Peer Review of Case Study
Name
Institution
Course
Date
Major strengths and weaknesses of the classmate's response
Describe the ethical dilemmas faced by Tim Cook. Use course concepts from class to explain the dilemma. For example, the lecture on "Classic Moral Reasoning" may provide different "ethical" ways of approaching this case study, but with very different views.
While responding to this question, the classmate's first strength is to explain the facts of the case without being biased or taking sides. According to Bogdanović. (2017), an objective analysis of an ethical case helps to understand the facts without hiding some information or exaggerating another to justify taking sides. The second area that the classmate shows strength in dealing with this question is identifying ethical areas without factually stating them. This form of explanation gives the reader a moral judgment as he/she reads on. The third area of strength is how the classmate provides points that make the reader fathom dilemmas. For instance, Tim Cook cannot provide the "backdoor" because of the company policy, while Barrack Obama, the president, prefers doing so. This is the essence of the ethical dilemma of Tim Cook.
However, there is a significant area that shows the weaknesses of the classmate. The question required the classmate to use course concepts to explain the dilemma using course concepts, especially the "classical moral reasoning." However, whereas this part of instructions was followed, the classmate failed to apply the concepts, other than their definitive understanding, succinctly. This shows that the classmate failed to follow the instructions to the latter, which is likely to cause a low score as this important part is missing.
What were Tim Cook's primary responsibilities that would have influenced his decision to refuse to succumb to the U.S. government's pressure to build a backdoor to the iPhone? Identify how these responsibilities may have conflicted.
While responding to this question, the classmate's strength is evident in how the concept of ethics is differentiated between an agent and an organization. The classmate identifies the privacy policy stipulated by Apple Inc. Besides, the classmate identifies the personal ethical standings, especially professionalism, in Tim Cook's role. Besides, the classmate explains using the coursework concepts, which informs the classmate's understanding of the concepts and their applicability.
Whereas this question was well answered, the one only area of weakness, which is likely important, is the part "identify how these responsibilities may have conflicted". The classmate failed to bring out this part well. If I were the one handling this assignment, for example, I would use conflicting ethical concepts, such as Kantian's categorical imperative and consequentialism's utilitarian theories. These would have shown the different outcomes of the same decision that Tim Cook took.
Identify and assess the ways that Tim Cook can resolve the ethical dilemmas he is facing. Create a novel solution that you believe resolves this case's complexities, leading to a win-win situation. (This will require a lot of thought on your part)
This question is tricky but worth the tackle by the classmate. The classmate's strength in responding to this question is how he provides several solutions to the case. As a manager faces an ethical situation, providing various possible solutions is important as it enables decision-makers to choose among the available solutions.
The weakness of the classmate's response concerning this question is that he has not actually attained a win-win situation. Providing the "backdoor" password for the iPhone using Farook's phone serial number, whereas it may not affect other users' privacy in the future, does not entirely cushion the customers. The result would be that customers would lose trust in Apple Inc.
Of these different courses of action, what do you think Tim Cook should do?
In response to this question, the classmate exudes strength in using an ethical theory to solve an ethical dilemma. For instance, the classmate explains the need for Cook to find the most viable solution using classical utilitarianism. As the classmate has shown in this part, a correct application of ethical concepts helps to provide reasonableness in the response, which is essential in dealing with ethical situations (Resnik, MacDougall & Smith 2018). There is no observable weakness in the classmate's response to this question.
What actually happened in this situation? Research what happened, but don't reveal this to the class until the end of your case analysis.
The classmate shows strength in response to this question by having carried out detailed research. It emerges that the classmate's response was unknown to many. Also, there is no observable weakness in this response.
My point-of-view
My point-of-view, as different from the approach by the classmate, focuses on the third question. Instead of Cook either complying with the FBI directive or not complying, dealing with an ethical dilemma requires a stakeholder approach. This means that instead of Cook dealing with the situation alone, he would have instituted a team from all the affected stakeholders. This team would have created a logical way to follow, because despite Cook's adamant status in the case, the FBI found their way, anyway. This team would have been used to create consumer confidence and to show them that such an action by the company was for the national good and that going forward, their data privacy would not be compromised.
Ways I most agree with the classmate.
I most agree with the classmate regarding the objective view of the case and in his responses. This approach shows that in the first place, as a person in charge of finding a solution to an ethical dilemma, practicing justly helps find a win-win solution.
Ways I most disagree with the classmate.
I most disagree with the classmate because he failed to think outside the box. When dealing with an ethical dilemma, situational decision making is based on the need to leverage reasonableness (Resnik, MacDougall & Smith 2018). This means that whereas the ethical theories are important in finding solutions to ethical issues, the external environment's impact, especially the affected stakeholders, informs the solution that can be taken.
References
Bogdanović, M. 2017, January, ‘Main Ethical Dilemmas in Economics and Business: Which are the Burning Questions/Problems and Possible Solutions/Answers’, In KARLOVITZ, TJ, Selected Papers from Responsibility–IRI Conference on Culture, Society, Responsibility. Budapest. Komarno: International Research Institute sro (pp. 35-47).
Resnik, D.B., MacDougall, D.R. & Smith, E.M. 2018, ‘Ethical dilemmas in protecting susceptible subpopulations from environmental health risks: Liberty, utility, fairness, and accountability for reasonableness’, The American Journal of Bioethics, vol. 18, no. 3, pp.29-41.