Virtue Ethics
Our case this module, one of virtue ethics, brings us to a systematic overhaul of one of the largest toy making companies in the world in Mattel. The overhaul took place during almost the entire first decade of the second century. The over haul was in compliance with the Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP). This is an amazing case that I feel is similar to inflicting pain on yourself in order to get used to pain therefore a stronger and better person. The thing that I do not understand is that conflict, pain and problems do not create character but simply reveal it. Regardless of my feelings on character issues the toy maker Mattel did set out do so something quite unusual for a corporation of their size in trying to comply with the GMP. The “GMP called for the creation of and independently and externally based monitoring system that would verify Mattel’s compliance with it code of conduct in a manner that would be credible to the public and engender trust in Mattel’s GMP-related performance claims” (Sethi, Veral, Shapiro, & Emelianova, 2011, p.487). What they implemented enacted, but ultimately terminated over the course of a nine year life was described as “totally unprecedented” (Sethi, Veral, Shapiro, & Emelianova, 2011, p.487) by Prof. S. Prakash Sethi. Sethi was one of the people hired to conduct operations to identify and explore any immoral or unethical procedures in the company’s labor culture. We are going to be looking at this case in the context of Virtue Ethics and seeing how a few of the virtuous attributes, that shined the brightest in my eyes, attempted to ratify and create anew their corporate labor culture. The virtuous attributes that stand out to me in the case and the one’s I would like to highlight are those of Idealism, Accountability and Consideration.
Idealism is the belief in or pursuance of ideals (Collins English Dictionary, 2009). It is also defined as the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals,
Idealism is the belief in or pursuance of ideals (Collins English Dictionary, 2009). It is also defined as the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals,
References: Consideration. (2012). Dictionary.com LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Consideration+?s=t Barton, James. (n.d.) List of Virtues. Virtue Science. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from: http://www.virtuescience.com/virtuelist.html Fieser, J. (2005). Ethics. Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/#H2 Idealism. (2009). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/idealism Idealism. (2012). Dictionary.com LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/idealism Introduction to Ethics. (2011). Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/introduction.html Johnson, R. (2008). Kant’s Moral Philosophy. Retrieved on August 10, 2011 from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/ O’Brien, T. (2009). Virtue Ethics. [Podcast]. Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2012 from: http://www.viddler.com/explore/twob1961/videos/8/ Sethi, S., Veral, E., Shapiro, H., & Emelianova, O.. (2011). Mattel, Inc.: Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP) - A Life-Cycle Analysis of a Company-Based Code of Conduct in the Toy Industry. Journal of Business Ethics, 99(4), 483-517. Retrieved August 2, 2011 from: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2330329231&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1312294460&clientId=29440 Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Shanks, T., & Meyer, M. J. (2008). Ethics and Virtue. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2012 from: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicsandvirtue.html