QUESTION 1 - ETHICS [25 marks]

Please read the case study below and answer the questions that follow:

Waitlists and VIPs

Callie is the Senior Events Coordinator on her student government. She plans senior events throughout the year, but the biggest event is Senior Ball. Hosted each spring, the event includes a night of wine and dancing for 1,000 members of the senior class. Due to chaperone restrictions, venue requirements, and transportation issues, attendance cannot exceed 1,000 students. Each year, about 100 seniors who want to attend Senior Ball must be turned away.

This year, the number of seniors who could not get tickets is even greater. The event sold out in two hours, and the line to purchase tickets was wrapped around the block. Callie had to turn away many seniors, including a few of her close friends. As she goes through the list of attendees a few days before the event, Callie realizes that there were some errors in data entry and five tickets remain. Since there was no possibility of adding additional spaces, Callie did not create a waiting list.

Callie immediately thinks of her friends. She knows that there are other seniors who desperately want tickets, but she could easily fill the spots from only her friend group. Callie wonders if she can just distribute the tickets to her friends. They really want to go, and she wants them to be there. Callie spent the last several months working on the event, and thinks she deserves to have all her friends there to share it with her.

She knows she could send an email to the senior class and create a waiting list, and draw names from the people who respond, but with only a few days before the event, Callie doesnt feel that she has the time. She has to visit the venue, establish the set-up, confirm all the contracts and reservations, train volunteers for the event check-in, and make sure each participant has turned in the waivers. She knows that shell receive hundreds of responses about the tickets, and creating the waiting list will detract from her ability to prepare for a great event. For just five tickets, it doesnt seem worth the extra work.

https://www.scu.edu/the-big-q/the-big-q-blog/waitlists-and-vips.html/

It is commonly the case that an ethical dilemma may arise that necessitates a speedy resolution through appropriate ethical thought.

1.1 Provide a definition of an ethical dilemma and briefly describe the ethical dilemma in this case.

(5)

1.2 In addition to the ethical principles approach to guiding personal decision making, practical ethical tests may also be useful to managers. Use the Ethical Tests Approach and discuss in detail at least four (4) important questions you would need to consider in striving to make an ethically sound business decision in relation to the dilemma faced.