College of Business Exit Case Analysis – Part A – Ethical Reasoning
Now that you have read the case, place yourself in the shoes of the CEO of Boeing. Set aside the criminal charges and imagine yourself the CEO at the time when the safety concerns over the 737 Max first surfaced in this case study. Address the following questions:
1. Identify the ethical dilemma: Setting aside the criminal charges, what was the ethical dilemma that Boeing was facing when the safety concerns over the 737 Max first surfaced?
2. Identify the causes of the dilemma: what were the factors that may have caused/created this dilemma for Boeing?
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3. Identify the external (situational) pressures on decision making: In this case study, as Boeing made its decisions on how it was to solve this dilemma, what were the situational factors that may have influenced Boeing’s decisions?
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4. Identify the internal pressures (biases) on decision making: In this case study, as Boeing made its decisions on how it was to solve this dilemma, what were the internal biases (internal to Boeing and/or you as its CEO) may have influenced Boeing’s decisions?
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5. Who were the parties that Boeing should consider as the “affected parties” by its decisions over this ethical dilemma?
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6. If you, the CEO, were the decision maker, what are the 3 alternative resolutions for the dilemma?
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7. What are the potential consequences of each of these alternatives?
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8. Which 1 of these 3 alternatives would you, the CEO, choose to implement, and what would be your rationale for your choice?