Kenneth Udut*********** Chapter 5 lecture questions********
*********** March 13, 2002 Baby Space Heater: XYZ Corp is
not being socially responsive, for while the heater passes
government standards, meeting its social obligation, it is not
socially responsive, for baby space heaters that are more likely
to cause fires than other competitors will not be seen as
favorable to the public. I would ask for modifications to be
made to the spaceheater so that, within a certain profit margin,
and a certain margin of safety to match the competitors, it
could be produced. Managers need to use the utilitarian view
of ethics as a motivator or a *push*, especially in quickly
changing situations, but temper this view with the rights view
of ethics. I would prefer it if managers used the rights view of
ethics FIRST, but utilitarian, seems to be the rule of thumb, at
least at my company. But then again, the first-level managers,
while verbally espousing the utilitarian views of their managers
in public, will, in private, and in little subtle decisions here
and there that greatly affect the operatives, actually espouse a
rights view of ethics!
