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Ethics Decision Making

In: Business and Management

Submitted By msisonreg
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ETHICS & PRACTICES
Spring 2015
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Maria Sison Assignment 1
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The Seven Steps in Ethical Decision Making

Step 1: Identify the Ethical Dimensions Embedded in the Problem

I work in a meat packing plant and I know that we have policies regarding the quality and safety of the meat that we distribute. As the product control manager, my job is to ensure product safety. With the routine safety test showing that E. Coli is present in a product sample, our product safety has been compromised. What I choose to do next can result to consequences that will affect my position in the company, the company itself, other employees and the whole community. Therefore, an ethical analysis has to be done in order for me to come up with the best possible solution.

Step 2: Collect Relevant Information

I spoke to the “kill floor” superintendent and he said that he would deal with the employee who made a mistake on his own, but is that enough? I know that I should address the bigger issue and threat, which is the danger of distributing products that may possibly have E. Coli.
As a newly hired product control manager, I would like to establish myself as an employee who knows how to do my job not only well, but also right. It is my job to report any findings that may affect our company. Even if what I find is something that can negatively affect the business, I should be transparent and honest in reporting the findings because that what I was hired to do. So given that I have reported my findings to the company, what should be done next? The company now knows that E. Coli was found on a product sample during one of our routine safety tests. Do we address it now? Or do we set it aside and hope that the government health inspectors don’t find out about it? Should we

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