Case Study Analysis
C H

In business, all parties must maintain a strong code of ethics to operate a successful and morally sound company. It is crucial to the reputation and overall success of the business to conduct itself ethically at all levels of the organization. At the company level, it is important for management to lay a solid foundation and to lead by a clearly communicated example. Each employee should then know how to comply with the policies in place and follow outlined guidance when facing ethical dilemmas. With consistent ethical and moral confrontation, how should individuals in a company be groomed to respond to such issues?
Jacob’s Ethical Dilemma
After receiving praise and a monetary reward of $10,000 for work he did not complete on his own, Jacob is facing an ethical dilemma. Jacob and his colleague, Krystal, work for a small ad company in Topeka, Kansas. The five-year-old company is in need of a profit boost and sets out to score a government contract. Jacob’s personal struggle of an ill child prevents him from contributing fully to the project. Although, his colleague is responsible for the bulk of the work, Jacob is seen as the one responsible for the contract deal after delivering the presentation. The reward will certainly help with medical expenses, but Jacob realizes Krystal is more deserving of the reward than he is.
By initially accepting the praise and recognition for a job well done, Jacob dismisses good ethics by using one of these rationales: 1.The behavior isn‘t really illegal or immoral. 2.The action is in everyone‘s best interests. 3.No one will find out what I‘ve done. 4.The company will condone my action and protect me (Exploring business, 2014). Jacob, realizing the issue, should examine his personal “code of ethics” and identify that he is facing an ethical dilemma. Although he is experiencing personal strife and