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Lead problem in a toy manufacturing company Our toy company has plans for shipping our elementary toy collection at the end of the week. One of our products has failed the quality control testing. The product that has failed was found to exceed the legal limits of lead that is set laid down by the federal government. The test found that the amount of lead was slightly beyond the U.S. lawfully acceptable boundaries for children aged 7 and below. According to Parboteeah and Cullen, (2013), Lead is a harmful substance that has several health problems. Some of the challenges caused by lead are neurological damage, hearing problems, delayed mental and physical development and learning disabilities when ingested by children. Young children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects caused by lead because they mouth and share many objects that they come across. The cost of replacing the toy (whistle) and conform to the guidelines laid by the government is projected to be $100,000. There are three possible alternatives that our company can embrace to address the whistle problem. The first option that the company can take to address the whistle problem is to ship the toys as planned after two weeks. The toys will be transported with the lead amount exceeding the amount that is dictated by the government of the United States. It is possible that the even if the toys are considered unsafe by the government of the United States, they can go unnoticed and this will be advantageous to the company because the company will be able to save the $100,000 required to replace the toys. If a replacement is required, the company will do so after a request by the receiver. However, if realized, the company will face significant legal issues because the whistles do not meet the manufacturing standards and regulations laid down by the US government. The result of this is more extensive expenses that results from the fines put against the company and some legal costs demanded by the federal government. Another possible negative impact of this decision on the company is the potential recall and reproduction of the toys by the company. If the shipped toys are recalled and reproduced, the company will end up incurring a lot of costs. The costs are transporting the toys to and from the school and the cost of reproducing new ones. The overall result is ruining the image of the company and losses. The most important issue to note from this decision is that it is totally unethical. Subjecting children to such harmful substances implies that the company is irresponsible and is not adhering to ethical practices. Another possible solution to the whistle problem is to transport the products to a different country where the products meet the standards required in that country. This is because different countries across the world have different manufacturing standards and regulations. By doing so, the company will not experience any financial loss. The money raised from selling the products in another country will be now used to produce products that meet the requirements of the federal government and sell them to South America though there will be a delay. However, the decision will have a different impact on the quality assurance department. Considering such an option will imply that the work done by the quality assurance department is not being appreciated and is not meaningful to the company. However, the most important thing to note from such a decision is that the company will be knowingly shipping products that pose a danger to the health of children even if it is not in the United States. These are unethical practices in the company that needs to be abolished. The third solution to the whistle problem will be reproducing and repackaging the products making sure that they meet the regulations and standards laid down by the US government. If the company embraces this decision, it will incur extra $100,000 but its reputation will remain positive because this is the most ethical decision it can ever make concerning the whistle problem. The organization will also avoid all legal issues by taking this action and will maintain and continue building its reputation. It is possible that the school that ordered might demand more of the company's products and encourage other schools to buy from our company. The possible overall result of this action is the increase of orders of the company's products from different schools. The company will, therefore, grow as a result. Three models of decision making were used to coming up with the three alternatives of solving the whistle problem. The first two alternatives were arrived at via a rational model and Simon's normative model while the third alternative was arrived at by using the generic model. In the rational model, a problem is identified, an alternative option is generated, a solution is selected, implemented and then it is evaluated. In the Simon model, shortcuts and fallacies are used to find the solutions and limited information is analyzed. In alternative three, the generic model was used. The generic model involves clarification of the issue, situation or the problem, finding possible solutions and implementing the most suitable solutions. From the three options, alternative three proved to be the best course of action, which fulfills our ethical and social responsibility (IFIP WG 8.1 Working Conference on the Practice of Enterprise Modeling, Sandkuhl, Seigerroth & Stirna, 2012). From the three possible alternatives to address the whistle problem explained above, I recommend the third alternative that involves the company taking its responsibility of reproducing and repackaging the products before shipping them to the mentioned destination. Therefore, the company must incur the extra $100,000 in the third alternative. However, the first alternative might end up costing the company more than $100,000 because of the fines and cost of reproducing the products in case the government learns about that the company produces substandard products intentionally. The second alternative is also tedious because the company cannot be sure of easily getting a foreign market in a country where the products meet the required standards. Considering the ethical requirements in our company, it is not good to willingly supply harmful products to children in any country. This consideration disqualifies option one and two. The best alternative according to my evaluation is therefore option three in which the company will only replace the whistles though it will incur $100,000. The reason I am recommending the third alternative is that it is the only ethical solution to the current problem. The solution might also have a positive impact on the future of the company because if the company continues producing quality products, it will attract more buyers in future; and this will lead to its growth. The company can also avoid legal costs that might affect its income. Alternative three is thus the best as it meets legal requirements and adheres to ethical requirements in an organization, which will increase the integrity of its employees and company in general. This recommendation will improve customer relations as explained above. If the company supplies products of the required standards for the school in South America, it is possible that other schools close to the one that the company is selling the toys to will develop interest in the toys. The neighboring schools with time will make an order for similar goods. This is because of improved customer relations. Option three will also boost customer relations unlike alternative one and two which might lead to the company's unethical acts being put in the media which will scare away customers and reduce its customer relations. It can, therefore, be concluded that the third alternative was recommended as the best because it meets the requirements of the decisions made in an organization. Some of the considerations demanded by Decision-making-solutions.com, (2015), when making a decision for a group are that the decision made must comply with the values and code of ethics of the company. Another requirement is that the decision made should promote good and minimize harm. The third requirement is that a decision made should consider responsibility. The alternative selected must provide the most responsible response. Another requirement is that the decision made should positively impact the rights of individuals and the organizations. The solution or alternative selected should lead to open communication and honesty within the company, and finally it must aim at building the reputation of the company. Alternative three, therefore, meets the above requirements by Decision-making-solutions.com, (2015). Social responsibility requires that an organization should not only concentrate on maximizing their profit but also focus on welfare and interests of the society that they serve. Alternative three, therefore, puts into consideration the welfare of the customers. It demands that it is better for the company to incur $100,000 and produce quality goods than maximizing profits by selling substandard products. However, the company has one more task of coming up with a suitable way of disposing of the whistles. Dumping them carelessly will lead to pollution of air, water and land that will end up affecting a lot of people. This is the best action to take to demonstrate that the company is socially responsible. To ensure that ethical decision making occurs at all levels of the organization, the company can apply the following two actions. One of the actions that the company can embrace is the adoption of the ethical training program within the company. The program can help the company instill a sense of pride. The program can be used to help all employees in the company acquire the knowledge and skills that can help them make ethical decisions. The company can use this program to teach its employee show their decisions can affect the company and consumers. Providing all employees with knowledge about decision making and emphasizing to them the need for ethical decision-making will help them make ethical decisions whenever they are required to do so. Ethical decision-making should be part of the evaluation of the employees. Responsible behaviors should be rewarded and encouraged. The company should also set a hotline that can be used by employees to report unethical cases by fellow employees and protect those who inform on other employees (Sable & Media, 2015). Another way through which the company can ensure that ethical decisions are made by all employees whenever they are required to make a decision by building an ethical action. This involves the creation of an environment that supports ethics in business. The company can do so demonstrating through action that it does not condone unethical behaviors nor tolerate illegal actions. This demonstration should start from the top management to the junior staff. The company can also draft a detailed business ethics code through its human resource management. The code should include enough information on how employees should handle situations in the company that calls for ethical decision-making skills. The copies of the code should be supplied to all employees and efforts should be made to review and revise them annually. The company can finally create the environment by leading by example. The company should hire supervisors and managers who demonstrate a commitment to an ethical working environment. Employees will always follow the lead of their managers or supervisors (Sable et al., 2015). According to Parboteeah et al., (2013), business ethics can help the company in strategic decision-making. The code facilitates professional and managerial decision making that conforms to the ethical criteria of the company. Melé, (2009) also argues the code can guide the company's employees when they are faced with a dilemma. This means that codes can provide a way forward for the employee's ethical judgment when confronted with exceptional situations. Codes can also prevent power abuse by managers and supervisors in the firm (Ingram & Media, 2015). Codes can also favor the reputation of the company. If all employees practice the codes of conduct, the company cannot face any legal trouble, and its image to the customers will remain good. Parboteeah et al., (2013), argues that the codes of conduct also minimizes the fines and other legal costs that the company can incur when it does not follow the codes of conduct set by the government. However, besides having several advantages to the company, Parboteeah et al., (2013), argues that it is difficult for a company to have a serious ethics program because it is costly in terms of both human and capital resources. One of the companies with codes of ethics is the American financial group Inc. the company's code of ethics is well developed with thorough guidelines to its employee's on how they should behave and make ethical decisions. Some of the contents in the company's code of conduct include employee's compliance with the code of conduct, accountability for adherence to the code, conflict of interest, confidentiality and protection and proper use of company assets. Other contents in the code include compliance with the law, antitrust company's media contacts, and general counsel contacts among others. The company's code covers everything required by any similar organization to proper in terms of ethical practices (Afginc.com, 2015).

References Afginc.com, (2015). American Financial Group CG - Code of Ethics. Retrieved 9 June 2015, from http://www.afginc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=89330&p=irol-govconduct Decision-making-solutions.com, (2015). Ethics in Decision Making. Retrieved 9 June 2015, from http://www.decision-making-solutions.com/ethics_in_decision_making.html IFIP WG 8.1 Working Conference on the Practice of Enterprise Modeling, Sandkuhl, K., Seigerroth, U., & Stirna, J. (2012). The practice of enterprise modeling... Berlin: Springer. Ingram, D., & Media, D. (2015). The Advantages of a Code of Ethics in Organizations. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved 9 June 2015, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-code-ethics-organizations-10802.html Melé, D. (2009). Business ethics in action... Basingstoke [England: Palgrave Macmillan. Parboteeah, P., & Cullen, J. B. (2013). Business ethics. New York, NY: Rout ledge. Sable, J., & Media, D. (2015). How to Teach Ethical Decision Making Skills to Employees. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved 9 June 2015, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/teach-ethical-decision-making-skills-employees-23228.html