Introduction

Week Five concludes the study of theories and paradigms underlying personal and organizational values and ethical principles, how personal values and ethical principles relate to the organizations in which people function, and the effects of the organization’s ethics on its
reputation, functioning and performance. Various Week Five activities provide closure to the study.

This week the learner demonstrates the ability to pull together parts of knowledge to form a new body of knowledge- the final case study project. For example, the learner assembles the journal data collected in previous weeks and develops a case study as a consequence of review, analysis, and evaluation. The summative case study involves the learner exploration into the realm of personal values and ethics, and if those values and ethics in any way differ from that of not-for-profit, or for-profit organizations given problems identified in exploratory research conducted by the learner. The learner uses the Case Study Checklist as a primary guide to create a separate case study document. The learner also uses the Case Study References in the compilation, analysis, review, and reporting of research results collected during the previous four weeks of the course in the construction of the final case study project.

Week Five is reserved for case study development hence, no reading assignments exist for Week Five. Instead, the learner uses information from the text chapters, and captured on the journal forms, to create the final case study. Personal understanding of ethical theories and paradigms is further enhanced through the continuation of Week Five discussions inviting learners to explore the topic of governmental prohibition of forest land and if this prohibition truncates economic growth. In addition the learner explores a discussion related to a new stock opportunity, the sponsoring company’s questionable history concerning the use of animals and vulnerable people in experiments, and the personal decision to earn a simple profit.

Discussions

To participate in the following discussions, go to this week’s Discussion link in the left navigation.

1. Federal Domain
    
   The Federal government manages millions of acres of forest land across the country, but there are increasing pressures on the agencies to permit varying levels of commercial access to the timber, other resources, and the water flows. Should the government have an absolute prohibition on commercial access or should there be a working compromise with companies?

   From your ethical perspective, should government have an absolute prohibition on commercial access or should there be a working compromise with companies?

   From the ethical perspective a particular group to which you currently belong, or previously belonged, should government have an absolute prohibition on commercial access or should there be a working compromise with companies?

   Instead of the Federal government, suppose you managed millions of acres of forest land. Given you own set of ethical perspectives and values, what would you do?

   Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
    

2. New Stock Opportunity or Exposure
    
   A friend is excited about a new stock opportunity with a medical company whose products could sell well around the world; having reviewed some of the stories in Chapter 10, you are no longer certain about the benefits that companies say will emerge from their products and you are concerned that the company’s history includes using animals and vulnerable people in experiments.

   From your ethical perspective, do you ignore the company’s past and research the current product, digging around for alternative ethical viewpoints, or do you accept the possibility of earning a simple profit?

   From the ethical perspective a particular group to which you currently belong, or previously belonged, does the group ignore the company’s past and research the current product, digging around for alternative ethical viewpoints, or does the group accept the possibility of earning a simple profit?

   Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
    

**Additionally, please write in second or third person.