DILEMMA and ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

ETHICS 101 Midterm Paper

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Directions:
This is our MAJOR PAPER for the midterm. You are ask to present a dilemma and apply
the 7-steps Model for Ethical Decision-making shared by Professor Antonette Palma
Angeles in the Magisterial Lectures entitled, Ethical Decision-making. Below is a
sample/suggested flow and MATRIX where you can show your answer (or consult the
video of Prof. Antonette Palma-Angeles). The deadline of submission is on 27 March
2023.

1. Present your case/story depicting a dilemma.

Shiela, a newly hired administrative assistant found out that her managing
director/boss, Mr. Pascual has been laundering money, it violates the mission and vision
of the company as well as her principle as an individual because she knew that it is a
wrong thing to do and her conscience couldn't take it, she had to decide whether or
not to report him to the higher authorities.

GATHER THE FACTS:

● Mr. Pascual has been laundering money for 3 years without the knowledge of his
employees as well as the higher authorities.
● Due to Mr. Pascual’s tenure at work, everyone trusts him in doing his job
considering the position he currently holds.
● Sheila is an excellent and dedicated employee who is a perfect fit for her job
due to the skills and ethical principles she has.

2. Enumerate the STAKEHOLDERS and what are their INTERESTS or what are at stake?
STAKEHOLDER INTEREST/STAKE

Company/Organization/Higher ● Policies and Regulations

Authorities ● Work ethics
● Professionalism

Mr. Pascual ● Job

● Financial position
● Values as a managing director
● Work-employee relationship
3. Articulate the dilemma.

Respect Mr. Pascual’s way of earning and doing work VS Keep quiet and conceal Mr.
Pascual’s wrongdoings VS Discuss with Mr. Pascual about what I found out and ask him
politely to turn himself in and admit to his crime VS Report Mr. Pascual directly to the
higher authorities and let them decide what will be the consequence for Mr. Pascual

4. Table of Alternatives, Values/Principles and Consequences

LIST OF ALTERNATIVES VALUES/PRINCIPLES CONSEQUENCES

1. Respect Mr. Pascual’s Autonomy Company

way of earning and + It will lose an employee
doing work. who causes a bad effect
and becomes an obstacle
to the company's
development. It will help
the company to find an
employee who has loyalty
and love for work and the
company.
-It will be unfair to other
employees, and
particularly to the owner
of the company, if we let
what Mr. Pascual is doing
slide without any
punishment.

Mr. Pascual
+ He has his own decisions
on the ways in which his
progress in life can be
made easier through hard
work, perseverance, and
strategy.
- Self-deception in labor
practices as an employee
with a position is unfair to
fellow employees.
2. Stay quiet and cover up Respect Company
Mr. Pascual's crime. Open-mindedness + The solidarity and trust
of the company and co-
workers will continue to
exist.
- May feel sense of
responsibility and guilt
towards
co-workers and company.

Mr. Pascual
+ Will continue to exhibit
improper behaviour and
intentions in the company.
-There will be a poor work
record that will make it
difficult to find a new job
because of the trust that
has been broken and the
reluctance and wonder of
a real acquaintance.

3. Talk to Mr. Pascual Integrity Company

about what I found out, Work ethics + Keep a positive
and kindly ask him to relationship with the
come forward and President.
confess to the crime he - Lost an employee. Oblige
committed. to find a replacement for
director’s position.

Mr. Pascual
+ He will have the
opportunity to correct his
mistake, further prove his
own ability, talent,
intelligence, skillful work,
love for work, and do so
for the sake of the
company.
- Honesty, sincerity, and
 loyalty to the company
may be lost.

4. Directly inform the Authority Company

higher-ups about Mr.
Pascual and let them
determine what action
to take against him.
Ethics Reliability + Always check every
business-related activities
for better management.
-Poor work ethics occurs
due to management
negligence.

Mr. Pascual
+ learn by his mistakes.
- Possibility of getting
fired.

5. The DECISION:

Due to the fact that Mr. Pascual has been laundering money for 3 years without
the knowledge of his employees, the best course of action to take is for Shiela to
directly inform the higher-ups about Mr. Pascual`s dishonest behavior and let them
decide what action to take against him. With the amount of time Mr. Pascual has been
laundering money it shows that he does not have remorse for the crime he is
continuously doing and it might get worse if proper measures and the right authority
will not be involved.

6. References:

Magisterial Lectures | Antonette Palma-Angeles PhD - Tools for Ethical Decision Making.
(n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tma1GDcefeQ.