical issues in your case study, not just the obvious one(s).

Legal Issues

Identify the legal issues. Were any laws violated? Is so, what laws? Where there legal actions (criminal charges or civil actions filed)? What were the outcomes of any legal actions? Penalties? Define legal terms and issues if necessary. Think! Look at the situation from many perspectives, not just the one presented in your text book.

Stakeholder Analysis

Which stakeholder groups were affected? Were they affected positively or negatively? Did the individuals and organizations involved owe a duty to those stakeholders? Why or why not? Think about ALL stakeholders who had an interest, not just the most directly impacted.

Ethical Analysis

Apply any moral philosophies or decision making models that will clarify why the individuals involved acted the way they did, or how their decision making processes contributed to the problems. Could applying a different philosophy or decision making process have helped them make better decisions? Focus on the philosophies and/or models that help you best explain what went wrong, and explain what should have happened instead.

Examples:

Consequence-based ethics

For example: Utilitarianism and a cost/benefit analysis

Were decisions made to provide the greatest good to the greatest number of people? Were more stakeholders affected positively than negatively? Did the costs outweigh the benefits?

Rules-based ethics (rights, principles, duties, and intentions)

For example: Were rules violated? Were individuals rights violated?

Virtue Ethics

What would a person of good character have done? What virtues were revealed by did those involved?

Consider:

Categorical Imperative

The Golden Rule

Utilitarianism

Ethical Egoism

Moral Relativity

Wall Street Journal Model

Dr. Peter Drucker

Blanchard and Peale

Or any other models or theories that help you explain/analyze the actions and decisions in the case study

Analysis of decisions and decision-making process

What went wrong in your case study? Why are we studying the case study in this ethical decision making course? Where did the decision-making processes go wrong?

Recommendations to avoid similar problems or more successfully address similar ethical conflicts in the future

What will you take away from your analysis? How can this type of situation be avoided?