Wisdom Scenario
August 1, 2010
HSM/230
Wisdom & Action Scenario 1. Analyze the following ethical dilemma from the perspective of rationality and respect (Dilemma Tucker & Marcuson, 1998). A local nonprofit organization that networks with other service agencies in the area was designed to fill gaps in needed services for families. This agency has been in existence for several years and has gained the respect of the community. The staff of this agency can serve families who have a need that cannot be served in any other way through connecting these families with community volunteers who adopt them. The volunteer director of the agency works on a volunteer basis and contributes numerous hours each week to fulfill responsibilities associated with this position. To reduce her workload, the director of the agency applied to seven different foundations to request money for a part-time administrative assistant. The agency requested $10,000 from each of the foundations, with the hope that they would receive assistance from one of them. To the surprise of the director, three of the foundations accepted their proposal and awarded the agency with $10,000 for the salary of the part-time employee. The agency ended up with $30,000, which was three times as much as was needed for the salary. The granting foundations had different requirements for reporting on the use of the money. However, at least two of the foundations asked that the money be used in the manner for which it was requested. * What are the known facts? The known facts of the dilemma are: an agency needed an administrative assistant to help with the workload, the director wanted to pay the assistant, the director requested $10,000 from 7 different foundations, 3 foundations awarded the agency with $10,000 a piece, 2 of the agencies required that the money awarded be used for the purpose it was requested. * What facts are missing that need to be obtained? I do not think any facts are missing from the dilemma.
HSM/230
Wisdom & Action Scenario 1. Analyze the following ethical dilemma from the perspective of rationality and respect (Dilemma Tucker & Marcuson, 1998). A local nonprofit organization that networks with other service agencies in the area was designed to fill gaps in needed services for families. This agency has been in existence for several years and has gained the respect of the community. The staff of this agency can serve families who have a need that cannot be served in any other way through connecting these families with community volunteers who adopt them. The volunteer director of the agency works on a volunteer basis and contributes numerous hours each week to fulfill responsibilities associated with this position. To reduce her workload, the director of the agency applied to seven different foundations to request money for a part-time administrative assistant. The agency requested $10,000 from each of the foundations, with the hope that they would receive assistance from one of them. To the surprise of the director, three of the foundations accepted their proposal and awarded the agency with $10,000 for the salary of the part-time employee. The agency ended up with $30,000, which was three times as much as was needed for the salary. The granting foundations had different requirements for reporting on the use of the money. However, at least two of the foundations asked that the money be used in the manner for which it was requested. * What are the known facts? The known facts of the dilemma are: an agency needed an administrative assistant to help with the workload, the director wanted to pay the assistant, the director requested $10,000 from 7 different foundations, 3 foundations awarded the agency with $10,000 a piece, 2 of the agencies required that the money awarded be used for the purpose it was requested. * What facts are missing that need to be obtained? I do not think any facts are missing from the dilemma.