Original Assignment / Discussion Instructions Prepare: The initial post in this discussion must be informed by the required material for this discussion. Your preparation should focus on three classical ethical theories that are fundamental in any ethical analysis: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Since the subject of your examination is the Starbucks case, make sure to view the relevant multimedia carefully with an eye toward the various ethical problems that this company has had to confront. Reflect: Keep in mind that although the notion of the moral good will vary among ethical theories, they often produce the same or similar results. So you should focus on the differences in (a) the intent and (b) the consequences of the action under examination. In utilitarianism, for example, the consequences of the action are weightier than the intent. Accordingly, even if the intent was morally questionable, the action is nonetheless morally good if it achieves good consequences for most. The opposite would be the case if the action were being examined from a deontological point of view. These reflections will aid your selection of an ethical theory for your initial post, as well as your critical examinations of the analysis from fellow students. Write: Start your initial post by identifying two characteristics of utilitarianism, two characteristics of virtue ethics, and two characteristics of deontology. Organize this part of your post so that it is clear which characteristics belong to which ethical theory. You can do this by means of subtitles, or by presenting a table. You should aim to write one complete and clear sentence for each characteristic rather than just one or a few words. Then, take the position that Starbucks is guided by utilitarianism and analyze how the notion of the moral good in utilitarianism leads to a unique approach to ethical problems. The way to do this is as follows: First, present an ethical problem confronted by Starbucks. You can choose one such ethical problem from the video. Then, apply the characteristics of utilitarianism that you identified for this discussion in the attempt to solve this problem. After this, analyze how the notion of the moral good present in utilitarianism, and the characteristics that you identified in particular, shape the approach to solving this problem. Required resources: Fieser, J. (2015). Introduction to business ethics [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/ Tabberer, C. [ProfTab @ OkWU]. (2010, May 5). Starbucks social responsibility video [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Nly_OdvORQY Requirements / Instructions for Revising your Initial Post: Revise: This is your chance to correct any oversights or errors in your initial post, or show your improved understanding of the ethical theories and their applications. Start by reading the feedback provided by your professor to your initial post, either directly to you or to your fellow students. Use this as an opportunity to learn from your professor, especially with regard to the best ways to apply the course material and your research to your analysis. On the basis of what you have learned in this process, post an improved revision of your initial post that applies the additional knowledge that you have gained. Remember that your grade depends on the quality of your initial and revised responses, not just on the submission of an attempt at improvement. It is thus to your advantage to post the best initial post you can and then to also improve that best effort as much as you can through revision. Taking this process seriously will help you develop the skills you need to do well on the final project. Submit a revision of your initial post by either replying to your own post, or to the feedback provided to you by your professor. There is no minimum word requirement for your revised initial post. But you should always explain the reasons for revising your post so that it is clear what you are doing. If you are revising only a few words, or an application of an ethical theory, you should avoid submitting a post with vague language such as: \"duty ethics works better here\" or \"I did not consider that the end does not justify the means.\" It is important to recognize that no one can read your mind so you need to provide the setting for your revision (Why? What prompted it? What course material informed you?), and it is important to write in clear language and complete sentences. Consider your revised initial post as your chance to correct any oversights or errors in your initial post, or to show your improved understanding of the material and its applications to the case at hand. You may, for example, come to the realization that your conclusion did not take into account important factors necessary for your evaluation of the situation. You should maximize the improvement of your initial post by employing your professor's feedback as a guide. Keep in mind that you may not always receive direct feedback from your professor. But your professor will have submitted feedback in the discussion to other posts. So read your professor's feedback whether it is addressed to you directly or to other fellow students. This will give you much to think about and apply to your own post. If your professor or a fellow classmate responds to your revised initial post, and on this basis, you find good reason to submit yet another revision (in addition to a revision that you may have already submitted), then by all means do so. Keep in mind that four posts is the minimum, not the maximum number of posts that you may submit. The more you improve your initial post, the more you will benefit both in terms of your learning and most likely your grade. My Original Post that needs to be revised: What is ethics? Ethics is the ability to be able to know what is right or wrong, however in the business world and manufacturing industries; some challenges affect values. The ability of a company to be able to conduct its activities is usually very tricky. The study of ethics can be analyzed down into three categories: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Utilitarianism It's one of the theories in normative ethics; it holds that best moral action is one that maximizes utility. The theory focuses on the number of people that are happy with the services and products being produced and the greater the number, the better, the better the company's goods and services are right. (Fieser, 2015) In the scenario of Starbucks Company being one of the leading coffee firms in the states and having more than 20000 branches all over the world, they could use this theory to measure their success. (Tabberer, 2010) The feedback from a majority of their customers can be used to measure its success despite being sued on several occasions on matters underlying their coffee. Being a service business, Starbucks can rely on the feedback of their customers in improving their service delivery. The needs of clients are to be considered first and for this to be achieved the company should have a good customer feedback system that it's easy to use with their customers for them to cater for any inconveniences experienced. Deontology It's another theory in normative ethics that focuses on the morality of an action based on the actions adherence to the rules. (Fieser, 2015) It mainly focuses on what choices are morally required for any decision or action to be undertaken. The choices made will cause the outcome morally and ethically acceptable. (Alexander & Moore, 2007) Starbucks Company can apply this form of ethics whereby they can provide for their customers with the best coffee available in the market. Through following their rules on the quality of coffee given to their clients. The primary focus is whether the coffee and service provided meet the requirement of the customers. Virtue ethics These frequently concentrates on the individual moral character, the ability of one being able to make a moral decision and being ethically behaved and capacity to use this to make choices and through actions. ("Virtue Ethics", 2013) The Starbucks Company can promote this to their employees for they would individually think the company is their own and the success of the enterprise is their success. Through this, the company will perfect on both their services and their delivery system. The above ethical theories can be used differently by a company to facilitate the efficient provision of services and products as well as improving their services. References: Alexander, L. & Moore, M. (2007). Deontological Ethics. Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/ Fieser, J. (2015). Introduction to business ethics [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/ Tabberer, C. [ProfTab @ OkWU]. (2010, May 5). Starbucks social responsibility video [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Nly_OdvORQY What is utilitarianism? definition and meaning. (2016). BusinessDictionary.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/utilitarianism.html Virtue Ethics. (2013). Ethicsmorals.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from http://www.ethicsmorals.com/ethicsvirtue.html