Where other ethical theories can provide some wiggle room with respect to actions -- Ford's attempt at a utilitarian cost-benefit analysis, for example -- human life has a special place in ethics, precisely because it cannot be replaced or repaired once taken. This categorical imperative supersedes all other philosophies because of the special status of human life. Clearly, all reasonable codes of ethics were violated in this case.
In terms of the five schools of social responsibility, Ford sought to maximize profits. It did not consider a moral minimum, as it violated even the most minimal of corporate ethics codes. Stakeholders other than shareholders do not appear to have been given much consideration in Ford's decision making process, and clearly there was no demonstration of corporate citizenship for if any citizen were to choose to kill hundreds of people one would presume that act to be criminal. For whatever reason, the executives at Ford thought it reasonable to focus on maximizing profit as the only objective, ignoring all other perspectives, as they would have led to a different conclusion..
Ford was taken to court in a reckless homicide trial. In 1980, the company and its executives were found "not guilty" in the case, which involved three teenaged girls who were killed when their Pinto was struck from behind. The trial was held in Indiana, in a state court. The reckless homicide charge was a relatively new one, having been added to the state's book in July, 1978 (Dole, 1980).
At the trial, Ford brought a substantial defense team. Ford used expert testimony from an accident reconstructionist who defended the Pinto by using tests run on a variety of automobiles. The prosecution relied on attacking the credibility of Ford management and on the design of the Pinto, which it had to prove was the major contributing factor to the deaths of the girls. The court demanded a high standard of evidence, and would...
Ford Pinto What happened to the Ford Pinto? Ford Motor Company had intended to compete with other automobiles on the market that were smaller and used less gas. But something went terribly wrong along the way. This paper explores the details that led ultimately to the demise of the Ford Pinto -- and to the deaths and injuries of innocent consumers. Why was the Pinto developed in the first place? Ford Motor
The Taurus and Aerostar were star performers in their respective segments, as were the F-series trucks. The Explorer took advantage of the growing SUV market. The company's modern-era market share peaked in the mid-90s, and has come down steadily over the past decade and change. By the mid-00s, Ford was in financial trouble and undertook the leveraging of its assets in order to get the company through a multi-year restructuring
Business Ethics Corporate Values Love Canal Scandal The Love Canal situation dealt with a chemical company that buried there toxic chemical waste and then sold the land that was contaminated. The Hooker Chemical and Plastics, Co. bought a canal that was unfinished because the owner went bankrupt before he got to finish it. Hooker then filled a large area, a 3,200 ft. section of the canal with chemical waste. It wasn't Hooker alone
Ford is a car company that has endured many challenges and travails over the years. Indeed, they are not unlike General Motors and Chrysler in this regard. While they have generally been unscathed as compared to the other two "American" car companies and they are only one of two of the original Big 3 that is still entirely American-controlled, Ford is not dominating the market by any means. Their overall
Business Ethics and Positive Social Change: The Ford Pinto Fiasco How much is a human life worth? Most people would likely agree that human lives are priceless, but the executives at Ford Motor Company made this type of grisly calculation when they were confronted with the alarming facts about the dangers posed by flaws in the gas tanks of their Pinto automobiles in 1970. Although Ford Motor Company would ultimately recall
The simple listing of "180 burn deaths & 180 serious burn injuries" (Hartman & DesJardins, 2008) does not capture the sheer human suffering that the expected rate of 2,100 accidents is sure to cause. Finally, the influence of my peers within the management structure of Ford would affect my decision significantly, because if I felt that advocating for a costly recall was undermining my status, it would admittedly be
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now