Case Analysis: Business Ethics in the Work Place
CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT: CHAPTER ONE
By
David F. Dudley
Week #1
January 16, 2009
CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT: CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
This document presents my opinions about the cases presented in (Boatright, R.,
John (2003). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.)
and articles from (Ambrose, John (2009, January 16). My Own Opinion, The Washington
Case#1.1: Johnson & Johnson: The Tylenol Crisis
This case study was a powerful example to illustrate the presence of ethics within the
business environment today and the impacts they can have on not just shareholder’s
earnings, but on the public as a whole. First, we were presented with a shocking
situation. Seven people had died in January of 1982 from taking cyanide-laced capsules
of Extra-Strength Tylenol. The news made national headlines, and the CEO of Johnson
& Johnson, James Burke had to make some swift decisions about how the company
was going to handle this problem. What added insult to injury, was that Extra-Strength
Tylenol provided Johnson & Johnson with a large piece of the company’s total profits
which amounted to seventeen percent. The company was now in risk of loosing this
income at the hands of someone sabotaging their product line and the public was in
danger if they consumed it. The company had to find out what the cause was and how
to stop it. Had James Burke not acted swiftly, more people were at risk of being harmed
and Johnson & Johnson could be looking at disastrous failure. By adhering to the
Company Credo and pulling the product, he determined that the brand name could be
saved if Johnson & Johnson restored public confidence by doing what was in the best
interest for the public. This was the ethical decision that saved lives and the company.
Case #1.2. The Sales Rep
The case study titled “The Sales Rep” presents us with an interesting dilemma that forces
one to think about how they
By
David F. Dudley
Week #1
January 16, 2009
CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT: CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
This document presents my opinions about the cases presented in (Boatright, R.,
John (2003). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.)
and articles from (Ambrose, John (2009, January 16). My Own Opinion, The Washington
Case#1.1: Johnson & Johnson: The Tylenol Crisis
This case study was a powerful example to illustrate the presence of ethics within the
business environment today and the impacts they can have on not just shareholder’s
earnings, but on the public as a whole. First, we were presented with a shocking
situation. Seven people had died in January of 1982 from taking cyanide-laced capsules
of Extra-Strength Tylenol. The news made national headlines, and the CEO of Johnson
& Johnson, James Burke had to make some swift decisions about how the company
was going to handle this problem. What added insult to injury, was that Extra-Strength
Tylenol provided Johnson & Johnson with a large piece of the company’s total profits
which amounted to seventeen percent. The company was now in risk of loosing this
income at the hands of someone sabotaging their product line and the public was in
danger if they consumed it. The company had to find out what the cause was and how
to stop it. Had James Burke not acted swiftly, more people were at risk of being harmed
and Johnson & Johnson could be looking at disastrous failure. By adhering to the
Company Credo and pulling the product, he determined that the brand name could be
saved if Johnson & Johnson restored public confidence by doing what was in the best
interest for the public. This was the ethical decision that saved lives and the company.
Case #1.2. The Sales Rep
The case study titled “The Sales Rep” presents us with an interesting dilemma that forces
one to think about how they