Reference no: EM133891887 , Length: word count:1500

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

You are required to produce a 1,500-word individual report critically evaluating a real-world ethical dilemma from a contemporary business context. Your analysis should apply ethical theories, consider the professional and moral responsibilities of key actors, and explore the broader economic system in which the issue occurred.

This assessment includes the optional use of Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot) as a thinking and writing assistant. You must identify any AI usage, critically reflect on it, and remain the primary author and evaluator of your work.

Your report should follow the structure and guidance below:

1. Select a Real-World Ethical Dilemma (Introduction)
Choose a specific, well-documented ethical issue faced by a business or organisation in the past 5 years. The case should be drawn from credible sources (e.g., academic articles, reputable news media, case studies). Examples include:
Data Privacy Violations - e.g., misuse of consumer data (Meta/Cambridge Analytica).
Greenwashing - e.g., false environmental claims by fashion or energy companies.
Labor Exploitation - e.g., unsafe working conditions in manufacturing or gig work.
Workplace Harassment or Discrimination - e.g., gender or racial bias in hiring, pay, or promotion.
Corporate Tax Avoidance - e.g., use of offshore structures to minimise tax.
Briefly introduce the case (1-2 paragraphs), providing background on the company and outlining the nature of the ethical issue.
Optional AI Use: You may use AI tools to brainstorm relevant case studies or help outline your case. Any AI- assisted content must be reviewed, validated, and referenced in your appendix.

2. Describe the Case and Identify Stakeholders
Explain the context of the dilemma in more detail, focusing on:
Who are the key stakeholders?
(e.g., employees, consumers, shareholders, suppliers, the broader community, regulators)
What are the competing interests or values at play? Get academic success with expert online assignment help for university students.
Why is this considered an ethical dilemma, rather than merely a legal or business issue? Use diagrams (e.g., stakeholder maps) if helpful.

3. Apply Three Ethical Theories to Analyse the Issue
Demonstrate your ability to analyse the situation through three distinct ethical frameworks:
One Consequentialist Theory
Choose either:
Utilitarianism - focus on outcomes: Who is harmed or benefited? What produces the greatest good for the greatest number?

Egoism - focus on long-term self-interest of the agent or organisation.
Explain how this theory would interpret the situation and whether it would approve or condemn the actions taken.
One Non-Consequentialist Theory
Choose either:
Kantian Ethics - focus on duty, intention, and moral rules (e.g., the categorical imperative).
Rights-Based Ethics - focus on human or legal rights (e.g., the right to privacy, dignity, or fair treatment).
Describe whether the company respected or violated moral duties and the intrinsic rights of stakeholders.
One Character or Relationship-Based Theory
Choose either:
Virtue Ethics - consider the moral character of the decision-makers; what virtues (or vices) are demonstrated?
Ethic of Care - focus on relational duties, empathy, and responsiveness to vulnerable stakeholders. Compare the insights and conclusions each theory brings. Where do they agree or conflict? Which theory offers the most compelling lens in this case?

Optional AI Use: AI may help summarise theoretical definitions or generate examples, but you must write the analytical content yourself. Over-reliance or direct copying of AI outputs without reflection will be penalised.

4. Assess the Role of the Moral Agent
Identify the moral agent(s) in the case - this may be an individual decision-maker, a board of directors, or the organisation itself.
Critically assess:
What moral or professional responsibilities did the agent have?
Were these responsibilities fulfilled or neglected?
Link your analysis to relevant professional codes of conduct (e.g., CPA, ACS, AMA, IESBA) where applicable.

Reflect on accountability and consequences.

5. Discuss the Economic System and Context

Situate the dilemma within the broader economic framework, drawing from your understanding of capitalism and its critiques (Module 3):

How did the business's operating environment (e.g., profit motives, competitive pressures, shareholder expectations) shape or influence the dilemma?

Could a different economic approach (e.g., stakeholder capitalism, cooperative models, or principles from socialism) have led to different outcomes?

Consider issues of power, inequality, market failure, or regulatory capture if relevant. This section should demonstrate both applied and theoretical understanding.

Conclude with a Reasoned Ethical Judgment

End your report with a clear, evidence-based conclusion that answers:

What was the ethically preferable course of action?

How should the moral agent have acted?

What lessons can be drawn from this case to guide future ethical decision-making? Justify your conclusions using the theories and frameworks discussed.