Essay topic: Reflecting on the concepts in the course, select and research one (1) of the company situations listed below and discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding it. At least one citation for each company is provided to get you started and you may use this citation as one of your sources. It is expected you will use the course required readings plus your own independent research in support of this paper.
Your essay should include the following, organized in your paper using APA headings with logical and smooth transitions.
1) A well-formulated introduction that
identifies the company,
states the company’s ethical dilemma presented in the facts, and
states a thesis statement for the paper that provides the reader a well-conceived approach or practical perspective on the problem presented by the company’s situation. This will demonstrate more than one academic topic is covered.
2) Discuss how the philosophy of economist Milton Friedman’s shareholder or free market ethics may have influenced the leadership of the company; include the concept of corporate social responsibility.
3) Identify and define another ethical framework that the company leadership could have utilized in this situation and explain how this ethical framework would have led to a different result. Explain specifically how the company effectively would have employed this framework.
4) Identify and apply three general legal topics that are discussed in the required readings this term. Do NOT use ethics or the company’s main legal issue. These are to be additional legal issues. For example if you chose Ford, that is a consumer and product liability problem so additional legal topics cannot be consumer and product liability topics or the ethical issues you are addressing. There are many other possibilities — employment, contract, bankruptcy, criminal law, fIP, etc. Fully define the principles you select and analyze their application to your chosen company’s business, issues and circumstances. Include in-text citations to the course materials, as failing to cite your sources will result loss of credit. NOTE: The required readings are listed in the Lessons section for each week under “Required Readings” plus any other sources that may have been assigned during the course.
In addition to the above, study the Rubric for this Assignment. The Rubric is attached to these Assignment instructions, a template for an APA paper, and APA guidelines.
COMPANIES – SELECT ONE (1) OF THESE COMPANIES/SITUATIONS FOR YOUR ESSAY
Ford Motor Company – Pinto car defect – Beginning informational source: The Pinto memo: “It’s cheaper to let them burn!” (2008, October 17). The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved from http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/autos/2008/oct/17/pinto-memo-its-cheaper-let-them-burn/ Additional source: Case study: Ford’s Pinto: Collective welfare versus rights and freedom. (2014, January 22). ethicsworkshop. YouTube. [Video File]. (6:23 minutes)
Length of paper: The exemplary level of the Rubric provides length at 1800-2300 words.
Sources: At least 7 credible sources should support your essay, including at least two new sources from the University library (in addition to the course materials.)
