Discuss Legal Issues in Business

Reply to the threads of 2 classmates who offer views different than  yours. Identify the points of difference in your analyses and explain  how your application of the relevant law to the facts of this situation  led you to a different conclusion.

Each reply must be supported  by 3 scholarly sources other than the textbook/course materials. Each  source must be properly cited in current APA format.

Review the  Assignment Instructions for Discussion Board Forums, noting especially  requirements for word counts, scholarly sources, and biblical worldview  integration.

Submit your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

REPLY 1

JESSICA STRADER

DB Post 1  Collapse

1. As  an employee or a manager in either the legal office or the engineering  department, how would you have prevented this incident?

Diesel  engines had a reputation of emitting many harmful pollutants into the  air which created problems for the environment and to the public. Since  it became such an issue, diesel vehicles were required to undergo  emissions tests to try and alleviate how many pollutants were released  into the air. When the test was done on Volkswagen diesels when the  scandal was found out, the results showed that their levels were 40%  over the United States threshold. As an employee in the engineering  department I would have first off researched the cheaper ignition switch  before I decided to use that one instead of one that was maybe more  expensive but would not have led to cheat on the emissions test. The  vehicle industry is one where costly mistakes are not welcomed and where  you must be extremely careful in every choice that you make. Secondly, I  would have cleared this choice with my manager instead of not telling  anyone and using it anyway. One person alone should not make the call on  using a cheaper part; especially when the risks did not seem to be  evaluated beforehand. The consequences of one person making an unethical  decision cost the company money, and its reputation. In the article “VW  faces long road in regaining trust: emissions scandal left 2,540  Arkansans eligible for buybacks” a buyer of Volkswagen cars said “The  thought of VW lowering their ethical standards to skew emissions tests  seemed unnecessary. The overall outcome has been devastating for their  brand image” (Cook, 2016). Recovering from a blow to brand image is a  long and tough road, especially in the vehicle industry. People that  were Volkswagen customers might be swayed to buy a different brand due  to the hit to the Volkswagen brand.

As  a manger in the engineering department, I first would have been more  careful about who I had working under me. As a manger, you are  responsible for the choices that those under you make, and I would make  sure that I fully trust my team. I know that some people might seem  trustworthy and end up not being trustworthy, but especially in the  vehicle industry you must be super careful. Secondly, I would have a  system in place that would not allow people to just replace one part for  another. There should be some way to control that and make sure that  all decisions are ran by the manager before the final call is made. Due  to this decision being made to use a cheaper part, it ended up “wiping  out $16.9 billion of company’s market value” (Jung, Park & Bin,  2017). I would hope that Volkswagen fired the engineer that made the  decision and the managers that were in charge.

My  biblical worldview on this topic is centered around the verse “Whatever  you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving  thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17, New American  Standard Bible). Every choice that we make as Christian reflects  directly on others views of Christ, and it reflects on our character. We  should always make sure that our decisions are made in accordance with  God’s word. We should never cut corners because it might save money, or  because it might seem right to us. I try to keep the perspective of God  in everything I do, and I am so glad that He gave us a conscience in the  Holy Spirit to help keep us in check when we might not be totally sure  of something.

2. As  the CEO of the diesel division of Volkswagen, how would you have  responded when the situation became public? How would this response  prevent future incidents?

Reply to the threads of 2 classmates who offer views different than  yours. Identify the points of difference in your analyses and explain  how your application of the relevant law to the facts of this situation  led you to a different conclusion.

Each reply must be supported  by 3 scholarly sources other than the textbook/course materials. Each  source must be properly cited in current APA format.

Review the  Assignment Instructions for Discussion Board Forums, noting especially  requirements for word counts, scholarly sources, and biblical worldview  integration.

Submit your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

REPLY 1

JESSICA STRADER

DB Post 1  Collapse

1. As  an employee or a manager in either the legal office or the engineering  department, how would you have prevented this incident?

Diesel  engines had a reputation of emitting many harmful pollutants into the  air which created problems for the environment and to the public. Since  it became such an issue, diesel vehicles were required to undergo  emissions tests to try and alleviate how many pollutants were released  into the air. When the test was done on Volkswagen diesels when the  scandal was found out, the results showed that their levels were 40%  over the United States threshold. As an employee in the engineering  department I would have first off researched the cheaper ignition switch  before I decided to use that one instead of one that was maybe more  expensive but would not have led to cheat on the emissions test. The  vehicle industry is one where costly mistakes are not welcomed and where  you must be extremely careful in every choice that you make. Secondly, I  would have cleared this choice with my manager instead of not telling  anyone and using it anyway. One person alone should not make the call on  using a cheaper part; especially when the risks did not seem to be  evaluated beforehand. The consequences of one person making an unethical  decision cost the company money, and its reputation. In the article “VW  faces long road in regaining trust: emissions scandal left 2,540  Arkansans eligible for buybacks” a buyer of Volkswagen cars said “The  thought of VW lowering their ethical standards to skew emissions tests  seemed unnecessary. The overall outcome has been devastating for their  brand image” (Cook, 2016). Recovering from a blow to brand image is a  long and tough road, especially in the vehicle industry. People that  were Volkswagen customers might be swayed to buy a different brand due  to the hit to the Volkswagen brand.

As  a manger in the engineering department, I first would have been more  careful about who I had working under me. As a manger, you are  responsible for the choices that those under you make, and I would make  sure that I fully trust my team. I know that some people might seem  trustworthy and end up not being trustworthy, but especially in the  vehicle industry you must be super careful. Secondly, I would have a  system in place that would not allow people to just replace one part for  another. There should be some way to control that and make sure that  all decisions are ran by the manager before the final call is made. Due  to this decision being made to use a cheaper part, it ended up “wiping  out $16.9 billion of company’s market value” (Jung, Park & Bin,  2017). I would hope that Volkswagen fired the engineer that made the  decision and the managers that were in charge.

My  biblical worldview on this topic is centered around the verse “Whatever  you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving  thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17, New American  Standard Bible). Every choice that we make as Christian reflects  directly on others views of Christ, and it reflects on our character. We  should always make sure that our decisions are made in accordance with  God’s word. We should never cut corners because it might save money, or  because it might seem right to us. I try to keep the perspective of God  in everything I do, and I am so glad that He gave us a conscience in the  Holy Spirit to help keep us in check when we might not be totally sure  of something.

2. As  the CEO of the diesel division of Volkswagen, how would you have  responded when the situation became public? How would this response  prevent future incidents?