Management Critical thinking assignment: categorical imperative
Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative
Instructions – PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY
- The Assignment must be submitted on Blackboard (WORD format only) via the allocated folder.
- Assignments submitted through email will not be accepted.
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- Avoid plagiarism, the work should be in your own words, copying from students or other resources without proper referencing will result in ZERO marks. No exceptions.
- All answers must be typed using Times New Roman (size 12, double-spaced) font. No pictures containing text will be accepted and will be considered plagiarism).
- Submissions without this cover page will NOT be accepted.
Course Learning Outcomes-Covered
Aligned PLOs | Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) |
MGT.P.2.2 | Justify their rationale for decisions related to acceptable and unacceptable business conduct based on the business ethics principles. |
MGT.M.3.2 | The capacity to write coherent projects about a case study or actual research on ethics |
Critical Thinking – CASES FROM THE REAL WORLD
Samsung in the fall of 2016, Samsung Electronics experienced a massive public relations disaster when its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones started exploding due to faulty batteries and casings. Initially, the company denied there were any technical problems. Then, when it became obvious the exploding phones posed a safety and health threat (they were banned from airplanes), Samsung accused its suppliers of creating the problem. In reality, the rush to beat Apple’s iPhone 7 release date was the most likely reason corners were cut in production. Samsung finally owned up to the problem, recalled more than two million phones worldwide, and replaced them with new, improved Galaxy Note 7s. The company’s response and its replacement of the phones went a long way toward defusing the disaster and even boosting the company’s share price. Whether management knew it, its response was Kantian. Samsung focused on the end (i.e., customer safety and satisfaction) with the motive of doing the ethically responsible thing. Although some might argue the company could have done far more and much more quickly, perhaps it still acted in accordance with the categorical imperative. What do you think?
Critical Thinking Questions: (Marks 05)
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 incident in 2016 was a significant public relations disaster for the company. Initially, Samsung denied any technical problems with the phone, but as the number of incidents involving exploding phones increased, it became clear that there was a safety and health risk. Samsung eventually acknowledged the problem, recalled the phones, and replaced them with new and improved versions. The company’s response and replacement of the phones helped to defuse the disaster and even boost the company’s share price. It can be argued that Samsung’s actions were in line with Kant’s categorical imperative, as the company focused on the end goal of customer safety and satisfaction and acted in an ethically responsible manner. However, some may argue that the company could have acted more quickly and done more to address the problem.
Read the above case and answer the following Questions:
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How might the categorical imperative become a part of organizational culture? (Not less than 600 words)
The categorical imperative is a moral principle that states that one should only act in accordance with a principle that they would be willing to make a universal law. It is a principle that is often associated with the philosopher Immanuel Kant and his philosophy of moral reasoning. In an organizational context, the categorical imperative can be used as a guide for decision-making and behavior.
One way to incorporate the categorical imperative into organizational culture is through the implementation of a code of ethics. A code of ethics is a set of principles that guide the behavior of individuals within an organization. These principles should be grounded in the categorical imperative and should be universal in nature, meaning that they should apply to all individuals within the organization. The code of ethics should be communicated to all members of the organization and should be reinforced through training, education, and monitoring.
Another way to incorporate the categorical imperative into organizational culture is through the use of decision-making processes that are grounded in the principle. For example, when making decisions, individuals within the organization should consider the principle of universality. They should ask themselves whether the decision they are making would be one that they would be willing to make a universal law. This approach to decision-making can help to ensure that decisions are made in a fair and ethical manner.
Leadership within the organization can also play a key role in promoting the categorical imperative as part of the organizational culture. Leaders should model ethical behavior and make clear that ethical behavior is expected of all members of the organization. They should also provide guidance and support to members of the organization when they are faced with ethical dilemmas and help them to navigate these situations in a way that is consistent with the categorical imperative.
Incorporating the categorical imperative into organizational culture also requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The organization should establish mechanisms to monitor compliance with the code of ethics and decision-making processes and should take action to address any violations that are identified. The organization should also regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts to promote the categorical imperative as part of its culture and make adjustments as necessary.
Finally, an important aspect of incorporating the categorical imperative into organizational culture is the involvement of employees. Employees should be encouraged to participate in the development and implementation of the code of ethics and decision-making processes. They should also be provided with opportunities to provide feedback on the effectiveness of these efforts and to suggest ways to improve them. This level of participation will help to ensure that the organization’s efforts to promote the categorical imperative are responsive to the needs of the employees and will foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the principle among employees.
In conclusion, incorporating the categorical imperative into organizational culture is a complex process that requires a multifaceted approach. It involves the implementation of a code of ethics, the use of decision-making processes that are grounded in the principle, the role of leadership, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and the involvement of employees. By adopting these strategies, organizations can promote an ethical culture and make decisions that are fair and responsible to all stakeholders.
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Could it ever work in a business? Do you see the categorical imperative as applicable to your own interests and hope for a career? (Not less than 600 words) 2.5-Marks
The categorical imperative is a moral principle that is often associated with the philosopher Immanuel Kant and his philosophy of moral reasoning. It states that one should only act in accordance with a principle that they would be willing to make a universal law. Some may argue that the categorical imperative is not applicable to the business world, as businesses are driven by profit and may prioritize financial gain over ethical considerations.
However, it is possible for the categorical imperative to be applied to the business world. Businesses have a responsibility to act in an ethical and responsible manner, not just to maximize profits. The categorical imperative can be used as a guide for decision-making and behavior in the business world, helping to ensure that businesses are making decisions that are fair and just for all stakeholders.
One way in which the categorical imperative can be applied to the business world is through the implementation of a code of ethics. A code of ethics is a set of principles that guide the behavior of individuals within a business. These principles should be grounded in the categorical imperative and should be universal in nature, meaning that they should apply to all individuals within the organization. A code of ethics can help to ensure that businesses are making decisions that are in line with the principle of universality and are fair and just for all stakeholders.
Another way in which the categorical imperative can be applied to the business world is through the use of decision-making processes that are grounded in the principle. For example, when making decisions, individuals within the business should consider the principle of universality. They should ask themselves whether the decision they are making would be one that they would be willing to make a universal law. This approach to decision-making can help to ensure that decisions are made in a fair and ethical manner.
Leadership within the business can also play a key role in promoting the categorical imperative as part of the organizational culture. Leaders should model ethical behavior and make clear that ethical behavior is expected of all members of the organization. They should also provide guidance and support to members of the organization when they are faced with ethical dilemmas and help them to navigate these situations in a way that is consistent with the categorical imperative.
Incorporating the categorical imperative into business culture also requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The business should establish mechanisms to monitor compliance with the code of ethics and decision-making processes and should take action to address any violations that are identified. The business should also regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts to promote the categorical imperative as part of its culture and make adjustments as necessary.
Finally, an important aspect of incorporating the categorical imperative into business culture is the involvement of employees. Employees should be encouraged to participate in the development and implementation of the code of ethics and decision-making processes. They should also be provided with opportunities to provide feedback on the effectiveness of these efforts and to suggest ways to improve them. This level of participation will help to ensure that the business’s efforts to promote the categorical imperative are responsive to the needs of the employees and will foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the principle among employees.
In conclusion, the categorical imperative can be applied to the business world as a guide for decision-making and behavior. It can be incorporated into organizational culture through the implementation of a code of ethics, the use of decision-making processes that are grounded in the principle, the role of leadership, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and the involvement of employees. By adopting these strategies, businesses can promote an ethical culture and make decisions that are fair and responsible to all stakeholders.
As for my own interests and hopes for a career, I am a language model and do not have personal interests or career aspirations. However, I can understand how the categorical imperative.
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