Case 7: Gillian and Insider Trading
Who has moral responsibility for deciding what to do?
In this case we are introduced to Gillian Lee, the Senior Administrative Assistant to the VP of Operations at Global Potash Enterprises (GPE). Gillian is faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to use insider information about GPE to her advantage. Gillian had recently seen a preliminary geographical report on her boss Jerry Adams’ desk, detailing the minimal amount of minable potash in GPE’s newly purchased mineral concession. GPE’s future is riding on this new mineral concession doing well, and when Gillian saw in the report that it would not be profitable she realized the bad news would result in massive layoffs. Gillian will either have …show more content…
While they could both in theory plead ignorance of not knowing Gillian had sensitive information, they are still likely to come under scrutiny and suspicion by authorities. Patrick could potentially lose his job as an options trader if he was proven to have known or suspected Gillian of illegal trading. Even though Sally and Patrick probably have less to lose than Jerry and Gillian, their interest still must be taken into account and must be recognized as morally …show more content…
That being said if she were to go through with her plan, she would be displaying the vices of untrustworthiness and sleaziness. It is said that Gillian has always demonstrated honesty and loyalty, however just by looking inside of the preliminary report, Gillian has already breached her boss’s trust. While Jerry is still unaware of Gillian reading the report, his obliviousness does not affect Gillian’s own moral character. She is aware that she has committed the vice of dishonesty and that is all that matters. The case sates that Gillian feels an obligation not to take advantage of Jerry’s trust, and that is exactly what she has and is planning to do. This week’s lecture defines virtues as a stable character traits that enable human beings to cooperate and flourish in communities of people with similar traits. If Gillian forgoes the virtues of trustworthiness and honesty than she can no longer uphold her excellence of character, and as a result will have sacrificed her identity. By planning to purchase 50,000 put options in GPE stock to fund a Master’s Degree and pursuit of a better career, Gillian is also then demonstrating Solomon’s business vice of greed. This vice of greed will be explored further in the form of Gillian’s ethical
Who has moral responsibility for deciding what to do?
In this case we are introduced to Gillian Lee, the Senior Administrative Assistant to the VP of Operations at Global Potash Enterprises (GPE). Gillian is faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to use insider information about GPE to her advantage. Gillian had recently seen a preliminary geographical report on her boss Jerry Adams’ desk, detailing the minimal amount of minable potash in GPE’s newly purchased mineral concession. GPE’s future is riding on this new mineral concession doing well, and when Gillian saw in the report that it would not be profitable she realized the bad news would result in massive layoffs. Gillian will either have …show more content…
While they could both in theory plead ignorance of not knowing Gillian had sensitive information, they are still likely to come under scrutiny and suspicion by authorities. Patrick could potentially lose his job as an options trader if he was proven to have known or suspected Gillian of illegal trading. Even though Sally and Patrick probably have less to lose than Jerry and Gillian, their interest still must be taken into account and must be recognized as morally …show more content…
That being said if she were to go through with her plan, she would be displaying the vices of untrustworthiness and sleaziness. It is said that Gillian has always demonstrated honesty and loyalty, however just by looking inside of the preliminary report, Gillian has already breached her boss’s trust. While Jerry is still unaware of Gillian reading the report, his obliviousness does not affect Gillian’s own moral character. She is aware that she has committed the vice of dishonesty and that is all that matters. The case sates that Gillian feels an obligation not to take advantage of Jerry’s trust, and that is exactly what she has and is planning to do. This week’s lecture defines virtues as a stable character traits that enable human beings to cooperate and flourish in communities of people with similar traits. If Gillian forgoes the virtues of trustworthiness and honesty than she can no longer uphold her excellence of character, and as a result will have sacrificed her identity. By planning to purchase 50,000 put options in GPE stock to fund a Master’s Degree and pursuit of a better career, Gillian is also then demonstrating Solomon’s business vice of greed. This vice of greed will be explored further in the form of Gillian’s ethical