Analysis of Discussion Comments
Please review the DQ forum for this week. Select
Analysis of Discussion Comments
Please review the DQ forum for this week. Select 2-3 postings from your peers to analyze in your personal assignment response. For your personal assignment this week:
Write a 1-2 page summary on your analysis of the discussion comments and how you believe this content has increased your ethical self-awareness. Please include alternatives, analysis, application, and action.
The assignment should be submitted as a Word document and APA format is required. The title page and reference page are not counted in the 1-2 page requirement.
*Please remember to include your results from this assignment on your ethics portfolio for the final project. The dropbox will be in Week 8.
View your assignment rubric.
Posts from peers
Matthew Wheeler Week 2 Discussion
COLLAPSE
Team, Good Morning (or evening where you all are back in the states), I hope that this message finds you all doing well, and conquering the class so far! I enjoyed reading everyone’s post discussions last week, and looking forward to week two discussions with you all. Unfortunately I am a little late again this week. after being gone for a good hunk of time from the family, I was able to redeploy last week, just to be uprouted about 57 hours later for another major movement across an ocean. Anyways – I will try to continue keeping up with the class work and discussions, as I know that I will undoubtedly learn a great deal from you all during the rest of the course. Question 1: The “Banking on Nature” video case study featuring Mark Tercek presents an innovative approach to conservation, aligning closely with the themes of sustainable development and economic incentives for environmental preservation, which closely align with several points described and discussed in Chapter 2 of our text book. Tercek’s vision, as showcased in the case study, highlights how economic tools can be leveraged to protect nature, suggesting that environmental conservation and economic growth are not mutually exclusive but can be synergistic. This concept resonates with the chapter’s emphasis on social responsiblity. As provided in the text, there are 4 different levels of social responsibility, economic, ethical, philanthropic and legal (Ferrell, 2019). The level in which Tercek explains the partnership between the nature conservancy and different commercial companies is philanthropic; which can be simply described as giving back to society. Working between the several different corporations, in Tercek’s eyes, is a way to make the world a better place for anyone. Tercek’s work exemplifies how bridging the gap between economics and ecology can lead to sustainable outcomes beneficial for both the planet and its inhabitants. Another example in the world today that directly correlates to the “Banking on Nature” case study, are “Green Bonds”. Green bonds are a type of fixed-income instrument designed specifically to support climate-related or environmental projects. These bonds raise capital for projects with environmental benefits, such as renewable energy development, sustainable agriculture, clean transportation, and water management (DoE, 2024). Like the approach advocated by Tercek, green bonds embody the principle that financial instruments can be pivotal in addressing environmental challenges. They offer a tangible mechanism for investors to contribute to sustainable development while receiving a financial return, thus marrying economic interests with conservation efforts. This model not only provides necessary funding for environmental projects but also creates a market-driven approach to conservation, demonstrating how economic and environmental objectives can be aligned. By leveraging the capital markets, green bonds exemplify a scalable and impactful way to support the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, showcasing the practical application of “banking on nature” in the financial world.
Question 2:
The “Employee Microchip” video case study focusing on Three Square Market from Wisconsin introduces a cutting-edge yet controversial method of employee identification and access control through microchipping. From my personal ethics assessment, which leans towards valuing trust and honesty in the workplace, and elsewhere, I find the concept of microchipping employees to tread a fine line between innovation and infringement on personal autonomy, although there are always “exceptions to the rule”. I believe that if it is on a volunteer basis, which it is, that as long as individuals are truly notified and have a detailed understanding of what is to happen with the information that is logged and collected from the implant, then it is there informed hoice/decision to go along with it and have the chip inserted. If those thresholds cannot be met, however, I feel that there is no place for the microchipping in the work place. One specific example that illustrates my concern is the potential for misuse of data collected via microchips, despite the intended convenience and efficiency in workplace operations. My assessment results also underscore a commitment to privacy, and suggests a cautious approach to adopting such technologies, in the workplace or otherwise anywhere. I mean, to be honest I still have issues with cell phones being able to track and run algorithms on what you like to watch, or where you go to target advertising. Another example relates to the voluntary nature of this program; while it’s voluntary, there could be subtle pressures or perceived obligations for employees to participate, which challenges ethical boundaries. These examples align with my ethics assessment, highlighting the importance of safeguarding personal privacy amidst technological advancements. The debate around the “Employee Microchip” case presents a broader discussion on the balance between innovation and ethical considerations in the modern workplace. Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business ethics – ethical decision making and cases (12th ed.). Cengage
US Department of Energy. (2024). Green Bonds. : US Department of Enery. https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/financing-navigator/option/green-bonds
Robert Kinne Week 2 Discussion
COLLAPSE
Question 1
In the Banking on Nature case study Mark Tercek discuss The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit that aims to address threats to nature and conservation through creating partnerships with businesses, government agencies, nonprofit agencies and local stakeholders. Tercek, a former partner at Goldman Sachs, describes why he believes taking care of the environment is good for businesses and how organizations can create higher profit by creating their own social responsibility efforts. Conservation efforts and environmental protection efforts require money, often a lot of money. That money may be used to purchase land, in cleanup efforts, for lobbying efforts to convince politicians to pass environmental compliance laws or researching new production methods that have less impact on the environment. The idea of convincing business to become more conscious of their impact on the environment is one that is not only ethically sound, but it also has the potential to benefit stakeholders as well.
Businesses have a responsibility to act in a moral and ethical manner regarding all their stakeholders, whether it be their employees, shareholders, customers or the community in which they operate. When businesses create ESG policies and procedures that ensure they operate in a way that is environmentally responsible it has a positive effect on a company’s stakeholders. Their efforts often create a more positive image of the company in the eyes of consumers which often translates to a larger customer base. Their efforts also have a positive impact on the environment in which they conduct business which benefits the local community.
Question 2
The Employee Microchip case study discusses a company named Three Square Market, a Wisconsin-based tech firm that offered to implant microchips into its employees. While it was not mandatory for employees to do so there is the possibility that some employees may agree to have the procedure done because they may feel pressured to do so. There also have not been any long-term studies that have been done to show if implanting such a device could be dangerous and have negative side effects. Regardless of how employees feel about having a microchip implanted in their body I believe the risks far outweigh the benefits in this scenario. The potential for companies to misuse such technology is far too great. Employers may in the future use the information from the microchips to track employee health conditions which may affect their healthcare costs, they could track employees’ movements during and outside of working hours and chips may need to be removed a replaced in the future as technology advances.
Chapter 3 discusses recognizing an ethical issue and I believe this is an instance where employees have a responsibility to stand up and question the motives of their employer and present their concerns. Something that started off with the intention of making daily functions more convenient can quickly become a tool that is used to collect information. In the values inventory in week one I ranked honesty, integrity, and truthfulness as three of the values that I find to be most important. In this case I believe the employer has an obligation to their employees to be honest and truthful about all of the functions of the microchip and what adverse effects it may have on the user so employees can make the most informed decision when choosing if they want it or not.
Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business ethics – ethical decision making and cases (12th ed.). Cengage.
Kaiser, C. (2015). NatureVest: Natural Capital Investment Solutions to Transform The Way We Protect Nature. Social Research, 82(3), 749–760.
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