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Assignment 1
Hira Tariq
16110301
Razi Allah Lone
MGMT 242
Section 1
5th November, 2014

Based on The Parable of the Sadhu, answer the following questions. In answering
the questions, think about our discussions in class, use your text, and employ your
observations and experiences. Your answer to each question should not exceed 500
words.
1. Using a moral theory or a set of moral theories, could McCoys conclusion
that the hikers actions were blameworthy be justified?

2. Explain the relevance of the story to the corporate world? How much must we
give of ourselves? And how do we prepare our organizations and institutions
so they will respond appropriately in a crisis? How do we influence them if we
do not agree with their point of view?

3. Is it possible to offer sound alternatives to the moral failures that the story
cites? We cannot quit our jobs over every ethical dilemma, but if we
continually ignore our sense of values, who do we become?

Answer 1:
McCoy's conclusions about the actions towards the Sadhu can be examined
through several Moral theories. Explaining it through Virtue Ethic, the theory of
virtue judges actions based on dispositions that are associated with those actions.
According to this theory the aim of the moral life is to develop moral virtues and
exhibit them in situations human life sets before us. (Velasquez) In this case the
situation was the life of Sadhu. A morally good human being projects good traits in all

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the situations and actions. These good habits are cultivated in us through training and
repetition which shows ones character. Accordingly if the mountaineers decided to
help the Sadhu it would clearly show and cultivate their virtue of kindness and
compassion Thus the claim of virtue theory about exercising, exhibiting and
developing virtues stands negated in this view. in fact by not helping Sadhu back to
they showed a vicious character.
However not doing so does not show that they are blameworthy either. By
continuing on their journey alternatively, it builds on their virtue of determination and
courage hence the claim of virtue ethics stands fulfilled. Moreover, as what McCoy
said, the individuals did help the Sadhu to their individual capabilities even if he was
not nursed back to the camp. This brings us to individual vs. group ethics. Looking at
it through another moral theory, let's say utilitarianism for instance, which state the
greater good for the greater number, even than the actions were not blameworthy as
maximum people did have a higher utility by passing that mountain and achieving
their goals, even if it means ignoring Sadhu's life. Similarly, through a Kantian
perspective, this maxim would become a universal law as in the same situation
everyone decided to do the same thing for the same reason (Velasquez) i.e. everyone
helped Sadhu a bit they could but passed on the responsibility to the other in order to
proceed to fulfil their once in a life-time opportunity. Hence, even Kant's theory
justifies their action. Other than that, even the distributive justice seems to be
supporting their action as they seem to exercise maximum freedom for all and
inequalities are only tolerated when the weakest i.e. Sadhu is benefited, as he got
better with little help of everybody.
So according to all of these moral theories and some more, McCoy's
Conclusion about the actions being blameworthy is false, they cannot be blamed for
whatever happened to Sadhu's life, but the fact remains that the end was not very
pleasant, that too based on the fact that end was saving the life of Sadhu. Had the telos
been climbing the mountain and fulfilling the once in a lifetime opportunity, the
teleological analysis would negate the blame as well. These theories only explain as
far as if the action is permissible or justifiable which in this case it is, hence no
blameworthiness can be proven. However how excellent the virtues of these people
and thus actions, seems to be the question.

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Answer 2:
The story 'Parable of Sadhu' is very much relevant to the corporate world, as
McCoy pointed out how in the corporate world we face the same dilemmas as they
faced with the Sadhu. They needed an immediate response, they were under a lot of
physical and mental stress caused by the high altitudes. Similarly, stress is the real test
for corporate values and executives have to make decisions under pressure all the
time. Businesses have to implement and get things done and managers come up with
solutions according to what they see and what they allow to influence their decisions.
(McCoy)
How much we give of ourselves, again depends on the virtue ethics and the
virtues cultivated in us or we want to cultivate in ourselves to become a morally better
human being. But in corporate world it also depends on how much are we backed up
by the groups and the organisations. People and Organisations are independent and
how individuals behave, and how they conceive business ethics, greatly influence the
cultures of organisations and corporations and what's the culture, value and ethics of
an organisation, in turn affects how individuals behave. It is for this reason that
organizations and institutions need to be prepared to deal with crises. They need to
have a heritage of mutually accepted and shared values and people need to be taught
to be aware of their core beliefs and that of the others. Managers should be decisive
and they should be action oriented people who resolve conflict, be tolerant of
ambiguity, stress and change and be strong in their sense of purpose not only to
themselves but their organisations s well. All the members of the organisation or
business should be ethical in the sense that they should follow the business and
cultural goals of its corporation, owners, employees and its customers. (McCoy)
Sometimes, as in the case of Stephen, it is not possible for an individual to
influence something without the back up of a group. At this point of time it becomes
difficult to convince others of our point of view, For such instances I think it is
important for an individual to stand his/her moral ground and develop their core
beliefs and follow the organisations' values within the bounds and if every individual
rights themselves and does the same the organisations culture would eventually shape
up to be morally right and rich in shared beliefs and values. It would eventually
benefit the group at large. Stephen should have played his part of carrying the Sadhu

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back and show his attributes and someone or another would have followed his
example to be more virtuous.
In such circumstances, utilitarianism, though contradicting, but should be kept
in mind as well. Individual vs. the group ethic should be analysed, especially if no
action is wrong but it is to be judged of which action is superior.
Answer 3:
According to what we studied in class, our discussions, the text and the case of
Sadhu, it is definitely established that alternatives can be offered for the failures
addressed in the case by McCoy. McCoy's belief that their actions are blameworthy
and their behaviour would have been different had it been some other person of some
other nationality can be seen from several different perspectives. As we have seen
earlier as well, different moral theories offer different tenets and what is ethically and
morally right for one theory might not be so for the next and criticisms exist for all.
What actions the mountaineers took by helping Sadhu their bit and moving on to fulfil
their telos is not wrong but it is not just morally superior behaviour that a morally
good person with excellent virtues would do. McCoy is guilty because he expected
better of himself and regrets not performing on his chance to become a hero by saving
someone's life and his belief of feeling better on the trips where he helped humanity
further proves this point. As far as helping Sadhu if he'd been some other nationality
might be true if we see this from ethics of care point of view. Care for our own does
come into play.
Same dilemmas exist in the corporate world, quitting job on every dilemma is
not the answer for a morally right behaviour, one should establish the core beliefs and
contribute to the business ethics and establishing the values and moral culture for the
organisation as a whole and then follow that organisations culture accordingly giving
their hundred percent loyalty to the norms of it which forms it's business ethics and
thus the integrity and authenticity of that enterprise. As McCoy said that if a manager
is indecisive and spends time trying to figure out the good thing to do, the enterprise
may be lost. (McCoy) The good values have to have imbedded in us to act on them.
This would also ensure that we do not forget our values and become a morally bad
human being. If everyone does their part rightly, the whole thing would become right
and just eventually. This is what's focussed and established by several different

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perspectives of rights and duties theories and would ensure an overall justice and
fairness. Another take away from this case would be that there is no doubt that some
values and action are out of our capabilities as an individual but one should do their
best in those actions and hope for the best from others and eventually groups. If one
does not believe in it enough to act on it then no support would be gained from the
group to influence anything.

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Work Cited

McCoy, Bowen H. "The Parable of the Sadhu." Harvard Business Review. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014

Velasquez, Manuel G. Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 7th ed.Englewood

Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1982. Print