THREE LEVELS

OF MORAL
DILEMMAS
1. Individual Level Moral Dilemmas:
Individual level moral dilemmas involve
ethical decisions faced by a single
person. These dilemmas often revolve
around personal values, beliefs, and
individual responsibilities.
Example for BSBA field: An employee discovers
that a colleague is involved in fraudulent activities
to meet sales targets. The dilemma is whether the
individual should report the colleague to the
higher authorities, risking their relationship and
potential consequences for the colleague's career.
Example for Hospitality Management field:
A hotel manager is aware that some staff
members are providing special services to
certain customers in exchange for tips. The
manager faces a moral dilemma in deciding
whether to turn a blind eye to maintain a
positive atmosphere or take action against
the unethical behavior.
2. Organizational Level Moral
Dilemmas:
Organizational level moral dilemmas
involve ethical challenges that affect an
entire business, medical institution, or
public sector entity. These dilemmas
often relate to the overall values and
culture of the organization.
Example for BSBA field: A company faces
a decision on whether to outsource
production to a low-wage country to reduce
costs, potentially leading to job losses for
local employees. The dilemma lies in
balancing financial gains with social
responsibility and loyalty to existing
employees.
Example for Hospitality Management field:
A restaurant is aware that some suppliers are
providing substandard ingredients at a lower
cost. The dilemma is whether the restaurant
should continue using these suppliers to
maximize profits or switch to higher quality,
ethically sourced ingredients even if it
results in increased expenses.
3. Structural Level Moral Dilemmas:
Structural level moral dilemmas involve
ethical challenges embedded in the
broader network of institutions,
policies, and systemic issues that
influence decision-making.
Example for BSBA field: A multinational
corporation faces a moral dilemma in
choosing between complying with labor
laws in one country, which might increase
production costs, or exploiting lax
regulations in another country, potentially
violating human rights and fair labor
practices.
Example for Hospitality Management field:
An international hotel chain faces a
structural dilemma regarding its
environmental impact. The company must
decide whether to invest in sustainable
practices and eco-friendly initiatives,
potentially incurring higher initial costs, or
continue with conventional methods that
may harm the environment in the long run.
 IDENTIFYING
THE LEVEL OF
MORAL DILEMMA
1. An employee discovers that a colleague
is consistently taking credit for their ideas
during team meetings. The dilemma is
whether the individual should confront the
colleague directly, risking a strained working
relationship, or remain silent to avoid
potential conflicts.
 2. A hotel chain is considering implementing
cost-cutting measures that may lead to a
reduction in the quality of guest services,
potentially affecting the overall customer
experience. The dilemma is whether the
organization should prioritize short-term
financial gains over maintaining its reputation
for excellent service.
 3.An entire city's tourism industry faces a
structural dilemma when deciding whether to
promote high-end luxury tourism, potentially
displacing local residents and altering the city's
cultural fabric, or focusing on sustainable and
community-friendly tourism, even if it means
attracting fewer high-spending visitors.
4.
A marketing professional discovers that their
company is manipulating customer reviews
online to boost product ratings. The dilemma is
whether the individual should remain silent to
keep their job or report the unethical practice,
risking potential retaliation.
 5. An entire tourism region faces a structural
dilemma when deciding whether to exploit
natural resources for tourism development,
potentially harming the local ecosystem, or
adopting sustainable practices that may limit
economic growth in the short term but preserve
the environment for future generations.
6. A financial industry regulator grapples with
the structural dilemma of implementing
stringent regulations to prevent financial
misconduct, potentially stifling innovation and
economic growth, or maintaining a more
relaxed regulatory environment, risking
increased instances of fraud and market
instability.
 7. A manufacturing company is faced with a
decision to continue using environmentally
harmful production methods to meet high
market demand or invest in eco-friendly
technology that might initially reduce profits.
The dilemma involves balancing environmental
responsibility with financial considerations.
8.
An industry association is confronted with a
structural dilemma when deciding whether to
lobby for lax environmental regulations that
benefit member companies in the short term or
advocate for stricter regulations to promote
sustainable practices in the long term.
9. A sales representative discovers that a
competitor's confidential product information
has been accidentally shared with their
company. The dilemma is whether the
individual should use this information to gain a
competitive advantage or report the mistake,
potentially damaging the relationship with the
competitor.
10. A restaurant chain is considering using
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in
their food to lower costs and increase
profitability. The dilemma involves weighing
the financial benefits against potential health
and ethical concerns raised by using GMOs.