For each scenario indicate which of the following best descr

For each scenario indicate which of the following, best describes the Ethical Dilemma: 1 Ethical and Legal 2 Ethical, but Illegal 3 Unethical, but Legal 4 Unethical and Illegal. (2) You work for the Wholesome Hamburger Company. You own 100 fast food restaurants in California. There is a big drought and people are being told to use less water. You know that it takes 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef [it takes 12 gallons of water to produce a head of lettuce, 2 gallons for one walnut, and 468 gallons of water to produce a pound of chicken]. You discuss this with the executives in your firm and they tell you that the way water is allocated by government, the company does not incur any additional expense: water will remain very cheap for business. The head of the company is soliciting ideas for its strategic plan for the future. What are your recommendations?

Solution

As mentioned by the executives, the way water is allocated by the government, our company would not incur any additional cost i.e. water will remain very cheap for the business. According to this, if we continue to maintain the same rate of production we would incur the same level of costs. There would be no extra cost. Although taking up this plan of action is legal, it is actually unethical. Hence, although this step might not incur extra cost in the short run, it would harm the company\'s image in the long run. Hence, for the time-being when there is drought due to which there is shortage of water, I would cut the production of beef. This step shall be legal as well as ethical.