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Business Ethics Essay

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Question 1:

1. What are the relevant facts? (10 marks)

• Annie, a copywriter for Laird and Laird (L&L) Advertising, has been assigned to Bud’s Best (BB) bacon account.

• Lance Willard is a popular Hollywood movie star, has signed 1 year contract with BB bacon for product testimonials (when given by celebrities known as celebrity endorsements).

• President of L&L, (Victor) explains to Annie that Victor has signed an affidavit swearing that he is a bona fide user of BB bacon.

• Although Lance has plenty of personal experience with BB bacon, as is legally required for him to give a personal testimonial, and he has always preferred BB to any other brand of bacon, Lance has recently turned into a vegetarian for the past one …show more content…

American Advertising Federation


4. What are the possible alternatives (course of action) available? (20 marks)

• Annie could discuss with the company to drop using Lance in this campaign and use someone else who is currently consuming the product.

• Annie could decline to continue to work on the campaign because it is against her professionalism.

• Annie could have asked to be reassign to some other account where the product poses no health hazards or morally ethical.

• Annie could propose another method using Lance which doesn’t suggest that Lance has ever personally used the product.

• Annie could agree to go to work on the campaign as proposed.

• Annie could propose another method using Lance which doesn’t suggest that Lance has ever personally used the product.

5. What are the ethics involved in these alternatives? (20 marks)

In order to determine the ethics involved in these alternatives, we should look into the outcome of act/omission by a person involved. This would lead to questions asked based on a “utilitarian” perspective (costs and benefit):

For example: 1. Which possible alternative would provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number?

2. How would costs be measured in this vignette?

3. Do the benefits of being consistent with your personal

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