Olympus Corporation (www.olympus-global.com) is a Japan based company that makes

Question

Olympus Corporation (www.olympus-global.com) is a Japan based company that makes digital cameras, accessories and other devices. In April 2011, Michael Woodford was appointed president of the corporation; he was the first non-japanese president of Olympus in the firms history. In July 2011, some of the corporations actions surrounding merger and acquisition activity were called into question by the press. Woodford asked for information about the activity, but was denied access to it. He wrote a series of letters to the press and other parties to establish his own views and actions, and was fired from his position in October 2011.

a) Which characteristics of a professional did Woodard demonstrate?

b) Which school of ethical thought best explains Woodfords actions? The actions of Olympus staff?

c) Suppose you were an olympus employee that Woodford asked for information. Outline a process you would use to decide whether to provide it.

Explanation / Answer

answer 1

Characteristics which woodford's demonstrate as a professional are  truth teller and a hero. These are rare things. As a society we may laud honesty and integrity, but when someone actually stands up for those principles, we think to ourselves, ‘what a nutter.’ he was honest with his position and work, and was doing what his position wants from him, ie honesty, trust for the compnay. He did to bring back the companyt to its correct position.

ANSWER b

UTILITARIAN ETHICS

Ethical actions are determined and judged by their consequences, as opposed to deontolological, which is concerned with duties and rights regardless of consequences. Thus the focus is on the instrumental value of actions. Usually this is thought in terms of the greatest good to the greatest number, with each individual given equal consideration.

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