Final Project
The Final Project is designed to assess student learning on specific
course-related goals. It is also designed to assess whether students are
able to apply knowledge and skills gained from study in the course, as
evidenced in the assigned paper. There are two phases to the final project: the
issues/bibliography paper and the case study/final memorandum.
Phase I: Issues/Bibliography Paper (5%)
The Issues/Bibliography paper is merely a preliminary step for the Case
Study/Final Memorandum to help students accurately identified three (3)
specific ethical issues and have at least three (3) substantive, academic
resources; to be used in your final memorandum. Please submit the
Issues/Bibliography paper to the assignment folder.
Requirements for Issues/Bibliography Paper
- Ethical Issues. a statement and
brief explanation of three (3) specific ethical issues related
to the case study/final memorandum. This statement is a brief
sentence statement of each ethical issue with a brief explanation for each
issue explaining why it is an ethical issue in the scenario; - Bibliography of Resources. a bibliography
(reference) listing (APA format) a minimum of three outside resources,
based on your research, to be used in the case study/final
memorandum. In addition to these three (3) resources gleaned from
your research, you may also use any resources from class materials; - Students will post the paper
in the Assignment Folder.
Note:
- If the three resources are
acceptable, students can use them in the case study/final memorandum, or
revise/add resources, as needed, for the case study/final
memorandum; - When you begin the case
study/final memorandum, you will again refer to this assignment. If
you correctly identified the ethical issues, and they are
specifically precise and accurate, you will use them to begin the
ethical issues section of the case study/final memorandum, OR revise the
ethical issues, as needed, for the case study/final memorandum.
By completing this assignment, students will meet the outcome(s):
- identify ethical issues that
arise in domestic and global business environments using an understanding
of ethical concepts and of legal and business principles
Final Project
The Final Project
is designed to assess student learning on specific course-related
goals. It is also designed to assess whether students are able to apply knowledge and skills gained
from study in the course, as
evidenced in the assigned paper.
There are two phases to the final project:
theissues/bibliography paper and the case study/final memorandum.
Phase II: Case Study/Final Memorandum
The case study/final memorandum culminates in a complex memorandum to an executive officer of a
company. The case study/final memorandumfocuses on developing, sharpening
and applying critical thinking skills, in the context of recognizing,
evaluating, and proposing a resolution for ethicalissues that
arise in managerial decision making.
Write the analysis in business memo format,
addressed to Board of Directors for the company. Make the memorandum from you, acting as hired
consultant for the company.
The case study to be analyzed, The Plumpy’nut
Controversy, is attached.
By completing this assignment, students will meet the outcome(s):
· identify ethical issues that
arise in domestic and global business environments using an understanding of ethical concepts and of legal and
business principles;
· develop and
evaluate alternatives to, and recommend solutions for, ethical dilemmas, taking into account ethical and legal requirements and the
essential mission of the business enterprise
· effectively
communicate to internal and external business stakeholders the complexities of ethical issues,
suggesting and analyzing various solutions in order to ensure appropriate
business practices and accountability
Requirements of Case Study/Final Memorandum:
· View Video:
Nutrition for Niger – Plumpy’nut – 10:58 mins
60 Minutes segment by Anderson Cooper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSCMoRDp2c
· Read article:
The Purpose of Patents http://www.innovation.org/documents/File/Pharmaceutical_Patents.pdf
· Draft memo using
the prescribe format (subheadings/sections) prescribed below;
· All sections must
be comprehensive, in-depth and fully justified;
· Resources from
previously assigned course materials or from your own research may be used to
justify and support rationale;
· All in-text
citations and resources must
be in APA style;
· Submit the
completed case in the
Assignment Folder.
· Make sure your
discussion is founded on principles in the articel A Framework for
Thinking Ethically [http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework.html] and
also use the Student Toolbox found in Table of Contents.
The Final Memorandum must
include the following sections and subheadings:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
DATE:
INTRODUCTION: Brief 1-paragraph
intro to subject of memo.
FACTS SUMMARY: Summarize
and explain the facts that are directly significant and relevant to the ethical dilemma in this case.
Write at least 1
paragraph, or you may use an introductory sentence to be followed by a list of
relevant facts with bullets.
ETHICAL DILEMMA:
Briefly discuss in 1 paragraph, the either/or ethical dilemma facing the company.
Please refer to “Facts vs. EthicalDilemma……..”
in the TOOLBOX for explanation, examples of dilemmas.
ETHICAL ISSUES: Explain three (3)
of the most significant ethical issues related to, and arising from, the ethical dilemma and then, explain eachethical issue and why it is an ethical/moral issue, etc.
For eachethical issue that you identify your
discussion will:
· present the
relevant, associated facts;
· specifically
“name” the ethical issue;
· evaluate why the
issue is an ethical issue –
discuss how managers’ fiduciary duties, effects on all corporate stakeholders,
etc., define the ethical
issue, and direct resolution of the issue.
ALTERNATIVES: List, explain and
justify 1possible alternative/solution to address and resolve
the ethical dilemma and EACH ethical issue discussed above. Each
alternative should be comprehensive so that it addresses the related ethical issue.
Alternatives should be feasible, logical, directly
related to resolving the ethical dilemma
and addressing the ethical issues in the case.
Alternatives are expressed in the form of
propositions or prescriptive statements suggesting action and are framed by
asking the normative question, what could or should the company do? Consider
consequences. Identify relevant stakeholders, and the effects on each
group, pros and cons, etc. of each alternative. Apply ethical theories in context of your
evaluations, but don’t over-do this aspect. For example, teleological or
consequentialist theorists would examine who the stakeholders are, both
internal and external to the company, and the positive and negative
consequences for each stakeholder group, etc.
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend
1 (and only 1) alternative from the three (3) alternatives suggested above.
Justify and explain your choice discussing:
· why you chose this
alternative;
· how, specifically,
the recommendation will address the ethical dilemma
and ethical issues;
· how the
recommendation will likely impact each relevant stakeholder group;
· pros and cons of
your recommendation;
· feasibility of your
recommendation;
· how the
recommendation may be implemented;
· Apply ethical theories, resources from previously assigned course
materials, or resources from
your own research to justify and support your recommendation. All
in-text citations must be in APA style.
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS for
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss potential implications arising from your recommendation
for:
· the company
· other businesses
within the industry
· other industries
CONCLUSION: Summarize
the case and its ethical issues,
implications, etc.
Final Paper Case Study
The Plumpy’nut
Controversy
Background: In preparation for
the final paper, review the video and article below.
Use information from these sources as well as the information below to
complete the final project.
Video: Nutrition for
Niger – Plumpy’nut – 10:58 mins
60 Minutes segment by Anderson Cooper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSCMoRDp2c
Article: The Purpose
of Patents http://www.innovation.org/documents/File/Pharmaceutical_Patents.pdf
The Peanut Solution
Plumpy’Nut: The lifesaver that costs… well,
peanuts
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/plumpynut-the-lifesaver-that-costs-well-peanuts-8783650.html
BACKGROUND STATEMENT: According
to the FAO, there were 925 million undernourished people in the world in 2010.
Nearly 105 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 68 million
children suffer from acute malnutrition. Of the 68 million children, 26 million
children are suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition putting them
close to death. Almost 5 million children die each year from
malnutrition. [1]
The Plumpy’nut® Controversy
The formula for Plumpy’nut® is
patented and the patent is held by a French company, Nutriset. (The name
Plumpy’nut® is a registered trademark, though this is not the
issue). Currently, the production of Plumpy’nut® is
concentrated in Nutriset’s main facility in France. This facility produced
about 35,000 metric tons of Plumpy’nut in 2010. Additionally,
in a dozen countries such as Niger, Malawi and Kenya, Nutriset has set up a
network of partnerships and franchises so that Plumpy’nut can be made locally
and with locally-grown produce. These businesses provide jobs in developing
countries where they are desperately needed.
UNICEF purchases almost 90 percent of the
production capacity of the Nutriset facility in France.[2] At
this time, the cost for a two month treatment for each child which includes
approximately two to three Plumpy’nut
bars per day is about $60.00.[3]
Even though Nutriset’s production capacity is
impressive, the volume is nowhere close to what is needed to combat the growing
global epidemic of malnutrition in children. The alarming numbers
released by the FAO creates a sense of urgency that more should be done to
increase production of Plumpy’nut. Nutriset’s current production is
only supplying 1-2 million children suffering from malnutrition. [4]
The United States has an enormous capacity to
produce peanuts and would like to manufacture more Plumpy’nut so that more
childrens’ lives can be saved. Nutriset will vigorously defend its
patent. “If the US companies were able to beat the patent, the global
volume of RUTFs would of course go up. But it would also mean the end for our
local partners in Africa, who wouldn’t be able to compete. That is not what we
want.” [5]
[1] 2011
world hunger and poverty facts and statistics. (2010, November 14).
Retrieved March 6, 2011, fromhttp://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world hunger
facts
[2] Rice,
A. (2010, September 10). The peanut solution. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05Plumpynut
[3] Id.
at p. 2
[4] Schofield,
H. (2010, April 8). Legal fight over hunger wonder-Product.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427.html
[5] Nutriset’s
communications manager, Remi Vallet, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427
