Business Ethics Mini-Case Analysis

Richard H. G. Field; Carolina Villegas-Galaviz

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Business Ethics Mini-Case Analysis

Richard H. G. Field

University of Alberta, Canada

Carolina Villegas-Galaviz

Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICADE, Madrid, Spain

Volume 18: 2021 pp. 253-260: ABSTRACT

Using the analytic framework of normative logic presented in Fisher, Lovell, and Valero-Silva (2013: 140-141), provided here are five original business ethics mini-cases that may be used to teach and practice case analysis. We have taken the six questions that are used in the analytic framework of normative logic to solve ethical problems and have adapted them to seven steps that can be applied to conflict resolution of mini-cases in class. Then the adapted normative logic model has seven steps: Describe the ‘fundamental needs of humankind’ as they relate to the case, e.g. caring, supporting, reciprocity, fairness, trust; Explain the established norms, values, and laws that can be seen to apply in this case; State in brief the facts of the situation; Examine the network of circumstances that preceded the situation (come to an understanding of how the actor came to this point); Generate at least three alternative positions and actions open to the actor in the case; Speculate on the hypothesized consequences of the different positions or actions the actor in the case may take; and Choose among the alternative positions the actor in the case might take and give your informed and judged reason for making that choice. A suggested answer is provided for one case, which could be reproduced as a class handout for students to examine after having done their own analysis and having discussed the case as a class.