Consider the following scenario:
- Super Bugs are the latest craze in the action-figure universe. The toy’s manufacturer, Blinko, Inc., has launched several variations of the characters, all with great success. The latest Super Bug figures feature fully opposable joints, and a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign (featuring the Super Bugs in all manner of poses) has already hit the airways. Anticipation is high, and several fast-food chains are considering using smaller versions to include as toys in their children’s meals.
Just a week before the scheduled release of Super Bugs a technician brings to light a previously undisclosed report that some pieces of the Super Bugs can be pulled apart after a certain amount of wear and tear. The report cautions that the figures’ heads, wings, and limbs pose a choking hazard to young children. The figure is marketed to children ages 5 and up, and a choking warning is already listed on the box because of the smaller accessories included with each figure.
You have been called to an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
Post by Day 5 your response to the following:
- What you believe to be the best course of action for Blinko, Inc., and why. How should ethics factor into managerial decisions?
- When might ethics conflict with a company’s profitability or production?
- When ethics and profitability are mutually exclusive, which one should be followed? Are there ever exceptions? Explain your reasoning.
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