Volkswagon ethical case study MIS 610:

Issue - Volkswagon manipulated the way the motor works using technology to hide how the motor ran to pass emissions controls in the USA.

Background information

• VW fraud: Timeline of a scandal: https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/dieselgate-timeline-car-emissions-fraud-scandal-germany
• Volkswagon - the scandal explained - https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772
• Volkswagen scandal: Top German court rules automaker must pay 'dieselgate' compensation: https://www.dw.com/en/volkswagen-scandal-top-german-court-rules-automaker-must-pay-dieselgate-compensation/a-53556743

Scenario - You work for Volkswagon in their information technology and business group and are asked by your manager to be on the team that is developing software so that the cars can pass emissions controls test in other countries. This is even though the cars engines cannot continuously and so do not meet the requirements for emissions controls in the United States of America (USA).

You know it is important for the organisation's goal to be the number one car producer in the world to be above to sell in the USA market. However you feel concerned about doing something that you consider unethical as you will create software that is working around the current regulations for emissions controls in the USA.

If you do not agree it is possible you will be sidelined or maybe lose your job.

What do you decide to do?See the Assessment brief to guide you on how to answer this scenario. You first answer it based on your own ethical perspective. Then you apply two of the ethical frameworks we learn in class to help you with your decision making. QUESTIONS Identify two ethical frameworks or approaches (chosen from the the frameworks and approaches discussed in class), that could have helped you with your ethical decision. Discuss how the frameworks might have helped you reach the same decision or a different decision as you identified above. This should include reference to two relevant reliable sources that are not part of the subject resources (). The following questions will help your reflection: o What ethical framework (if any) did you use in reaching your original decision? o How do the ethical frameworks you have chosen apply to the situation? o How does a line of ethical reasoning arrive at your original decision? o How does a line of ethical reasoning arrive at a different decision?