Sociology

Honourable Justice Potter Stewart once said that There is a big difference between what we have the right to do and what is right (IDEM, 2005), this saying underlines the fact that moral issues and ethical issues that face business people and independent persons are essentially different. Morals can be taken to as the acceptable standards engraved in our customs that judges between right and wrong acts. Ethics is in the other hand broader than the morals because it encompasses a greater picture that explains what actions should be taken leaving the moral aspect to control the execution of the actions (Galston, 1991). The business should develop values among the employees in which their activities are driven by doing not only what is legal but what is right and brings good to the majority of their clients (Hudson, 1986).

Business Situation 1  Business in Real Estate Statement of the ethical issueconflict
CII has a large project of developing areas for age-restricted communities that is going to enable parents to live closer once the project is finished. CII is running against time to complete the project within the agreed time. During the excavation of the site the constructors discovers that there are many industrial debris that hand been deposited in the area. The company has two options to deploy its trucks to pick up the debris or to burn the debris at the site. Burning the debris at the site will save the much needed time and it is cheap to execute. In addition it does not need any extra labour for the contractors at the site can burn the debris. The burning of the debris will be within the existing law for there is no particular law that addresses it. In the other hand employing trucks to pick the debris from the site means temporarily stopping the contractors from work, employing more casuals, spending more on fuel and even more taking more time in that same project. It is easier to take up the option of burning the debris at the site but it is not ethical because the fumes from the burning industrial waste will be a great danger to the workers, the neighbours and the environment (IDEM, 2005).

Discussion and possible resolution of the ethical issueconflict
Though the burning of the industrial wastes at the site is a cheaper option that gives the company humble time to finish the project at a bigger profit margin, it is not an ethical approach towards tackling the present problem. The company should work out on cheaper ways of transporting the debris from the site to a destination that the relevant authorities can specify. To catch up on the time schedule CII can increase the number of contractors and casuals to ensure the project is finished within the stipulated time. This approach will have put the ethical issues first and would serve the community better than putting the profits of CII ahead at the expense of the community (IDEM, 2005).

Business Situation 2  Wine manufacturing business Statement of the ethical issueconflict
CII is in the business of manufacturing and distribution of wines. In its recent study the technicians discovered the formula of a component that reduces the chances for wine consumers developing heart related complications. However the technicians also discovered that the components may remove the craving for excess wine by the users. The company has gone ahead and patented the formula.

Including the component to all of the companys brands will not be rewarding to the effort of the companys tradition of research. In addition it may reduce the sales because the new component may affect the consumption rate. The company may as well shelve the discovered formula of the component for there is no other wine company that can use it owing to the patent rules (Galston, 1991).

Discussion and possible resolution of the ethical issueconflict
Though the consumers of the wine products from the CII Company have no rights to demand for the new component in the wine products, inclusion of the component is the existing products is the most ethical approach for it will guard many wine users against its side effects. CII can introduce an appropriate increase in the price of the improved products to cater for the reduction in sales. Intense advertisement of the improved products may also work in ensuring that the sales volume arte not affected.

Business Situation 3 - A legal Casino business Statement of the ethical issueconflict
A casino business is operated legally in most of the countries and it is a lucrative source of income by many companies and individuals. However Casino business may not be an ethical business considering the fact that it has ruined many households and has made many people to loose their hard earned cash. Casino businesses are attraction centres for other criminal and immoral activities such as money laundering, prostitution and drug-trafficking. Such secondary crimes that come as a result of the operation of casinos in most cases are beyond the control of the owners of the casino and they seriously ruin the morals of the people of the area (Crittenden, 1990).

Discussion and possible resolution of the ethical issueconflict
Consideration of an alternative business like a restaurant can be a more ethical option for CII. A restaurant business would raise the income that the casino would raise while avoiding the social costs that a casino generates such as addictive gambling that makes many to become social misfits.

Business Situation 4  Oil Exploration business Statement of the ethical issueconflict
CII is engaging in oil exploration business in many African and Middle East countries where the government and relevant national authorities do not impose strict labour laws. The adherence of the environmental standards is also not followed and the companies are free to use their own standards in observance of due diligence. Though it might be within the law for CII to relax its practices on environmental protection and expose their employees in relatively poor conditions it would be ethically improper to carry out such measures (Galston, 1991).

Discussion and possible resolution of the ethical issueconflict
CII will strive to ensure that the working conditions for the employees are harmonized to that of the branches in the developed countries such as USA. The environmental conservation in all the projects shall also be based on the international standards so as to protect the livelihood within the operational areas though a cheaper option of neglecting such laws is available. This will be the most ethical in carrying out these duties for the company will not be taking undue advantage of the relaxed laws to make huge profits at the expense of the employees, society and the future generations.

Closing Statement
There are ranges of activities within the area of operation of CII that appears to be legally executable but do not adhere to high ethical standards. CII will therefore ensure that such lines of activities are streamlined throughout its world wide branches so that there is uniformity of operations. Ethical issues shall be the guiding factor in the harmonization procedures even where the laws of the country are relaxed to allow companies to carry out businesses that may be harmful to the people. The company will be an example to the companies that finds it easier to save their investment funds and bulge their profit margins at the expense of their employees and neighbouring communities.