26.4. Approaches to Ethical Decision-Making

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does the Utilitarian approach focus on?

   Hint

   Think about the outcomes or the consequences of actions.

2. 2.

   Name one characteristic of the Rights-Based approach.

   Hint

   What should businesses prioritize regarding stakeholders?

3. 3.

   What is the main focus of the Utilitarian approach?

   • Individual rights
   • Greatest good for the greatest number
   • Fair treatment

   Hint

   Think about the consequences of actions taken for the majority.

4. 4.

   True or False: The Justice approach focuses solely on the outcomes of decisions.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider what justice means in the context of business ethics.

5. 5.

   Consider a scenario where a new law requires reducing emissions significantly. A business can either invest heavily in technology that costs much or maintain current practices causing harm. Analyze this situation using the four ethical approaches.

   Hint

   Think about the consequences of each action and what values are at stake.

6. 6.

   Imagine a company must decide whether to disclose a flaw in its product. Perform an ethical analysis from the four approaches.

   Hint

   Consider how each approach influences the overall decision.