ETHICAL DILEMMAS and HARVARD SIMULATIONS!

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The session on 10/11/2020 was slightly different from the other sessions because it seemed to begin with a pop quiz to ensure that we are all alert and focused on the class. We were given a time period of 10 minutes to answer and this led to a lot of frantic activity on our end where we were scrambling to remember what the right answers were. However, to our surprise, at the end of the exercise, Professor Viji mentioned that it was merely a test of our ethics. Would we copy given a chance to copy? Would we have cheated on an exam that was easily google-able? The exercise was a wonderful way to simulate an important discussion on ethics and principles and morality.

Following the activity, we entered a period of discussion wherein we discussed what it means to make moral choices and whether there can ever be a situation where exams can be taken without invigilation. Would human beings choose to be good when they don't have to be? We discussed the ideas of Doping and justification of such actions. The ends and means of such an idea. The principle of honesty and courage to admit consequences. The importance of such a discussion cannot be underestimated because we go through dilemmas at every stage of our life. There is a slippery slope of overthinking that can be invested in unless our ethical compass isn't well-tuned. 

We then went into breakout sessions wherein we discussed scenarios in mythology dealing with ethical dilemmas. My group was able to come up with suggestions of Medussa and Sisyphus in relation to Greek Mythology and we also discussed it in terms of Indian Mythology, Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita. 
Further, we had a case study discussion based on the Martha McCaskey case which also yielded to a fruitful understanding of what these ethical dilemmas entail. 



We also had a fruitful discussion on the WhatsApp group post the class wherein we spoke about the moral grey areas. An interesting article that I found after that session really brought things into perspective for me regarding what is white-black and what is grey in our understanding of people, situation, and judging. 

https://www.london.edu/think/business-ethics-black-white-or-grey

An important understanding of this essay is the following quote: 


We need to understand that we are not perfect rational beings and that we make mistakes — and start working with this reality in developing the responsible leaders we need. We also need to develop corporate cultures which foster the strengthening of people’s moral compasses, while inducing an open and trustworthy leadership that allows discussions of the grey zones we all encounter in business and how they come about. It is thanks to awareness — along with vision and imagination — that responsible leaders will be able to take actions conducive to a culture that respects people and contributes to the common good.

Harvard Simulation was an interesting exercise we partook in during our IDIO course. Through this, we were divided into groups and went through a case study regarding a diabetes monitor. It was a great exercise that honed our decision-making skills as we explored the various options in reasoning and critical thinking. Further, there were difficult choices to make regarding the firing of employees and how we would go about doing that. It was thoroughly one of the most interesting MBA experiences I was a part of through DoMS, and I will forever be grateful for the experience and my learnings through the group work and insights of my peers. 




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