Overview The Final Case Brief is a formal paper (under 2,500 words) that frames, evaluates, and develops an action plan for managing an ethical challenge that you have identified. This is your opportunity to demonstrate everything you know about applying human values to the challenges of business leadership.
In writing your Final Case Brief, you should select an ethical problem either from current business news or from your own observation or experience. Remember that you are conducting an ethical analysis to develop an action plan, so your brief will be evaluated for your framing of the problem, the arguments you make, and the evidence and expertise you apply to support your arguments. Your choice of a problem, its complexity, and its relevance for contemporary business will be considered in your grade for this assignment. It is in your interest to choose a unique, complex, and relevant problem that has not been widely discussed or evaluated to demonstrate your values, intelligence, and skill.
You will conduct your own ethical analysis of a scenario and develop an action plan using the tools, methods, and frameworks from the course as well as your own independent inquiry and thought. You may consult any and all learning materials from the seminar and elsewhere; you may also consult and discuss the case with others. The written brief, however, must be entirely your own work. If you do consult other sources, you must credit and cite them properly in APA format.
Execution Steps
You are advised to begin thinking about theFinal Case Briefearly on so that you are ready to concentrate on it as soon as your Moral Compass Essay is completed. Be sure to follow each step of the outline below and address each relevant question.
Title of the Case:(How will you identify this case?)
Source:(What is the source of your information about this case?)
Case Overview “Big picture” interpretation of the case in one or two sentences. How would you characterize the moral challenge of this case? Why is this case morally important?
Key Facts Your factual discovery of key events, actors, and evidence: What relevant events, people, and evidence are key to understanding the situation or problem? What contextual/ technical knowledge needs to be considered? What are your sources for the facts of the case and how reliable are they?
Ethical Analysis Your interpretation of the values conflict or moral challenge.
• What is the main moral issue in this case? What is at stake? What is the moral urgency? (Uncertainty, risk, danger)
• Who is the key moral actor in this case? Whose actions and decisions determine the moral resolution of this case?
• What is your intuitive moral judgment of the issue? What foundational moral values are involved? (CARE, LIBERTY, FAIRNESS, LOYALTY, AUTHORITY, SANCTITY)
• How do values and moral judgments conflict? Is it a right/right or right/wrong conflict? What type of right/right?
• Is the moral issue with an action, the means of action, or the intent of an action?
• What normative moral claims and standpoints of VIRTUE (character, common good), DUTY (principle, moral claims), and CONSEQUENCES (outcomes, harm, cost, benefit) should you consider in evaluating the moral challenge?
• How would you apply the values and code of your wisdom tradition to understand and explain the moral issue?
• How does the moral challenge align/conflict with the core values of your Wisdom Tradition and that of stakeholders?
Stakeholder Analysis Your interpretation of stakeholder interests in light of precedents, context, and evidence:
• Who are the stakeholders (individuals, groups, or entities) whose values, moral claims, and duties constitute the moral challenge of the case? What values, Wisdom Traditions, and moral arguments support their claims? How valid and sound are those claims?
• What competing or contested values, claims, or duties complicate this case? Which stakeholders have more urgent and compelling claims? Why?
• What similar cases or situations are useful as analogues for evaluating this case?
Option Analysis Your interpretation of options. What are the feasible options for the key moral actor to consider in resolving the moral problem? On what grounds are they morally justified?
Decision Your action recommendation. Which option is the most ethical, and on what grounds? How does the action express/reflect your core values?
Summary Argument Your argument in brief: Explain the best decision option or action plan persuasively in fewer than 25 words.
Learning Objective
Develop and Justify and action plan for managing an ethical challenge
Learning Standards SCORING: 1(C)=Needs Improvement; 2(B)= Proficient; 3(A)=Exemplary
1 2 3 Score
Command of course content, tools, and methods • Does not follow the Final Case Brief framework or address questions as assigned
• Reflects a superficial understanding of methods for identifying, evaluating, and managing an ethical challenge • Follows the Final Case Brief framework to address assigned questions thoughtfully and completely
• Reflects a thorough understanding of methods for identifying, evaluating, and managing an ethical challenge • Imaginatively applies and adapts the Final Case Brief framework to develop a highly original and flawless case brief
• Reflects a deeply critical and creative understanding of methods for identifying, evaluating, and managing an ethical challenge
Quality, depth, breadth, and originality of thought, discourse, and discernment about values and ethical challenges • Identifies a conventional, uncomplicated ethical challenge
• Draws superficially from personal values, experience, observation, and/or mainstream media sources to evaluate and manage an ethical challenge
• Demonstrates little or no awareness of moral complexity • Identifies a complex ethical challenge
• Draws thoughtfully from personal/social values/experience, relevant knowledge, empirical evidence, wisdom traditions, and reputable sources to evaluate and justify a credible action plan for managing an ethical challenge
• Demonstrates awareness and insight about moral complexity • Identifies a highly complex, multi-faceted ethical challenge
• Synthesizes personal experience, empirical observation, independent inquiry, wisdom traditions, and other expert sources to evaluate and justify a highly original and persuasive action plan for managing an ethical challenge
• Demonstrates deep thought and critical understanding of moral complexity
Personal integrity and engagement with values • Does not question personal values or social norms
• Upholds Carey personal conduct and academic integrity norms • Critically scrutinizes personal values and social norms in managing an ethical challenge
• Upholds Carey personal conduct and academic integrity norms • Thoroughly critiques personal values and social norms from multiple perspectives in managing an ethical challenge
• Exemplifies Carey personal conduct and integrity norms
AVERAGE OF SCORES
Grading Criteria
Your Final Case Brief will be graded according to the criteria listed below.
