Page 79 - CL Armchair Case
P. 79
Ethics
Blackthorn is the decision maker and he has responsibility to both
Shareholders – for profits and dividends
Customers – provide good quality products
at reasonable prices. Safety, honesty,
decency and truthfulness
However, his decision is essentially a personal one. No matter how
much information he gathers his decision is unlikely to be based on the
Spock principal.
Business is about perception and Blackthorn will be aware that should
his decision say, to launch were to get out the perception of Phissons
would be that this was a company which put money above the lives of
children.
On the other hand if he withdraws the drug the company will be seen as
an ethical one.
The Actual Answer
The company this case study was based on was Fissons plc, the agro
chemical company who in the 1980s developed proxychromil an
asthmatic drug and the spin-haler for its delivery.
The situation as portrayed was close to the actual one facing the then
CEO.
