Ethical Trap on Volkswagen’s Emissions

The Ethical Trap
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One significant ethical trap I have researched is the scandal about Volkswagen’s emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 revealed that Volkswagen had installed software to generate fake NOx-emission outcomes contrary to the legal framework. This illegal installation enabled the organization to market their vehicles as environmentally friendly despite emitting dangerous pollutants beyond the allowed limits (Jong & van der Linde, 2022). Schafer (2011) asserts that the ethical trap entails two major ethical decisions, the basic and the secondary ones. In this case, the fundamental ethical decision involves the determination of Volkswagen to install software to manipulate emission results illegally. Subsequently, the secondary ethical decision encompasses the ensuing decision to cover up the illegality or mistake and cheat consumers and regulators (Jong & Linde, 2022). Volkswagen’s ethical trap results from focusing on short-term benefits more than honorable behavior. The driving factor for the primary ethical decision of illegally installing the manipulative software was likely to be the urge to attain emission standards without incurring expenses on cleaner technology. The secondary ethical decision of covering the illegality was due to fear of possible consequences like reputational damage, financial loss, and regulatory fines. The organization attempted to maintain it...