Case 13.2: How Safe is Safe?
Case synopsis and analysis
Perfect Plastics Inc. (PPI) is a small injection molding plastics company that employs 50 people
and has a strong commitment to safe working conditions. The owner, Tom Griffen, takes pride
in the work environment and values order, efficiency, and cleanliness. In order to guarantee safe
working conditions, management voluntarily brings in outside consultants who audit the plant
for safety. Each year, the audits raise concerns that are then rectified.
Learning objectives:
• Students should recognize potential value differences in an organization and begin to
Answers to questions in the text:
1. As a company, would you describe PPI as having an identifiable philosophy of moral values?
How do its policies contribute to this philosophy?
2. Which ethical perspective best describes PPI’s approach to safety issues? Would you say PPI
takes a utilitarian-, duty-, or virtue-based approach?
Utilitarianism states that we should behave so as to create the greatest good for the greatest
number. Deontology concerns duty, and whether an action is itself good. Lying, for instance, is
Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
3. Regarding safety issues, how does management see its responsibilities toward its employees?
How do the attorneys see their responsibilities toward PPI?
4. Why does it appear that the ethics of PPI and its attorneys are in conflict?
The ethics of PPI and the attorneys are in conflict because there is a clash of values and
Potential teaching approaches:
This case study is conducive to group discussions and exercises.
Below is a way to structure a class based on case study 13.2:
• Read case study 13.2.
Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Exercises for this case study:
1) Debate: Split the class in half and debate this issue. Who is right? Management or
the lawyers? Most students will want to take management’s side. However, the
2) Using the utilitarian approach, students should analyze PPI’s processes. Individually
3) Role-Play: In small groups, students play the role of management and the attorneys.