| Course | PHI-3840 Ethics and the Business Professional |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 1 |
| Paper type | Discussion forum: initial response and two comments |
| Length | About 463 words |
| Format | Discussion post with APA 7 citations |
| School | Thomas Edison State University |
| Program | Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for PHI 3840 Module 1
Module 1 Discussion: Should I Pad the Forecast?
Should I Pad the Forecast? Three Ethical Frameworks Applied to a Small Workplace Dilemma
Last quarter my regional manager asked me to submit a sales forecast to our main chair manufacturer that was 20 percent higher than my honest estimate. A higher forecast would qualify us for a volume discount tier, and he expected the market to "catch up." I did not want to say no to my boss, but the number was not true.
Byars and Stanberry (2018) describe utilitarianism as judging an act by its results, aiming at the most good for the most people affected. A utilitarian would weigh the discount, perhaps $40,000, against the harms: the manufacturer would build chairs for orders that may not come, our credibility would suffer if the forecast missed, and future forecasts would be doubted. Since the manufacturer plans production on our numbers, the harm reaches beyond our company. On balance the consequences argue against padding.
Deontology, associated with Kant, judges actions by duties and rules, regardless of outcome. The categorical imperative (Kant, 1998) asks whether one could will the rule behind an action to become universal. If every dealer inflated forecasts, forecasts would become meaningless, so the rule fails. Padding also treats the manufacturer's planners merely as a means to our discount.
Virtue ethics, which goes back to Aristotle, looks at character: what would a good person do here? Honesty and practical wisdom are the relevant virtues. A virtuous coordinator would neither lie nor simply refuse, but would find an honest way to serve the manager's goal. Aristotle treated virtue as a habit formed by practice, so each small honest choice makes the next one easier.
That is what I did. I told my manager I could not sign a forecast I did not believe, but proposed asking the manufacturer whether a forecast with a stated upside range, 10 to 20 percent, could qualify us for an interim tier. Treviño et al. (2000) found that leaders are seen as ethical only when they appear to be both moral people and moral managers; I saw that integrity at my level also means offering an alternative. The manufacturer agreed to a provisional discount reviewed at quarter end. My manager was annoyed for a day, then used the same approach with a second manufacturer.
Comment on Kayla's Post
Kayla, rounding your timesheet up fifteen minutes a day seems small, but a utilitarian would add it up across a year and across everyone who does it. Would your answer change if your manager did the same?
Comment on Derek's Post
Derek, writing a five-star review of your brother-in-law's restaurant feels like loyalty. A deontologist would ask whether you could accept a world where all reviews were written by relatives. Is there a way to support him honestly?
References
Byars, S. M., & Stanberry, K. (2018). Business ethics. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/business-ethics
Kant, I. (1998). Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals (M. Gregor, Trans.). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1785)
Treviño, L. K., Hartman, L. P., & Brown, M. (2000). Moral person and moral manager: How executives develop a reputation for ethical leadership. California Management Review, 42(4), 128-142. https://doi.org/10.2307/41166057
What the PHI 3840 Module 1 instructions ask for
PHI-3840 includes eight discussion forums, which make up a fifth of the grade, and each calls for a substantial first post plus two or more substantial replies to classmates; comments such as "I agree" do not count. The course text is Byars and Stanberry's Business Ethics from OpenStax. This first forum covers ethical frameworks and personal integrity. Expect to apply several frameworks to a dilemma, explain where they agree or differ and reflect on what integrity requires of you. State and support your position when you agree or disagree with a classmate. Pick a dilemma you faced or witnessed at work, describe it in enough detail that the frameworks have something to work on, and say what you actually did, since the forum values honest reflection on personal integrity.
Inside the PHI 3840 Module 1 example
The post opens with a real dilemma and its stakes. Three paragraphs apply utilitarian, deontological and virtue ethics in turn, each reaching a conclusion for its own reason. A paragraph describes the action taken, an honest alternative, and links it to research on ethical leadership. The two replies apply a framework to a classmate's dilemma and end with a question, so each comment states and supports a position rather than simply agreeing. Each framework reaches its conclusion for its own reason, and the post shows that agreement among frameworks strengthens the case for the action taken, an honest alternative that served the manager's legitimate goal.
Reading the PHI 3840 Module 1 grading rubric
Discussion grades weigh how much and how well a student takes part, how course material supports each point and how closely the student engages with classmates' posts. Posts that apply each framework accurately to a specific situation show understanding. Explaining why the frameworks agree or differ shows deeper thinking than listing them. Replies that bring a concept to bear on a classmate's dilemma, with a question, add value, and proofread, respectful writing is expected throughout. Describing what the writer actually did, and its result, connects the frameworks to integrity in practice. Citing research on ethical leadership adds weight beyond the textbook.
PHI 3840 Module 1 help from the desk
Students lose points by defining frameworks without applying them, by choosing dilemmas with no real tension or by posting replies that only agree. Others confuse deontology with following company rules. Choose a dilemma with real costs on both sides. Apply each framework to its details. Explain your own choice. Reply with a supported position and a question for the classmate. Say what you did and what happened, since the module asks about your own integrity as well as theory. Keep the frameworks separate; each one asks its own question of the act. A free first sample on your own PHI-3840 discussion is available on request.
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PHI 3840 Module 1 questions, answered
Where can I find a free PHI 3840 Module 1 sample paper?
Three ethical frameworks applied to a request to inflate a sales forecast, with two replies, are in the discussion above.
What is utilitarianism?
Judging an act by its outcomes and choosing what does the most good for the most people.
What is deontology?
Judging actions by duties and rules, regardless of consequences, as in Kant's categorical imperative.
What does virtue ethics ask?
What a person of good character, with virtues such as honesty and practical wisdom, would do.
What textbook does PHI-3840 use?
Byars and Stanberry's Business Ethics, published free by OpenStax.