Theory essay (Business and Professional Ethics)
Instruction
One essay of 1500 words, excluding references, may be up to 10% over the word
limit
You should use an essay structure, which includes an introduction, body and conclusion, organized into paragraphs. Your conclusion should summarize your essay’s main argument, which should critically evaluate the different ideas your essay covers.
Research quality will be evaluated on both the quality of sources and how well these sources are applied to the case. Each question includes at least one academic source you must incorporate in your answer. As a guide, you should refer to two to five additional sources in total, and at least half should come from peer-reviewed academic journals., Google Scholar.
Referencing
Ensure you reference all sources you use in your assignment, including online sources. Direct quotes should be included in quote marks in addition to being referenced. You should use the APA 7th referencing system.
Questions
Choose ONE of the following questions for your essay. To answer this question your own research. You must also include at least one of the academic articles each question asks you to consider.
Question 1
In 2019, former Apple contractor Thomas le Bonniec went public over claims that Apple was recording its clients’ details and conversations without consent:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/20/apple-whistleblower-goes-public- over-lack-of-action
Critically assess under what circumstances le Bonniec was ethically permitted or obligated to publicly report Apple’s actions in this case. Your answer should begin by explaining how De George would answer these questions, including the reasons he would give for his position. Then, with reference to at least one major ethics theory (utilitarian, Kant or virtue ethics), critically assess De George’s view. Conclude with a statement of your own view on whether whistleblowing was either ethically acceptable or required in this case. Your answer should draw on relevant academic theory and research, including at least one of the following articles:
Hoffman, W.M. (2015). The Morality of Whistleblowing: A Commentary on Richard
T. De George. Journal of Business Ethics 127(4), pp. 771-781.
Bouville, M. (2007). Whistle-Blowing and Morality. Journal of Business Ethics, 81, 579–585.
Question 2
The COVID19 pandemic was a growth period for home delivery services like Menulog and Doordash but has also intensified ethical criticisms of how these companies treat workers:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/25/home-food-delivery-what-is-the- most-ethical-way-to-order-in
Critically assess whether the home delivery companies discussed in this article meet their ethical obligations to workers. Your answer should begin by explaining how Milton Friedman would answer this question. Then consider criticisms that one or more of the Critical Theorists discussed. (e.g(Kantian or Utilitarian) “Critical Theory: Systemic ethics issues with market societies o e.g. Max Horkheimer, Herbert Marcuse, Jürgen Habermas, Axel Honneth”.) might make of Friedman’s views. Analyse which perspective you find most convincing and explain why. Your answer should draw on relevant academic theory and research, including at least one of the following academic articles:
Ahsan, M. (2020). Entrepreneurship and Ethics in the Sharing Economy: A Critical Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 161, 19–33.
Chai, S & Scully, M.A (2019). It’s About Distributing Rather than Sharing: Using Labor Process Theory to Probe the “Sharing” Economy. Journal of Business Ethics, 159, 943–960.
Wolff, J. (2003). Why Read Marx Today? Oxford University Press, Oxford. Ch 1, 28- 40 [available via Leganto].
