Extreme Circumstances

U02A2 – Critical Analysis

1. Should Michelle keep silent about the Kosovo contract, or should she inform her boss? Why? Frame your response from the perspective of legal, ethical, and social responsibility issues.

In this case, even though Ms. Wong has reassurance from an operational executive no illegal activity has taken place, the manager must report the findings to a direct superior as soon as she returns. In the event Ms. Wong neglects to inform a supervisor of unconventional international operations, the manager exposes herself in the future if the operations truly break the law. Even though some corporations follow the dictum, as Miller & Jentz (2011) state in the textbook Business Law today, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Ms. Wong has not reviewed local laws and statutes, which may provide a clearer picture regarding the legality of the operations. Furthermore, Ms. Wong was asked directly by her supervisor to look into the matter. Withholding information based on the word of an operational employee and with little facts to prove legality, Ms. Wong exposes herself and her supervisor to future scrutiny from corporate leaders, to media and government officials.

2. What conflicting ethical issues are raised by the cash payments used to facilitate medicine deliveries?

This case definitely asks the question, do the ends always justify the means? Even though company officials utilized unethical cash payments to facilitate vital medicine deliveries, the employees were under threat and acted appropriate under those particular circumstances. However, the company must analyze future operations to identify better methods of delivery in order to mitigate difficult situations from occurring. As a manager, I would have an issue with continuing the operations as if there was nothing else to do. For instance, the company decided to randomize its delivery routes in order to minimize the chance of incidents occurring. Even though...