Paper Example on Gas or Grouse: Systemic, Corporate & Individual Issues & Ethical Principles

What are the systemic, corporate, and individual issues raised in this case? Explain your answer using ethical principles from chapter 5.

There are various systematic, corporate, and individual issues raised on the Gas or Grouse case. The most eminent of them is the depletion of species and habitats (ethical concern about human activities that render numerous animals and plants species extinct – 1st ethical principle, page 278). From the case, it is evident that individuals and companies have a fundamental role in fostering the safety of plants and animals, especially the endangered categories. From the case, there is a stiff contention between the need to promote a safe environment for animals at the Pinedale Mesa, especially the sage Grouse, and the need to drill the natural gas in the area as a way of promoting economic development. Allowing the drilling to take place would create jobs to thousands of people living around Wyoming and the country at large and generate over 60% of the state's budget. However, it will potentially lead to the extinction of sage Grouse, which a rare species and the destruction of their habitats and those for mule deer and pronghorn sheep.

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The contention leads to the second potential issue, which is ecological ethics. The ethics claim that human beings have the natural duty to be aware of and preserve ecological systems that promote the sustainability of animals and plants within their immediate environments (2nd ethical principle, Page 284). Ecological ethics would demand that if Questar and other natural gas companies are to drill the gases, then ecological concerns must be their priority.

The last ethical issue is on private costs versus social costs (3rd ethical principle, page 291). It provides that companies require assessing their cost of producing a product versus what the product would cost society as a whole. For instance, although the gas companies in the case view gas extraction at Pinedale Mesa as a lucrative opportunity, it might be of grave danger not only to birds and other animals but also to the human fraternity at large.

How should wildlife species such as Grouse or deer be valued, and how should that value be balanced against the economic interests of a society or of a company like Questar?

Wildlife species such as Grouse and deer should be viewed as ecological aspects with the right not only to live but to live is sustainable environments, which promotes sustainability into an unforeseeable future. The most fundamental way of balancing this value against the economic interests of a society or a company is by infusing environmentally friendly approaches is the core business or societal operations. Questar is already taking the lead on the environmental infusion, but more approaches are necessary.

What principles or rules would you propose we use to balance the value of wildlife species against economic interests? Explain your answer using ethical principles from chapter 5.

Various principles are vital in striking a balance between ecological sustainability and economic viability with respect to the provided case. The first rule that is worth considering is the intrinsic value, which states that by virtue, humans should view every aspect of nature as valuable in itself and are therefore obliged to respect and preserve it (1st ethical principle, page 284). As a rule of thumb, even without the implications of legal law, the companies should embrace environmentally friendly practices even if costly. However, the practices, especially those that integrate technology, must exhibit minimal potential risk. According to the precautionary principle, if a technology, operation, or practice exhibits some unknown risk with irreversible consequences, it must be rejected and should only be accepted if proven safe or with insignificant risk (2nd ethical principle, page 299). Finally, the companies need to view environmental conservation as a justice for the future generation (3rd ethical principle, page 303) by leaving the world no worse than they found it. They should ensure that their operations do not affect the habitat and biological characteristics of the birds and animals.

Should the loss of species produced by the drilling operations of Questar and its successor be considered a problem of pollution or a problem of conservation? Can the loss of species be evaluated as an “external cost”? Explain your answer using ethical principles from chapter 5.

The loss of species produced by the operations of Questar and other companies is a conservation problem. The ethics of conserving depletable resources (1st ethical principle, page 301) emphasizes the need to save or ration the natural resources for future uses. In the case, destruction of habitats, careless drilling of wells, and noise pose a significant danger to Grouse, other animals, as well as humans. According to the Lockean principle (2nd ethical principle, page 304), no generation should, in any way, leave the world less productive that it found it. In this case, the loss of species should be evaluated as an internal cost and not external cost by ensuring that companies place sustainability at the heart of their operations. To achieve a steady economic state, it is important to ensure that births of the endangered animals’ equal deaths and that production and consumption are at equilibrium (3rd ethical principle, page 314).

Reference

Velasquez, M. G. (2017). Business ethics: Concepts and cases. Pearson.

Appendix

Case Study Rubric

Please make sure the grading criterion is submitted with your case study assignment. It should be the last page of your case study assignment.

Grading Criteria for Case Study Assignments

Each of your case study assignments will be graded based on Content, Quality, and Grammar and Mechanics.

1. Content points are earned by including three course ethical principles for each question within each case study assignment (make sure you include the correct format-numbered and cited: 1st ethical principle, page #; 2nd ethical principle, page #; 3rd ethical principle, page #). This format identifies ethical principles directly from the textbook, failure to use correct format would result in deducted points. The three course ethical principles must be directly related to the case study questions. There must be at least one case study example to support each numbered and cited ethical principle. Each numbered and cited ethical principle must include a brief textbook definition (usually located in page margins). This requirement is for each case study question, not each case study assignment. Each case study assignment has more than one question. You must have three numbered and cited course ethical principles from the course textbook directly related to each case study question. Provide clear explanations as to why you selected each ethical principle. In other words, defend the ethical principles you select.

Content points are worth 2 points for each case study assignment and are earned by having all requested information included and essentially correct according to course principles included in the text and lectures.

Your Content Score: ____________

2. Quality points are earned by adding one insight/example per case study assignment from your workplace and/or current event experience going beyond the text answers. For Quality points you only need one workplace and/or current event experience going beyond the text and Power Point slides for each case study assignment, not each case study question. Quality points are worth 2 points for each case study assignment.

Your Quality Score:_____________

3. Grammar and Mechanics points are earned by submitting your assignment in an attached Word document with your name and case study number on the first page and each answer numbered according to the corresponding question. You must also include the case study rubric as the last page-not an attached document. You must also submit ethical principles in case study format- 1st ethical principle, page #; 2nd ethical principle, page #; 3rd ethical principle, page#-from the course textbook indicating where to find each numbered and cited ethical principle you selected for your case study answers (not in correct format will result in deducted points). Your selected numbered and cited course ethical principles must be found in course material from the related Module chapters-as indicated case study instructions. Use correct spelling/grammar. In addition, you must include one of the following word phrases next to each appropriate numbered and cited course ethical principles from the course textbook directly related to the case study questions you are submitting for grade consideration: 1st ethical principle, page #; 2nd ethical principle, page # or 3rd ethical principle, page # (failure to use these phrases will result in deducted points). Grammar and Mechanics points are worth 1 point for each case study assignment.

Your Grammar and Mechanic Score:_________________

4. If your case study answers only include your opinions without numbered and cited ethical principles from course ethical principles directly related to the case study questions and the required word phrases, you will receive “0” points per case study answer. Even if the question requests your opinion, you must provide numbered and cited ethical principles from the course textbook, case study examples, and your explanations..

5. Please see the case study assignment examples in “Course Documents”. This will help you see the required format for each case study question and assignment.