Case Study: Ethics
Teleological framework dictates that the consequence of an action is the ultimate measure of whether such action is moral or not. Therefore, it follows that any choices that result to correct consequence are deemed morally right and the opposite is true (Chonko, 2012). On the other side, deontological framework points out that the consequences of any action for human welfare notwithstanding, the actors should remain morally obligatory.
It is imperative to acknowledge the fact that the textile company in the case study aims at optimizing profits by taking advantage of low wage rates in the new Asian market. The Teleological approach allows for a focus that alludes to the aspect of ethics over profit and self- interests if at all the firm is to serve the interest of North Carolina workers. On the contrary, the deontological approach offers a platform that focuses the aspect of maximizing profits to meet the obligatory facet of managers to the firm as opposed to focusing on the loss the North Carolina workers will incur.
The application of the teleological framework, the workers in Northern Carolina are at a loss since the decision focuses on the company’s profit and self -interests over ethics. The consequences of the company’s move will leave them jobless. The company does not care about the welfare of the employees. Their move cannot be considered ethical since the firm has betrayed their workers. If the firm was to act ethically, then it would have considered the fate of the employees in North Carolina. Prioritizing profits and self -interest over the employee’s fate is morally incorrect. The firm should have considered the fact that the aspect of terminating the employees will leave many families without income. Therefore, they would not only affect the employees but also their dependents (Brown University, 2018). For the firm to conform to the teleological framework, it should relegate its idea of maximizing profits in another market, to serve the employees interest first. Such a move will be deemed morally correct.
The application of deontological framework gives the firm the right to move and maximize profits elsewhere. It is the obligation of the management to ensure the firm achieves its objectives regardless of the approach they put in play. There move to South Asia market is well placed since it lies within the management whims to beat competition within their industry. The end result of their actions is a loss of jobs to the employees who have been serving them in the Northern Carolina market. However, using deontological framework they are obliged to consider their obligations as managers of the firm as opposed to the welfare of employees. In any case, if they consider the Northern employee’s fate, then they will be losing the point in the sense that, they will not achieve their mandate. The interests of the firm come first and any deviation from such, would lead to the company collapse. The performance of the textile manufacturing company management will come to shape through analysis of how well they have pursued policies which ensure the laid down objectives are met (Harris, Parmar, & Wicks, 2015). Therefore, the aspect of moving to another market is key to ensuring they meet their obligation.
In conclusion, the ethical basis of the textile manufacturing company decision to transfer its operation to a new market is dependent on the framework used to analyze the same. Therefore, the use of teleological approach captures the firm’s decision as morally unethical since they consequences of such actions will leave the North Carolina’s workers with no job. On the other side, the use of deontological approach paints the idea of moving to a new market as ethical since the managers are obliged to meet the company’s objectives regardless of the consequences of their actions.