Business Ethics - Ethical Issue Analysis
Use the following steps to complete the project. You will demonstrate an understanding of
ethical concepts and of legal business principles and are required to use the course material to
support the ideas and conclusions presented.
Step 1: Silicon Valley Startup Companies
Read the following articles about Silicon Valley startup companies (Theranos, Zen
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Business Ethics - Ethical Issue Analysis
Use the following steps to complete the project. You will demonstrate an understanding of
ethical concepts and of legal business principles and are required to use the course material to
support the ideas and conclusions presented.
Step 1: Silicon Valley Startup Companies
Read the following articles about Silicon Valley startup companies (Theranos, Zenefits and
Hampton Creek Foods). Each company discussed in the articles below eventually came under
scrutiny for ethical and/or legal issues. Since embroiled in scandal, Hampton Creek Foods has
been repositioned and is now known as Just, Inc.
Griffith, E. (2017, December 16). The other tech bubble. Wired. Retrieved from https://
www.wired.com/story/the-other-tech-bubble/ Griffith, E. (2017, December 28). The ugly
unethical underside of Silicon Valley. Fortune. Retrieved from
http://fortune.com/silicon-valley-startups-fraud-venture-capital/
Hartmans, A. (2018, September 5). The rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, who started Theranos
when she was 19 and became the world's youngest female billionaire before it all came
crashing down. Business Insider Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/theranosfounder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4
Suddath, C. and Newcomer, E. (2016, May 9). Zenefits was the perfect startup. Then it selfdisrupted. Bloomberg. Retrieved from
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-zenefits/
Step 2: Overview of Companies
Provide a company overview for Zenefits and Theranos. Describe the purpose(s) for the
founding of the company; i.e., what problems
was it formed to solve and/or opportunities it was formed to exploit, who are the founders,
home country or state, management, etc.
Step 3: Ethical or Legal Issues
You will research each company to establish the facts of each situation. Once you have
established the facts surrounding the decisions
made by Theranos and Zenefits:
Identify and discuss the ethical issues associated with each company.
Identify and discuss the legal issues associated with each company. Step 4: Stakeholders
Identify the stakeholders associated with each company and explain the impact of the
company’s decisions on the specific stakeholders.
Discuss how the stakeholders reacted to the decision(s) made by each company.
Step 5: Generate Alternatives
From what you have read, the startup culture poses a host of temptations creating a neverending series of ethical choices and dilemmas. Companies are faced with the challenges of
venture investors who expect hyper-growth and quick results. For privately- held companies,
self-reporting, unaudited financials is an option as is not reporting, and the media serves to
promote an attractive opportunity. Lastly, it is easy to rationalize behavior when the expectation
is that entrepreneurs set the world on fire with innovative, disruptive technologies that promote
overlooking rules and one’s moral compass.
Like many business people, some Silicon Valley decision makers need help in recognizing the
ethical dilemmas they face when doing business and understanding the need for following
rules and setting ethical standards. You will:
Generate and discuss at least three viable alternatives to help Silicon Valley startup
companies operate and behave ethically. In doing so, it is necessary to consider the ethical
and legal requirements.
Step 6: Evaluate Each Alternative
Examine the benefits and drawbacks of each proposed alternative. Provide careful
consideration to the factors that influence
the outcome of each alternative.
Step 7: Recommend the Best Alternative
Once you have evaluated each alternative, recommend the best alternative that ensure
appropriate business practices and accountability.
Explain how Silicon Valley startup companies will effectively communicate this change to
internal and external business stakeholders.
Number of References are free, please also refer to the eBook with the Chapter and page
number on every in-text citation and direct quote: The Business Ethics Workshop, Saylor
Foundation
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