Does This Milkshake Taste Funny?

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the company and its employees could cost direly in future. A lot of successful businesses around the world have leadership teams in place to make sure that from top management to the bottom of the organizational chart, everyone is acting responsibly towards the company and its customers. Code of ethics is enforced on all employees.

For better analyses of the issues and to make an informed and ethical decision, I would like to apply the 5 steps framework published by the Markkula Centre for Applied Ethics:

1. Recognize a Moral Issue: If George removes the filters of the piping; maggots will contaminate the current production run of milkshake mix, which is a hazardous to health of the consumers.

2. Get the Facts: 500 gallons of milkshake need to be produced. 500 gallons of milkshake mix is very expensive to be thrown away. Upper management expects only to finish the two goals provided to the night shift. Not removing the filters will most definitely end in incomplete task. Removing the filters will finish the task but contaminate the product. Paul would like to go home on time. No manager on site.

3. Evaluate the alternative actions from various moral perspective: Removing the filters from piping will be morally wrong. This action will contaminate the product that will be consumed by children and can cause serious health issues. Acting against the Business Ethics and Social responsibility can harm the consumers and damage the company’s image, which can be critical for the survival of Eastern Dairy.

4. Make a Decision: George should decide not to remove the filters from the piping. Finish as many gallons of mix as possible till 6 am and complete the clean up. Explain to the morning supervisor why the production was not complete.

5. Act, and then reflect on the decision later: This decision will allow George to not feel guilty. The company will (or have to because of legal consequences incase George plans to whistle blow) appreciate the fact the employee acted ethically and Socially responsible. Company does not meet the production need for one day but secures its image for the future. Night shift gets to go home on time.

In conclusion, the Eastern Dairy really needs to rethink their organizational stance on the Business Ethics and Social Responsibilities. It should hire a leadership team that will make sure that everyone at the company understands the code of ethics and comply with them. We have seen huge companies have fallen in the past, just because their way of doing business was not ethical. Consumer relations or consumerism has become the most important factor for the survival of companies in today’s time. With ever growing effects and power of media and social media, a message can be distributed around the world within days if not hours. Everyone expects companies to act Socially responsible, and one bad decision can harm the company’s image permanently.

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