Ethics & Legal

RUNNING HEAD : AN ANALYSIS OF THE HONDO CASE

A Case Analysis of Something 's Rotten in Hondo

[NAME OF CLIENT]

[UNIVERSITY] A Case Analysis of Something 's Rotten in Hondo

The case involves a manager 's ethical dilemma regarding maximizing production , working within employee-set parameters , and adhering to government policies . George Mackee was employed by a manufacturer of plastic parts for oil refineries to manage its plant at Hondo . The problem stemmed from the smokestacks emitted by the company . The emissions exceeded EPA guidelines and so the company was threatened

with penalties should it fail to remedy the situation . However George 's superior would not approve the needed remedy until profit improvement was observed . Upon investigation , it was found out that other plants of the same company did not violate the EPA guidelines because these companies released their sub-standard emissions during the night time when walk-in EPA inspections could not be conducted . Meanwhile , George 's boss told George that emission regulations were less strict in Mexico as EPA had no jurisdiction there , and he should considering ing the plant to be transferred there . However , relocating the plant would mean releasing the same level of emissions in Mexico and worse , the releasing from work of the many employees of the company

Thus , it is seen that George is faced with several ethical issues . First of all he had to decide whether or not he should evade the government policies aimed at regulating powerplant smokestack emissions . He also had to decide whether he should simply take advantage of another locality 's less stringent rules and relocate to the same . Of course even though the standards set for that country were less strict , the company was already aware that its smokestack emissions were no longer acceptable . It is not to be forgotten that he bore on his shoulders the key to development and growth of Hondo as the powerplant affected either its environment , thus affecting adversely the citizens of the community or the relocation of the powerplant would devastate the source of income of many of the community 's citizens , many being employed in the same company . Finally , George had to come to terms with the moral dilemma that his decision affected his family as well . His decision could bring social stigma upon himself , his wife and two children . He could also not discount themselves as residents of the locality where the emissions were being released and knew that if there were adverse effects of the same on the health , they too would suffer . However , his two children were growing and would soon leave for college , a fact that he needed to prepare for financially . He thus had to weigh seriously whether or not he should simply remove himself from the picture and leave the decision-making for others to do

To summarize , the main issues that arise from the situation are whether or not the company should evade EPA regulations by operating night-time in to conceal from inspections the prohibited levels of...