Jayce Writer

Finally, the Final Memorandum is due Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 11:59 pm. This research project represents 30 percent of your grade.
The directions are as follows:
The case study/final memorandum culminates in a complex memorandum to an executive officer of a company. The case study/final memorandum focuses on developing, sharpening and applying critical thinking skills, in the context of recognizing, evaluating, and proposing a resolution for ethical issues that arise in managerial decision making.
Write the analysis in business memo format, addressed to Board of Directors for the company. Make the memorandum from you, acting as hired consultant for the company.
The case study to be analyzed, The Plumpy’nut Controversy, is retrievable in the Course Content link.
By completing this assignment, students will meet the outcome(s):
Ø identify ethical issues that arise in domestic and global business environments using an understanding of ethical concepts and of legal and business principles;
Ø develop and evaluate alternatives to, and recommend solutions for, ethical dilemmas, taking into account ethical and legal requirements and the essential mission of the business enterprise
Ø effectively communicate to internal and external business stakeholders the complexities of ethical issues, suggesting and analyzing various solutions in order to ensure appropriate business practices and accountability
Requirements of Case Study/Final Memorandum:
· View Video: Nutrition for Niger – Plumpy’nut – 10:58 mins
60 Minutes segment by Anderson Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSCMoRDp2c

· Read article: The Purpose of Patents

http://www.innovation.org/documents/File/Pharmaceutical_Patents

· Draft memo using the format (subheadings/sections) prescribed below;
· All sections must be comprehensive, in-depth and fully justified;
· Resources from previously assigned course materials or from your own research may be used to justify and support rationale;
· All in-text citations and resources must be in APA style;
· Submit the completed case in the Assignment Folder.
The Final Memorandum must include the following sections and subheadings:

O:
FROM:
RE:
DATE:
INTRODUCTION: Brief 1-paragraph intro to subject of memo.
FACTS SUMMARY: Summarize and explain the facts that are directly significant and relevant to the ethical dilemma in this case.
Write at least 1 paragraph, or you may use an introductory sentence to be followed by a list of relevant facts with bullets.
ETHICAL DILEMMA: Briefly discuss in 1 paragraph, the either/or ethical dilemma facing the company. Please refer to “Facts vs. Ethical Dilemma……..” in the TOOLBOX for explanation, examples of dilemmas.
ETHICAL ISSUES: Explain three (3) of the most significant ethical issues related to, and arising from, the ethical dilemma and then, explain each ethical issue and why it is an ethical/moral issue, etc.
For each ethical issue that you identify your discussion will:
· present the relevant, associated facts;
· specifically “name” the ethical issue;
· evaluate why the issue is an ethical issue – discuss how managers’ fiduciary duties, effects on all corporate stakeholders, etc., define the ethical issue, and direct resolution of the issue.
ALTERNATIVES: List, explain and justify 1 possible alternative/solution to address and resolve the ethical dilemma and EACH ethical issue discussed above. Each alternative should be comprehensive so that it addresses the related ethical issue.
Alternatives should be feasible, logical, directly related to resolving the ethical dilemma and addressing the ethical issues in the case.
Alternatives are expressed in the form of propositions or prescriptive statements suggesting action and are framed by asking the normative question, what could or should the company do? Consider consequences. Identify relevant stakeholders, and the effects on each group, pros and cons, etc. of each alternative. Apply ethical theories in context of your evaluations, but don’t over-do this aspect. For example, teleological or consequentialist theorists would examine who the stakeholders are, both internal and external to the company, and the positive and negative consequences for each stakeholder group, etc.
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend 1 (and only 1) alternative from the three (3) alternatives suggested above. Justify and explain your choice discussing:
why you chose this alternative;
how, specifically, the recommendation will address the ethical dilemma and ethical issues;
how the recommendation will likely impact each relevant stakeholder group;
pros and cons of your recommendation;
feasibility of your recommendation;
how the recommendation may be implemented;
Apply ethical theories, resources from previously assigned course materials, or resources from your own research to justify and support your recommendation. All in-text citations must be in APA style.
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS for RECOMMENDATION: Discuss potential implications arising from your recommendation for:
the company
other businesses within the industry
other industries
CONCLUSION: Summarize the case and its ethical issues, implications, etc.

Final Paper Case Study

The Plumpy’nut Controversy

Background: In preparation for the Final Paper, review the video and article below.

Video: Nutrition for Niger – Plumpy’nut – 10:58 mins

60 Minutes segment by Anderson Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSCMoRDp2c

 

Article: The Purpose of Patents

http://www.innovation.org/documents/File/Pharmaceutical_Patents

 

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: According to the FAO, there were 925 million undernourished people in the world in 2010. Nearly 105 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 68 million children suffer from acute malnutrition. Of the 68 million children, 26 million children are suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition putting them close to death. Almost 5 million children die each year from malnutrition. [1]

The Plumpy’nut®  Controversy

The formula for Plumpy’nut® is patented and the patent is held by a French company, Nutriset. (The name Plumpy’nut® is a registered trademark, though this is not the issue).  Currently, the production of Plumpy’nut® is concentrated in Nutriset’s main facility in France. This facility produced about 35,000 metric tons of Plumpy’nut in 2010.  Additionally, in a dozen countries such as Niger, Malawi and Kenya, Nutriset has set up a network of partnerships and franchises so that Plumpy’nut can be made locally and with locally-grown produce. These businesses provide jobs in developing countries where they are desperately needed.

UNICEF purchases almost 90 percent of the production capacity of the Nutriset facility in France.[2] At this time, the cost for a two month treatment for each child which includes approximately two to three Plumpy’nut bars per day is about $60.00.[3]   

Even though Nutriset’s production capacity is impressive, the volume is nowhere close to what is needed to combat the growing global epidemic of malnutrition in children.  The alarming numbers released by the FAO creates a sense of urgency that more should be done to increase production of Plumpy’nut. Nutriset’s current production is only supplying 1-2 million children suffering from malnutrition. [4] 

The United States has an enormous capacity to produce peanuts and would like to manufacture more Plumpy’nut so that more childrens’ lives can be saved. Nutriset will vigorously defend its patent. “If the US companies were able to beat the patent, the global volume of RUTFs would of course go up. But it would also mean the end for our local partners in Africa, who wouldn’t be able to compete. That is not what we want.” [5]

[1] 2011 world hunger and poverty facts and statistics. (2010, November 14). Retrieved March 6, 2011, fromhttp://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world hunger facts

 [2]  Rice, A. (2010, September 10). The peanut solution. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05Plumpynut

 [3]  Id. at p. 2

 [4]  Schofield, H. (2010, April 8). Legal fight over hunger wonder-Product.    

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427.html

[5]  Nutriset’s communications manager, Remi Vallet, 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427