Jasmine Troyer
Principles of Management
Professor Eskew
4 October 2012
Empress Luxury Lines This case study discusses the moral and ethical decision of a computer technician and his supervisor. Kevin, the computer technician, was instructed to clear some electrical wire from underground before the insurance company arrived to assess the damage. He made the decision to refuse the order and took the problem Antonio Melendez. After the story was told Antonio had to make a decision to either sweep the problem under the rug, let Kevin be the one to tell the insurance company or tell the insurance company himself. The decision that he was faced with had huge consequences and small consequences. Part of the decision he had to make even boiled down to what his moral and ethical standings were. 1. In this situation if Antonio were to apply the utilitarian approach he would be focusing solely on the consequences that would arise from the situation. He would have to know that taking this approach he would be putting his own job in jeopardy if he were to take matters completely into his own hands. Not only would it jeopardize his job but whoever was the person to “blow the whistle”. Using this approach he will also need to put into account that the top of the management may simply look over the problem and that there is an extremely low probability that the issue will actually be addressed. If Antonio decides to go with the individualism approach then he will be focusing more on the actual morality of the situation instead of the consequences. Kevin made a good decision by refusing Phil’s orders to dig up the electric wires and tell Antonio about it. So therefore with this approach Antonio will have to either support Kevin 100 percent if he gives him the choice to make the decision to tell the insurance company or tell the insurance company himself no matter what the consequences. Personally I believe that by going with the individualism approach would be Antonio’s best option for the simple fact that even if he were fired for being honest then he would still have a sense of pride about himself for doing the right thing. He had congratulated Kevin on his integrity so I feel that he is a man that wants to be honest and has morals. Since there was that high probability of the problem not even being dealt with then he shouldn’t have a problem telling the truth. Whether or not it gets resolved, the issue is off of his shoulders and he knows that he did the right thing in the long run.

2. If I were in Antonio’s position I would make the decision to tell the insurance company myself because it all boils down to being a moral issue for me. I wouldn’t feel right knowing that the only reason I am not being honest with the insurance company and myself was because I was afraid of losing my job or them simply overlooking the issue. My response to this would be a conventional level of moral development because I am focusing on maintaining social order and Interpersonal relationships. I care about living up to social expectations and I feel that avoiding the situation or sweeping it under the rug isn’t doing that. If I would choose not to say anything myself then I wouldn’t be being honest and dishonesty isn’t following the rules, doing my duty, or respecting the authority of the insurance company. I don’t think that my response is pre conventional because I do not fear the punishment of my actions. My response could be post conventional but I went towards conventional because I am not including the society, it is just my decision.

3. No, for the simple fact that if either of them were fired for doing some ethical than they shouldn’t have to hide that from potential future employers. Reporting the situation is a moral and ethical dilemma and I think that if they would report it then they would be doing the right thing and therefore they wouldn’t have to erase all evidence of ever working for Empress Luxury Lines. The reason for deciding between utilitarian and individualism approach to the situation was to weigh the consequences with one and decide personal beliefs with the other. If Kevin and Antonio would get fired for telling they obviously weren’t worried about the consequences so then they shouldn’t feel the need to hide that they worked there.