Read the case study and answer the two questions that follow:

Jenny, a university student studying public relations, accepted an internship position in

the fundraising department at Casa Tia Maria.* Casa Tia Maria is a non-profit
organization in the United States that provides shelter for Central American immigrants
while they look for permanent housing and employment. In addition to shelter, Casa Tia
Maria provides food, clothing, and English classes. Most immigrants stay at the shelter
for several months before securing permanent housing.

After Jenny had worked at Casa Tia Maria for two weeks, Mary, the director of
development, asked Jenny to accompany her to a fundraising dinner at a luxurious
downtown hotel. Many wealthy and influential individuals were in attendance. After most
of the guests had left, Mary and Jenny were approached by Robert, a Texas oil baron
and one of the state’s biggest philanthropists. Robert was known to donate to almost
any cause as long as he found it to be what he considered “morally sound” and to the
benefit of “hard-working Americans.”

Mary and Robert talked for a few minutes about Casa Tia Maria and its specific needs.
Jenny noticed, however, that most of Mary’s answers to Robert’s questions about the
shelter’s clients were vague. When Robert said that he was happy to lend a hand to any
poor American citizen, Jenny knew he clearly did not understand that immigrants, who
were not U.S. citizens, were the shelter’s clientele. Mary said nothing to correct Robert’s
misperception.

Robert pulled a checkbook out of his jacket and wrote a substantial check. As he
handed it to Mary, he said, “I am so pleased to be able to help hard-working
Americans.” He then turned quickly and walked away.

*This case study is based on actual experiences of a university student. Names and situations
have been changed, but the case study reflects the key ethical dilemmas the student faced.

Source: https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/case-study/full-disclosure-manipulating-donors

As you prepare yourself to answer the questions, be reminded by this rubric:

Content (C): Are all the questions answered? Is it well substantiated with relevant
explanation?

Depth (D): Is there evidence of understanding? Is there clear insight and conveyed a
lingering thought or thought-provoking message?

Organization (O): How was the manner of writing? Is there evidence of sound
preparation and cohesiveness of output?
Name: ___Dela Cruz, Ria Divine T._________ Course Code: ___ETH 8-10____

1. If Jenny chooses to be blind, what cognitive errors apply to her case? Choose
from among the 6 COGNITIVE ERRORS only those which apply to her case. Write
a well-thought-out explanation.

Write your answer here:

Tangible and Abstract

- The only cognitive error I considered in this narrative is tangible and
abstract. The narrative did not clearly state that the organization badly
needed funds, but Jenny's actions seemed to imply that she considered
the money Robert would give because it would be a waste if they didn't
get that help for the organization. I also noticed that it was Robert who
approached Jenny and Mary after most people had left the fundraising
dinner. This indicates that Robert alone is willing to donate to their
organization, so it would be a shame if they didn't receive the help he
would provide. With that in mind, it shows that they see the positive
impact of Robert's financial support more than the consequence of not
being honest about their organization. She becomes blind to the
negative consequences of her decision.

2. Still on Jenny's POV, choose ONE of the TWO soc and org factors which you
assessed as applicable to her situation. (1) Obedience to Authority and (2)
Conformity Bias. Write a well-thought-out explanation.

Write your answer here:

Considering Jenny's perspective, if she opts to turn a blind eye, I believe that
obedience to authority is the most relevant concept between the social and
organizational pressures she faces. This is because there is no organizational pressure
or a large group of people urging Jenny to behave unethically. From what I gathered in
the narrative, Jenny does not need to feel that her ethical beliefs are different from others
because it is primarily Mary's authority that influences her decisions, given that Mary is
the director of the organization. Jenny's action of not correcting Robert's misperception
indicates that she follows what Mary wants to happen. Based on the video we watched
defining what obedience to authority is, it describes our tendency to please authority
figures and consciously or subconsciously subordinate the goal of acting ethically. In this
scenario, even though Jenny recognized the unethical nature of Mary's actions, she
chose to remain silent and feigned ignorance, aligning herself with Mary whom she
perceives as an authority figure.