This case is one of two possible topics for the Module 2 Essay. Your instructor will assign the topic one week before Essays are due.
This case examines the controversy surrounding the manufacturers of medical ultrasound equipment. You should use the case and any supporting materials provided by the instructor. You do not need perform outside research. Two of the largest markets for medical ultrasound equipment are India and China. Both nations have a culture that values male children more highly than female children. The controversy involves the practice of using medical ultrasound equipment to determine the sex of children before birth in order to abort the “less preferred” female children. India and China have both made the practice of using ultrasound equipment for sex selection illegal. Critics of the practice accuse the manufacturers of ultrasound equipment of intentionaly enabling this illegal practice in the pursuit of profit. Please note: this case does NOT address the uniquely North American controversy involving “abortion access”.
Your goal in this case is to evaluate the social responsibility of manufacturers of medical ultrasound equipment. As you evaluate their social responsibility, consider the arguments made be all stakeholders in the controversy.
Please read and prepare the case prior to the Class Discussion. To analyse the case, we will use Carroll’s CSR analysis framework found on page 417 of the textbook. Treat this case as a dress-rehersal for the written Module CSR Analysis Essay.
Carroll’s CSR Analysis framework includes the following subsections:
Thesis (purpose) of your essay and description of the issue(s)
The relevant facts and assumptions that pertain to the issue
The Stakeholders party to the issue and their ‘stake’ in the issue
The CSR analysis of each stakeholder’s responsibility for issue in terms of:
Economic Responsibility
Legal Responsibility
Ethical Responsibility
Philanthropic Responsibility (and other concepts from the list below that might further explain to or inform the reader about the Social Responsibility of Business)
The use or abuse of power (e.g. “might equals right”, or “the end justifies the means”)
Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection
Externalities and other market inefficiencies
Misaligned incentives
The Tragedy of the Commons
The Rashomon Effect
Rational ignorance
The election cycle
NIMBY
Cognitive biases
Evaluation
Recommendation
If the instructor selects this case for the Module Essay, you will compose a written CSR Analysis of the case. This written analysis is intended to be your normative evaluation of the case, concluding with an evaluation of the situation and recommendations to the companies involved. If your analysis is insufficient for making an evaluation and company recommendations, it will earn fewer points than those essays that provide an adequate foundation for making those normative judgments. Use this assignment to demonstrate your understanding of the textbook and other concepts introduced so far in the course, and your ability to analyze a business case using Carroll’s CSR Analysis Framework found on page 417 of the textbook (see detailed description of his CSR model in the ‘Assignments’ course handout).
INSTRUCTIONS: Integrate the textbook content with the assigned Case and compose and analysis of the issue in the case. This assignment focuses on both the positivist portions of a CSR analysis and the normative evaluation of the overall situation. Data driven discussions based on ethical, economic, and legal reasoning (normative arguments) will be given far more credit than those founded in subjective or personal criteria like feelings or beliefs (unless you make it clear that your feelings and beliefs are based on ethical, economic, or legal concepts and theory). Justifications based on prevailing beliefs and social norms (e.g. by simply agreeing with the critics) usually fail to reflect your understanding of a subject.
SCORING: This assignment counts 80% for content and 20% for mechanics. Content scoring for your essay will be based on the disciplinary content of the course, overall impact, persuasiveness, logic, and composition. Your assignment must be constructed carefully so as to convey your intended thesis without excess or deficiency of content. I have two recommendations for writing:
No Fluff – Stop writing when you have accomplished your thesis. Remove everything that does not pertain to your thesis.
Limit your thesis to shorten the assignment.
Mechanics scoring will use the rules of formal business English. Essays with significant mechanical and composition errors are certain to affect readability, and will therefore affect content. Consult the ‘Assignment -Spring 2023′ rubric and the “COBA Credibility Killers’ rubric (both are attached) for specific mechanical issues that will be evaluated. Request assistance from the SHSU Writing Center if your scores on earlier writing assignments and exams fall below your expectations.
