A Focus on the Case of Sole Remaining supplier Essay

A Focus on the Case of Sole Remaining supplier - Essay Example In some cases, the subject of upholding ethics has only resulted in dilemmas with far reaching implications. Such is a situation of the case ‘Sole Remaining Supplier’. The case describes a heart pacemaker technology; though it is a marvelous device, it also raises ethical questions. The device has the capability of making automatic adjustments depending on the deviations from normal heartbeats. The device has the ability of stimulating heartbeats in the cases of abnormal pulse rates. However, during its developmental course, the device was marred by certain limitations. Despite the fact that the incidences occurred several decades back, the device is subject to relevant ethical questions. This paper considers a scenario where the pacemaker technology is gaining momentum despite its inherent weaknesses and regular failures that cause death. Later, the technology raises concerns and prompts reconsideration. Additionally, the device also consists of delicate transistors, th e delicacy of which increases the probability of the device becoming faulty. If the processes of supplying the transistors are halted, people are likely to miss the devices. On the other hand, if the supply process continues, people are likely to be victims of the failed devices. A decision has to be made eventually. The crucial question then is what course of action a transistor supplier should take. Utilitarian issues in the case Utilitarianism refers to the ethical theory which postulates that taking an appropriate course of action increases the chances of perfection. Its moral worthiness is based on the consequences of actions (Rawls, 2011). Proponents of this theory are J.S. Mill and Jeremy Bentham. Utilitarianism may be considered as an ethical approach that is quantitative and reductionistic. It considerably differs from other ethical theories such as deontological ethics, virtue ethics, pragmatic ethics and other consequantialist approaches. While deontological ethics differ from utilitarianism in their disregard for consequantialism, pragmatic, virtue and other consequantialist ethics differ from utilitarianism through their considerable regard of character as an aspect that determines the achievement of pleasurable ethical results. Utilitarianism is arguably the greatest principle that allows achieving happiness and felicity. Even so, the practicability of utilitarianism has not been without shortcomings, such as not accounting adequately for moral concepts such as promise and justice. This had prompted some changes in the theory to iron out the shortcomings. When an individual encounters a situation which requires him or her to make a choice, he or she should first hold back, weigh the situation in terms of appropriate choices, considering the consequences of each choice. On determining the choice that will yield the pleasurable outcomes, one can then proceed to take the course of action, and this could be applicable to the Sole Supplier case. Utili tarian elements that are presented in the case concern obligations, ethics for common good, action consequences, moral good and conflicting interests. For a business rising from scratches, some models of corporate social responsibility emphasize the primacy of the corporation’s economic responsibility to stick to survival while making profits. Other responsibilities, such as abiding by ethical activities that are discretionary, are not a priority (Sun, 2010). Other approaches hold that ethics should come first, so corporations should consider conforming to ethical and legal standards as the most important aspect. In this case, it does not matter whether a business is competitive or not; businesses could still maintain competitiveness or become competitive even while