It is important that, in the first instance, students read the case and understand some of the issues. It may be appropriate to read the case quickly to arrive at an overview and then to analyse the different dimensions. This could be done in subgroups where each subgroup examines a particular issue before reporting back to the main group. Typically cases might be broken down into managerial and ethical issues covering finance, the external environment, people, processes and so on. It is important, however, that in subdividing the case, students do not lose sight of the overall picture.

The case will pose a number of problems that need addressing and students will need to identify major and minor problems and prioritise their importance. Alternate solutions may be generated and evaluated. Typically, cases require a decision and an implementation plan involving short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions. Solutions will be tested against the context of the case, the appropriateness of the organisational structures and processes, and the challenges of the wider environment.

It may be appropriate that students adopt particular roles in seeking to understand the feelings, opinions and values of key stakeholders. Such role-playing can lead to a very lively discussion. However, care needs to be taken that students do not overstep the mark and that they respect the opinions and feelings of others. A case study is there to simulate real life and, more importantly, to provide a learning opportunity for students. Where role-playing is used it is important that students do leave the roles behind and reflect on the managerial and ethical lessons learned.

Key questions

1. Are there ethical issues involved in the case?
2. Who has defined it as an issue and what makes it ethical?
3. Are the issues concerned with the external environment, interpersonal relations within the organisation, relations with customers or clients, rules and processes?
4. What ethical theories might aid the understanding of the issue eg utilitarianism, Kantian, virtue theory and so on?
5. Can you recommend a course of action?
6. What might count as justifications for that recommendation?
   
   Most of the standard introductory texts, Kitson and Campbell (1996), Velasquez (2002) will contain case studies.

References
Fisher, C. M. (1998)
Fisher, C. M. and Lovell, A. (2003)
Kitson and R. Campbell (1996) A. The Ethical Organisation: Ethical Theory and Corporate Behaviour, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Ltd., Basingstoke.
Velasquez, M. G. (2002) Business Ethics. Concepts and Cases, 5th edition, Upper saddle River: NJ: Prentice Hall.

Case studies
Questionnaire and inventories
Debates and seminars