Ethical dilemma and ethical lapse
An ethical dilemma refers to where there is an ethical issue that attracts two valid or contradicting perceptions or views. It results from an understanding of an ethical issue that remains to be unsolved, so that it leads to false or misleading information about the issue (Parthasarathy & Satya, 2010). For instance, an ethical dilemma may be the case of whether a tobacco firm should be allowed to market its products or not. Giving the license to advertise tobacco is like encouraging an unhealthy behavior while disallowing the advertisement can be taken to mean a violation of the freedom of speech while hindering the firm’s ability to carry out their business activities. There may be no law prohibiting the advertisement but being morally and socially responsible calls for one to refrain from such behavior and hence this presents an ethical dilemma. Ethical dilemma, therefore, represents situations whereby the decision maker has two options from which a choice has to be made and neither of the choices provides a solution that is totally acceptable (Parthasarathy & Satya, 2010). The guidelines provided by the society and the personal sense of ethics cannot allow an outcome that is appropriate for the society.
An ethical lapse is a result of a mistake or unethical decisions made, and hence any action that fails to follow the established ethical guidelines is a lapse. An ethical lapse can also results from illegal behavior or action that is not allowed by the law or existing policies (Thill, J. V., & Bovée, 2006). For instance, if a manager takes an action that contravenes the existing policy on business ethics, this can be termed as an ethical lapse. The ethical lapse may not show a total dearth of integrity but an oversight blind sport on ethics.
References
Parthasarathy, A., & Satya, R. R. (2010). Management: Text and cases. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India.
Thill, J. V., & Bovée, C. L. (2006). Business communication: Activebook version 2.0. Upper Saddle, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. 17-20
