University of Maryland Ethics Issues Paper Purpose: In the first assignment, you have the opportunity to see how ethics can play out in a real world scenar

University of Maryland Ethics Issues Paper Purpose: In the first assignment, you have the opportunity to see how ethics can play out in a real world scenario. You will read the case scenario and answers the questions in a narrative format. Use headings for each question. Headings are not the question. You are required to use the course material to support your reasoning and the conclusions made.

For this project, you are required to use the case scenario facts and the course material. External sources are not permitted. You are not researching on the Internet or using resources from outside the course. You are expected to answer the requirements identified below showing the connection between the case scenario facts and the course material.

Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing).

here are the courses materials needed and please quote with page number and paragraph, using APA FORMAT.

The Business Ethics Workshop (2012) Washington, DC: The Saylor Foundation

Chapter 1: What Is Business Ethics? (pages 4-32)

Ethical Issues, Ethical Dilemmas, & Legal Issues

Theme 2: Why Ethics Matters?

Culture: The Key to Corporate Governance
Corporate culture: The second ingredient in a world-class ethics and compliance program
The Firm’s Stakeholders

The Business Ethics Workshop (2012) Washington, DC: The Saylor Foundation

Chapter 3: Theories of Consequence Ethics: Traditional Tools for Making Decisions in Business When the Ends Justify the Means (pages 91-125)
Utilitarianism

The Business Ethics Workshop (2012) Washington, DC: The Saylor Foundation

Chapter 4: Theories Responding to the Challenge of Cultural Relativism (pages 137-176)
Aristotle & Virtue Theory
Kantian Ethics in a Nutshell: The Moral Philosophy of Immanuel Kant

Theme 2: Ethical Issues Surrounding Banking & Investment Activity

The two-year Wells Fargo horror story just won’t end
Tippee Insider Trading after Newman and Salman : Why Knowledge Is Not Always Your
U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Standards for “Tippee” Insider Trading Liability
60 Minutes Flash Boys – High Frequency Trading
Socially-Responsible Investing for Long Term Safety and Returns: Tom Van Dyck at TEDxNewWallStreet
Why Creating Wealth Is Not Exploitative
What’s in a Name? Regulation Best Interest v. Fiduciary

Theme 1: Safety/Civility

Your Person

OSHA’s Wall of Shame: Agency Targets ‘Severe Violators’
The Top 10 Bizarre Workers’ Compensation Cases for 2015

Your Psyche

Kareem Hunt faces more than baseline six-game suspension
The silent killer of workplace happiness, productivity, and health is a lack of basic civility
Chris Porath – “Mastering Civility: A Manifesto in the Workplace,” WJLA Interview

Your Money

Thinking About Using Payroll Debit Cards? Read This First
New Overtime Rules Suspended for Now
Are ESOPs Good Retirement Plans?

Theme 2: Freedom From Discrimination

Illegal Discrimination

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Supreme Court: A Legal Analysis of Young v. U nited Parcel S ervice
Legal discrimination in four letters: BFOQ
The strange loophole that lets Hooters hire only female servers
Is it okay to hire cooks to match the cuisine? (part I)
Resources Legal Alerts Newsletters Articles Blogs Mobile Apps Subject-Matter Booklets State Law Guides Newsletter PDF EEOC Settles Beef With Restaurant

Legal Discrimination

The Hidden Obstacle to Great Corporate Culture: Unconscious Bias
Former Hooters Waitress Awarded $250,000 in Racial Discrimination Case
Lifestyle Discrimination: Is it Legal?
8 Ways Employers Can Discriminate Against Workers – Legally
Anne Arundel Medical Center Won’t Hire Smokers In The Future
Pay Transparency Is The Solution To The Pay Gap: Here’s One Company’s Success Story
If a Law Bars Asking Your Past Salary, Does It Help or Hurt?
Employers Must Use Caution When Basing Pay Decisions On Prior Salary History
Schumpeter: ESOP – When Workers Are Owners
Employee Rights When Working for Multinational Employers
EU to push for 40% quota for women on company boards
EU workplace headscarf ban ‘can be legal’, says ECJ Purpose: In the first assignment, you have the opportunity to see how ethics can
play out in a real-world scenario. You will read the case scenario and answers the
questions in a narrative format. Use headings for each question. Headings are not
the question. You are required to use the course material to support your reasoning
and the conclusions made.
Outcomes met by completing this project:
1. identify ethical issues that arise in domestic and global business environments
using an understanding of ethical concepts and of legal and business principles
Case Scenario:
Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) that supplies electricity and natural gas
to 16 million people, owns the transmission lines attributed to causing
the November 2018 California “Camp Fire” that killed 85 people and
destroyed thousands of acres of land including wildlife and the town of Paradise,
California. Facing more than $30 billion in liability costs, the company has filed for
bankruptcy protection.
Recent investigations including documents obtained under the Freedom of
Information Act, reveals disturbing historical facts about the company’s knowledge
and management of its infrastructure. The information shows that the company knew
of 49 steel towers needing replacement long before the November fire (WSJ,
2019). Built in the early 1900s, much of PG&E’s original equipment remained in
service including towers with a life expectancy of 65 years but kept in operation up to
108 years (WSJ, 2019). More than 2500 towers in the system were installed in the
1900s and 1910s, and an additional 6900 towers were kept in operation without
knowing their age (WSJ, 2019).
According to Federal Regulatory findings PG&E repeatedly delayed upgrades to the
older equipment, opting instead to spend billions on projects like sub-station
upgrades. California’s rules for electrical transmission are a simple three sentences
stating that each utility company must come up with its own procedures and follow
them.
The danger was exacerbated in 2013 when historic drought dried up California
land. In 2017 the company acknowledged in its internal documents that a plan was
needed to prevent structural failure and ground fires. State officials concluded that
equipment failure on the Caribou-Palermo line, built in 1921 was the cause of the
deadly California fire.
According to an attorney representing victims in a lawsuit against PG&E, the
company spent money from customers to boost corporate profits and compensation,
rather than infrastructure maintenance and safety (CNBC, 2018).
The lawyer further stated that while other utilities routinely shut power lines down
when windy conditions prevailed, PG&E’s pattern was to remain in service. He
attributed this to management bonuses that were tied to customer complaints, rather
than safety adherence (CNBC, 2018). On June 18, 2019 PG&E agreed to pay the
town of Paradise $569.5 million in settlements to help rebuild the destroyed
community (KRCR, 2019). Other lawsuits are ongoing and pending without final
rulings.
PG&E stated it has begun repairs and spot fixes to the most severe problems
and has closed the Caribou-Palermo line all together. Its website dedicates a page to
reorganization under Chapter 11 including specific infrastructure and safety
measures. PG&E’s CEO and President, William D. Johnson is supported by a host
of vice presidents including a Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and a VP of
Community Wildfire Safety (PG&E website).
How to Set Up the Paper
Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced, 12-point
font. The final product will be between 4-6 pages in length excluding the title page
and reference page. Write clearly and concisely.
Create a title page with a title, the course number and section, the instructor’s name
and your name.
Instructions:
Course Material
For this project, you are required to use the case scenario facts and the course
material. External sources are not permitted. You are not researching on the
Internet or using resources from outside the course. You are expected to answer the
requirements identified below showing the connection between the case scenario
facts and the course material. Using course material goes beyond defining terms
and are used to explain the ‘why and how’ of a situation. Avoid merely making
statements but close the loop of the discussion by explaining how something
happens or why something happens, which focuses on importance and impact. In
closing the loop, you will demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally
showing an understanding of the logical connections between the ideas presented in
a case scenario, the course material and the question(s) being asked. Using one or
two in-text citations from the course material throughout the entire paper will not earn
many points on an assignment. The use of a variety of course material is expected
consistently supporting what is presented. The support must be relevant and
applicable to the topic being discussed. Points are not earned for mentioning a term
or concept but by clearly and thoroughly explaining or discussing the question at
hand.
NOTE: If external sources are used, what is presented will not count and a penalty for
following instruction will apply.
Project Requirements
Introduction
•
•
Write an Introduction paragraph. The Introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of
the paper and will be used to describe to the reader the intent of the paper explaining
the main points covered in the paper. This intent should be understood prior to
reading the remainder of the paper so the reader knows exactly what is being
covered in the paper.
Consider writing the introduction last to ensure that all of the main points are covered.
Ethical Issue(s)
•
Identify and discuss the ethical issue(s) related to Pacific Gas and Electric
Corporation.
Stakeholders Implications
•
•
Identify the stakeholders involved in the Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation ordeal.
Discuss the potential implications of the company’s actions on each stakeholder or
stakeholder group. Give examples.
Kantian Viewpoint
Explain how Kant would view the actions of Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation.
Utilitarianism Viewpoint
•
Explain how a utilitarian would view Pacific Gas and Electric’s actions.
Moral Responsibility
•
Discuss whether Pacific Gas and Electric had a moral responsibility to be honest with
customers even when doing so may reduce company’s profits? Why or why not?
Conclusion
•
Write a concluding paragraph that is brief and summarizes the main points. Provide
specific information related to the major topics discussed in the paper.
Review the Paper
Read the paper to ensure all required elements are present.

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