Ethical Dilemma Essay - Please provide advice!

[preetham82]

Hi,

One of my essay topics is "Describe an ethical dilemma you faced and how you resolved it?".

I have the following 2 scenarios. Please advice if any of this can be used for my essay.

1. Apart from doing my day to day programming job, I involve myself in a lot of recruitment activities for my company. I interview a lot of candidates and provide my feedbacks and suggestions to the HR based on which they take the next steps. One of the candidates I interviewed last year happened to be my project manager's friend. My manager came to know that I am the interviewer and asked me to provide positive feedback about the candidate. I was in a dilemma between being loyal to my boss and sticking to my morals in recruiting the right person for my company. If I choose to do as per my boss, then I will be going against my conscience and it will hurt me for ever. If I choose to abide by my principles and give the correct feedback about the candidate, and if it turned out to be a negative one, then I will have to face my boss' anger and that won't do any good to my future. Instead of choosing to do one of the above, I decided to talk to my manager about it before the interview. I told him that I won't be able to give a positive feedback about any candidate unless I feel so from the interview. So, I would rather not take the interview than giving a false feedback. My manager was not very happy about it, but then understood my situation.

2. Last year, I put my car for sale as I was looking for a newer one. I got an offer close to what I had put it for. I agreed to the buyer's offer and we decided on a date to do the transaction (title change, etc.). But then, the day before the sale, I got another offer for my car which was better than the first one by a good extent. I was in a dilemma between honoring my first deal and disregarding it and going for the second offer. I chose to disregard my first deal and went ahead with selling the car to the second buyer. After few days, when I thought about it, I realized that, I was unethical in that trade and for few extra bucks, I didn't keep up my commitment. From then on, anything I have sold, I have always honored any deal that I agree to.

I am not sure, if any of these fall into the category of ethical dilemma.

Please provide your valuable comments at the earliest possible.

Thanks

[vineeshp]

Well. Story 1 better than story 2 according to me. But add some spice

[Superduperstudent]

Hi preetham82,

Both stories have weaknesses. Before you brainstorm any further, try to understand why the business school you are applying to asks you this question.

In the past few years, MBA graduates have played a role in the credit crisis and in several large scams. Business schools are getting a bad name because their students are acting unethically. This has become such a problem that many schools are now teaching ethics to their students. However, they would like to attract individuals who are ethical to begin with. It's easier to teach ethics to an ethical person than to a crook.

So... your job is to show to them that you are an ethical person who, when put to the test, took the ethical path. Unfortunately, both stories you propose do not show you to be a person who will, come what may, choose the ethical path. The first story shows you to shy away from difficult choices by simply giving up, and the second story actually shows you to be somewhat opportunistic.

Rethink the assignment, talk to a friend who knows you to be an honest, ethical person, ask your relatives, and come up with a few other options. Feel free to post back on the forum, or contact me.

Good luck!