Ethical Decision-Making Model
The case selected for applying the ethical decision-making model is “Overseas Manufacturing-Mattel responds to ethical challenges”. Mattel is a known manufacturer for toys. Its famous brands are Barbie, Disney, Fisher-Price, and Hot Wheels. The products of Mattel have created many ethical issues as its consumers are children. Therefore, Mattel should focus on social concerns.
The main ethical issue addressed in the case of “overseas manufacturing” is the non-adherence of overseas manufacturers of production standards. This ethical issue is extremely important as non-compliance of standards led to the lawsuits claimed by the patents that Mattel’s products are hamming their children. The ethical standard of Mattel is to sell the unsafe products that do not harm children and lead paint should not be used for toys.
The unethical behavior at Lee Der (Chinese production of Mattel’s products) decreased the importance of ethical issue. Lee Der is an individual producer of Mattel’s products that purchased lead-tainted paint from non-authorized third-party. This dishonest behavior directed to the production of toy-cars painted with paints containing lead. Mattel resolved this ethical issue by making a decision of restricting three paint suppliers for Lee Der.
Mattel itself focuses on the high standards of ethics. Its ethical policy includes the compliance of partners with the national and local business laws. Mattel focuses in quality and safety standards. Mattel established MIMCO to monitor the practices of all the production units. MIMCO ensures the balancing and compliance of standards. However, individual factors violated the Mattel’s safety and quality standards.
The opportunity of committing unethical behavior for Lee Der was eliminated when Mattel enforced a rule of supplier’s hiring. Mattel maintained the investigation and testing process itself by spending 50,000 hours. It announced a plan of three-point to control production, prevention of non-authorized suppliers, and self-testing (Ferrell et al., 2008).
The case of Overseas Manufacturing of Mattel includes a detailed ethical decision-making model. After the discovery of lead-paint in toys, parents claimed lawsuits against Mattel toys. Mattel ethically made a decision of testing the toys itself to endure the maintenance of quality and safety standards.
