Utilitarian Approach to Safety Discussion Q 2 Which ethical perspective best describes PPI’s approach to safety issues? Tom Griffin, the owner of Perfect

Utilitarian Approach to Safety Discussion Q 2 Which ethical perspective best describes PPI’s approach to safety issues?

Tom Griffin, the owner of Perfect Plastics Incorporated (PPI) is demonstrating servant leadership using “caring principles” to focus on the employees’ “followers’” need to work in a safe environment. (Northouse, P. 2019 p. 4). Mr. Griffin has directed the attention of the employee’s “followers” to the common goal of maintaining an above-average safe workplace. The values of PPI are to maintain an orderly, efficient and clean workplace. Mr. Griffin is demonstrating behavior consistent with Kohlberg’s stage 5 “Social Contract and Individual Rights” moral development. His moral reasoning is based on the internalized universal principle of justice that has been applied to everyone at PPI. (p. 336-338) To further his moral value that an orderly, efficient and clean workplace creates a safe work environment; Mr. Griffin has an annual safety audit conducted by outside entities. This approach also incorporates Burns ethical approach which states that “it is the responsibility of the leader to help followers’ assess their own values and need in order to raise them to a higher level of functioning, to a level that will stress values such as liberty, justice, and equality” (p. 343). PPI employees have responded positively to the use of outside auditors, reflecting in leadership’s moral ability to produce change within their employees.

Would you say PPI takes a utilitarian, duty, or virtue-based approach?

PPI has a utilitarian approach to safety, which is the belief that employees need to behave in a way that creates the safest work environment possible for the greater good of all employees. It is clear that Mr. Griffin’s leadership builds the community at the company and inspires the employees to meet a common goal. Ethical leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. (p.351) Even though PPI has a good safety record, they continue to bring in outside auditors and act on any concerns raised by the auditors, so the overall safety improves each year.

Q 3 Regarding safety issues, how does management see its responsibilities toward its employees?

PPI management sees its responsibilities towards the employees in an altruistic view. This view suggests that actions are moral if their primary purpose is to promote the best interest of others. Even if this practice could be detrimental to the company’s ability to defend its self in a lawsuit. (p.340) Mr. Griffin takes great pride in the safety record and work environment at PPI. He continues to bring in outside auditors from the Insurance Industry and OSHA to conduct audits annually. The attorneys at PPI have advised Mr. Griffin that the audits have the potential to strengthen a plaintiff’s case against the company involving safety issues. Mr. Griffin places the interest of the employees above his own interest in the company of avoiding a possible costly lawsuit. His primary concern is for the safety of the employees and the auditors continue to find ways to improve the safety of employees each year.

How do the attorneys see their responsibilities toward PPI?

The role of PPI attorney is to reduce potential legal risks and protect the company’s interest. The attorneys are operating at Kohlberg’s stage 4 “Maintaining the Social Order” At this stage, moral decisions are based on the concern for society as a whole. In order for society to function, it is important that people obey the laws and respect authority. (p. 338) The attorneys want to follow the safety laws, but minimize the company’s exposure to a plaintiff successfully bring legal action against PPI.

References

Northouse, P.G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice (8th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

sample response

I liked your post. I agree with your statement that Adam’s lack of experience in leading large teams, understanding the complex nature of the base, and the human factor led to his failure. I also agree that Adams failed in the formulation of multiple plans to consider actions that may be taken outside of the scope of his control, failed to think creatively and use input from other stakeholders in the process, and executed his own plan without wisdom or sense making for those it would impact. Adams was aware of the impact of his decisions and the impact of staff shortages. Moral intent involves the extent of the issue-related moral imperative (Jones, 1991). Adams recognized the moral issue and established the moral intent of his decisions on staff shortages and its impact on his subordinates. However, I believe that Adams failed in the establishment of moral behavior after letting the subordinates bear the impact of his weakness while he was aware of the impact of the issue at hand, staffing shortage. Instead of comprehending the failures and making ethical decisions, Adams left the burden on the subordinates due to his personal attributes. I anticipate for further discussions.

Sincerely,

References

Jones, T. M. (1991). Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: An issue-contingent model. Academy of Management Review, 16(2), 366-395.