english w
Read this case study
How can Alan use Utilitarianism to resolve the dispute between Bob and Coot? Your answer should determine
who will be affected by Alan’s decision
how they will be affected
how Alan canresolve the issue to produce the greatest balance of happiness over unhappiness for everyone affected by his decision
Your answer should be about 400 words.
MINICASE: MGMT – 13 BUSINESS ETHICS PROGRAM
1992 Arthur Andersen & Co, SC. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 1
Mutiny in the Manufacturing Department
Topic: Labor Relations
Characters: Alan, a lead supervisor in a manufacturing department
Bob, an inexperienced group supervisor, directly under Alan
Coot, a veteran employee within Bobs group
Alan, a lead supervisor in the manufacturing department, has just received word of an
altercation between one of his junior supervisors, Bob, a recent college graduate, and Coot, a
veteran machine operator.
Bobs group had been working on an order for a major customer. Bob had set up a work
schedule and job assignments which Coot, through experience, knew would not get the order
out on time. Coot suggested a different sequence which Bob dismissed without discussion.
The group began the order using Bobs setup, but Coot switched everyone over the minute
Bob left the area. The order was finished, on time, without further incident. Bob later
discovered the mutiny, however, and had a loud confrontation with Coot in front of the
entire group.
Alan has reviewed the two work schedules and, indeed, Bobs assignments would not have
gotten the order out on time. Since the customer uses a Just-in-Time inventory system, such
a slip-up would probably have cost Alans company any future business with the customer.
On the other hand, Alan knows that a failure to support Bob will cause an immediate loss of
credibility throughout the entire department. Bob needs the freedom to make his own
mistakes if he is to develop and gain experience, but at what cost to the customer?
Author: G. Scott Erickson, Lehigh University
