Deontological Examination of SBC Communications Inc.

A detailed Summary of Deontological Examination of SBC Communications Inc.

The current blatant examples of corporate greed and accompanying devastation thrust upon stockholders and employees have shocked many Americans. Enron and WorldCom are only two companies that have ruined the lifestyle and financial security of so many. The article titled "SBC Says It Will Cut 11,000 Jobs - 3,000 in the State" (Pham, reprint) points out yet another situation where thousands of workers will be without a job, even though the company posted a $7.2 billion profit in 2001 and $46 billion in sales in 2001.

Nevertheless, SBC Communications Inc. blames government regulations for the reduction in profits and sales last year. While it appears that the claim is bogus, the company has implemented a series of layoffs that will cut the employee rolls to a bare minimum. On the surface it appears that the company's actions are immoral or maybe even unethical. Percesepe (1995) defines "moral" as principles or rules of conduct that govern an individual or society, and "ethics" as the systematic attempt to understand moral concepts and to justify moral principles and theories. This essay will examine the SBC layoffs within the methodology of deontology.

m line when defining deontology is its universalizability. "Deontological methods distinguish moral from non-moral judgments and work with moral obligations considered to be universally applicable" (Burtness, 1999, p. 59). To apply this test to the SBC Communication Inc. layoff situation necessitates that a number of conditions be discussed, including clarification of the word "deontology" and examination of various characteristics of SBC's situation.

In examining the SBC layoff, the first consideration is to acknowledge that the United States supports a capitalist economic system. In fact, many American attribute the great success and wealth of this country to the fact that healthy competition brings out the best in workers as well as companies. Capitalism is a system in which all or most of the means of production and distribution of commodities, such as property and companies, are privately owned and operated for profit. When the United States adopted this system, fully competitive conditions were supported (Guralink, 1986). Historically, capitalism has been characterized by a tendency toward concentration of wealth and by the growth of great corporations (Guralink, 1986).

Deontology is Greek for "it is necessary." Thus, deontological theories

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Approximate Word count = 848
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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