Uber, what once was just a German adjective, is now internationally known as the world’s leading ride-sharing service. Similar to a taxicab, Uber actually went by the name Ubercab until October of 2010, when it decided to drop the “cab” from its name. Not only did this company compete with its yellow and black counterparts, but Uber took the industry by storm and has nearly wiped-out the traditional taxi cab service. Along the way the company has had many successes, but has encountered several failures and ethical challenges as well. One night in 2008, Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick were having trouble finding a ride in Paris, when suddenly they came up with the idea that would allow users to hail a cab electronically, using only their cell phone. By utilizing their cell phone, users could avoid the nuisance of physically hailing a cab, ensure the driver took the most Continue reading
Business Ethics
Case Study on Business Ethics: Apple and FoxConn Labor Scandal
Apple Inc. is devoted to creating the finest music and personal computing experience for every single one of its users, from students to educators, business professionals to government officials and other consumers by means of ground-breaking hardware, software, internet offerings, peripherals, and services. Apple’s business approach powers its distinctive ability, through the design and progression of its personal operating system, hardware, and countless technologies and software applications, to provide its customers the latest creations and simple solutions through outstanding innovative industrial design. Before being able to produce some of the finest computer products we have nowadays, Apple went through countless processes and hurdles. Apple was established in 1976 by two college dropouts, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Also part of the team was Ronald Wayne, who was older and had personal assets of his own. Wayne’s uncertainty of the company worried him about the risk of investing his assets, and resulted Continue reading
Machine Ethics – Overview, Developments, Issues and Future
History and Background of Machine Ethics Concept Machines are tools that make work easier by changing the direction of torque applied on a piece of workload. The general notion is that a machine is just a good size container with a system of gears and motors which are used for industrial purpose. The steam engine is a good indication of machines since its invention in the industrial revolution to power industries to different levels of output. However, the human race has been evolving thereafter and it is agreeable that the machines have also been evolving gradually hence the need to be au fait about the evolution to ensure we are at par. The definition of machines today has gone beyond the normal gearboxes we knew and has been taken to another level. The prominent machine invention or understanding of the twentieth century is the mathematical invention of the Turing machine. Continue reading
Whistle-Blowing: Definition, Reasons, and Issues
Definitions of Whistle-Blowing Whistle-blowing has been defined as the act of a man or woman who, believing that the public interest overrides the interest of the organization he serves publicly ‘blows the whistle’ if the organization is involved in corrupt, illegal, fraudulent or harmful activity. It has also been defined as the disclosure by organizational members (former or current) of illegal, immoral or illegitimate practices under the control of their employers, to persons or organizations that may be able to affect the action. Many other definitions of whistle-blowing exist, though they run into problems of inclusion and exclusion and create problems for the researcher attempting to operationally the concept as a form of organizational communication. The following definition comes close to providing sufficient clarity: Whistle-blowing occurs when an individual performs an action or series of actions intended to make the information public. The information is made a matter of public Continue reading
Case Study: The Whistleblowing Case of Sherron Watkins in Enron
Whistleblowing Case of Sherron Watkins in Enron Whistleblowing is more about an individual’s moral judgment than it is about clear requirements that obligate individuals to reveal tricky organizational transactions that pose great risks to the public. There are two types of whistleblowing, namely internal and external. In many cases, only external whistleblowing is recognized because reporting that exists within an organization comprises the normal feedback channels that solve internal problems. Moreover, many feedback channels work within the organization and internal issues are not taken outside. In the Enron scandal of 2001, the main whistleblower Sherron Watkins informed the company’s top management that Enron was at risk of collapse because of the innumerable financial inconsistencies she had discovered in the firm’s financial statements. Watkins wrote an anonymous letter to the company’s founder, Kenneth Lay after discovering that Enron was engaging in unethical accounting practices. Prior to the eruption of the scandal, Continue reading
Social Innovation – Definition, Characteristics and Types
Social innovation is the new concepts, strategies and ideas that must meet the social needs of various elements that must be formed education, working condition and community development. Social innovation strengthens and extends civil society and it includes the social process of innovation. Social innovation is the complex methods of introducing the new products or services that can change basic resources, routines and authority of flows in which innovation can occur. Social innovation tries to provide a novel solution that must be effective, sustainable and efficient and this value would provide cure to the society rather than the single individual. Social innovation is the process of creating a new idea that can create a positive impact on the society. The concept of social innovation has emerged from the growing dissatisfaction from the technological emphasis in the innovation of economic area. Technological innovation focuses on main profit of the organization, whereas Continue reading