Case

(WORD COUNT: 1326 WORDS, KINDLY NOTE THAT, THE WORD COUNT DOESN’T INCLUDE THE COVER PAGE, INDEX PAGE AND THE REFERENCE PAGE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT PAPER)

MODULE: BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT ETHICS: MD4033 STUDENT NAME AND ID: ASHUTOSH GHOSH: S20462422

SR. NO. 1

INDEX
Does the closing of a plant when it ceases to be profitable violate the “moral minimum”? Who are the affected stakeholders, and how should their

PAGE NO. 3

2

interests be considered? Who should take primary responsibility for those laid off or

5

3

terminated because of a plant closing?

7

4

REFERENCES

9

2

MODULE: BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT ETHICS: MD4033 STUDENT NAME AND ID: ASHUTOSH GHOSH: S20462422

Does the closing of a plant when it ceases to be profitable violate the “moral minimum”?

Simon, Powers and Gunnemann states that corporate responsibility includes the concept of, “everyone has „moral minimum‟ obligation of not to impose social injury”, there are two major points in explaining the difference, one is “affirmative duties”, that is actively do something good and the other is “negative injunction”, that is nothing to do bad (Simon, Powers, & Gunnemann, 1997, p. 62). Robbery could be an example, where a “negative injunction” could be that one person should not steal anything from the other whereas the “affirmative duty” could be the obligation made by the bystander when the action takes place to stop the robbery. According to the Utilitarian theory, the worth moral actions or practices is determined solely by the related consequences where they choose the action which minimizes the harms to its best and maximized the benefits (Simon, Powers, & Gunnemann, 1997, p. 21). According to the authors the moral minimum of the business is to only follow the “negative injunction” against causing harm to the society. A business may take “affirmative action” to stop social harm, and still this action would not be considered in the „moral minimum‟, implying that

References: Beauchamp, T. L., & Bowie, N. E. (1997). Morality and Ethical Theory. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical Theory and Business (p. 1). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Beauchamp, T. L., & Bowie, N. E. (1997). Utilitarian Theories. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical Theory and Business (p. 21). New Jersey: Pentice Hall. Beauchamp, T. L., & Bowie, N. E. (1997). Which Perspective is Better? In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical theory and Business (p. 55). New Jersey: Pentice Hall. Freeman, R. E. (1997). A Stakeholder Theory of the Modern Corporation. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethicall Theory and Business (p. 66). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Friedman, M. (1997). The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profit. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical Theory and Business (p. 56). New Jersey: Pentice hall. Kant, I. (1997). Normative Ethical Theory. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical Theory and Business (pp. 28-29). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Simon, J. G., Powers, C. W., & Gunnemann, J. P. (1997). Utilitarian Theories. In T. L. Beauchamp, & N. E. Bowie, Ethical Theory and Business (p. 21). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. WARN, US Department of Labour. (2011, 03 05). Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act Compliance Assistance Materials. Retrieved 03 05, 2011, from www.dol.gov: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/layoffs.htm 9