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WorldCom Ethical Issues

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Using the reference, text in the web links:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/#H2
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/intro_text/Chapter%208%20Ethics/Categorical_Imperative.htm
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/worldcom.html

I need to write a critical response to the following:

Step 1) Identify and discuss a minimum of three (3) of the major ethical problems raised in the WorldCom case?

Step 2) Critically evaluate WorldCom's ethical problems using the deontological framework. Be sure to define deontology briefly (duty, etc.), and then apply the theory to the three problems you described in Step 1.

Step 3) Critically assess WorldCom's ethics from Immanuel Kant's point of view - specifically, using Kant's Categorical Imperative. Be sure to describe what Kant meant by his Categorical Imperative, and then apply this theory to the three problems you have identified in Step 1.

Additional Resources:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/
http://www.philosophypages.com/index.htm
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/intro_text/default.htm
http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/

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Solution Summary

The solution provides information, assistance and advise in tackling the task (see above) of discussing the ethical issues at play in the case of WorldCom's collapse. Ethical problems are identified, explored and evaluated from a deontological as well as a Kantian ethical perspective. A suggested outline for the paper is provided. Resources are listed and a word-version is also attached.

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Dear Student,
Hi! In this particular task, you are being asked to look at the case of WorldCom from an ethical viewpoint. For a lengthy, what you need to do is to have an outline and ensure you have put together enough words. I suggest this:

1. Introduction - what this paper is about, definition of the ethical theories - 300 words
2. About WorldCom - provide a brief background about the case on study - 300 words
3. Major ethical issues raised in the case of WorldCom (3) - 300 words
4. Deontological analysis of WorldCom's issues (duty) - 300 words
5. Kantian analysis of WorldCom' issues (The categorical Imperative) - 300 words

This should cover what you need and provide you with the pages required. You can also use the listed resources to further explore the topic. Good luck with your studies.

Sincerely,
AE 105878/Xenia Jones

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Ethics Review: The Case of WorldCom

WorldCom was, at one point in time in the 90 America's biggest Telecoms Company. It was further admired primarily because the rise of the company and the man behind it was a true rags to riches story, stuff that 'American Dreams' of fortune are made about. Born to a salesman father and a homemaker mother, Bernie Ebbers was one of 5 children. While he finished college, he got his degree from little known Mississippi College, with a BA in Physical Education. He began his business by operating a chain of motels in Mississippi and by 1983 he was one of the initial investors in a state Telco company - Long Distance Discount Services, Inc. Becoming CEO in 1985, his company acquired 60 of its competitors over the years finally buying MFS Communications in 1995, establishing WorldCom. At this point, the company was estimated to be worth hundreds of billions, becoming America's biggest. But soon enough, in a failed bid to acquire MCI, its chief competitor, the accounting fraud that has become established practice in the company over the years began to unravel. By 2002 after his resignation, it was revealed that he, together with his executive board colluded to defraud investors, conspiring to 'cook the books', with Ebbers leading the security and conspiracy frauds that stole over $100 billion from the company. It was revealed in 2005 after he was sentenced for 25 years in prison that he personally oversaw $11 billion accounting misstatements, and that he has drawn $366 million of personal loans from the company, with the board allowing him to pay via 'promissory notes'. It is deemed today that Ebbers was one of the worst CEO's in American history, only overshadowed by Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. This discussion will attempt to examine the case of WorldCom and Ebbers from an ethical position, primarily deontological (duty-based) and Kantian (categorical imperative) perspectives.

More on WorldCom
So what really is WorldCom all about? What was the business like? On paper, WorldCom was America's then biggest Telecoms Company. It was Bernie Ebbers who led its creation, when from a small long distance company; he began to slowly purchase and acquire control of his competitors, integrating their business into a growing WorldCom. When it acquired MCI in the ...

Solution provided by:
Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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