DPB40113 Business Ethics Case Study 2026 | Politeknik Malaysia

DPB40113 Case Study

Case Study Title : Moral Choices Facing Employees In Malaysia

A. Objectives

To help students understand real-life moral choices employees face in the workplace, especially within the Malaysian context, and how such ethical challenges affect organizations and are addressed through internal governance and national legislation.

B. Learning Outcome

By the end of this activity, students will be able to:

a. Define and explain key concepts such as integrity, abuse of position, bribery, obligations to third parties, and insider trading.

b. Analyze the impact of ethical issues such as discrimination, inequality, and whistleblowing in the workplace.

c. Evaluate real-life scenarios where employees face moral decisions in Malaysian companies.

d. Identify how organizations manage and respond to ethical dilemmas.

e. Recommend strategies to promote ethical behavior and prevent unethical practices.

f. Apply ethical reasoning in written analysis and discussion.

C. Topic Summary/ Theory (If Related)

Employees in any organization may encounter moral challenges that put their personal values in conflict with organizational expectations or external pressure.

This case study revolves around key issues such as:

a. Integrity: Acting ethically even when no one is watching.

b. Abuse of Official Position: Using authority or inside access for personal gain.

c. Bribery & Kickbacks: Receiving or offering items of value to influence business decisions.

d. Obligations to Third Parties: Conflicts that arise from dual loyalty (e.g., suppliers, family, political influence).

e. Insider Trading: Using confidential information for personal or external advantage.

f. Diversity, Equality & Discrimination: Ensuring fair treatment and addressing unfair bias in the workplace.

g. Whistleblowing: Employees exposing unethical behaviour at personal risk.

These issues are governed in Malaysia through acts such as the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Act, the Employment Act 1955, and the

Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

D. Material / Tools

a. Access to the internet (for research)

b. News articles, reports, official company statements

c. Rubric for evaluation

E. General Instruction / Safety Procedure (If Related)

Choose ONE (1) real Malaysian company known to be involved in an ethical issue related to moral choices of employees.

Submission details: –

• Format: 12pt font. 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman

• All group members must participate.

• Deadline: 24th April 2026

• Observe academic integrity: no plagiarism, proper referencing required

F. Work Instruction / Procedure

Your written case study must include the following sections:

a. Introduction

i. Brief background of the chosen Malaysian company

b. Description of the ethical issue

i. What was the moral/ethical problem faced by employees?

ii. Which concepts apply (e.g., bribery, insider trading, discrimination)?

iii. Who was involved and how were decisions influenced?

c. Impact of the issue

i. Effects on company operations, reputation, legal standing ii. How did the issue affect employees, customers, or other stakeholders?

d. Management or response

i. What actions were taken by the company or authorities?

ii. Were those actions appropriate or sufficient?

iii. Was whistleblowing involved? Was it protected?

e. Preventive measures & recommendations

i. How could the situation have been avoided?

ii. What ethical systems or practices can prevent recurrence?

iii. Suggestions for employee training, reporting systems, or corporate governance improvements

f. Conclusion

i. Recap of main ethical issue and company response ii. Lessons learned from the case iii. Importance of ethical values in the workplace

G. Expected Result (If Related)

a. A clearly written, well-researched case study using real data and sources

b. Ability to link ethical theory with practical business application

c. Evidence of critical thinking and awareness of Malaysian business environment

d. Properly cited references using APA format

H. Discussion (If Related)

After submission, selected case studies may be:

a. Shared in class for discussion

b. Followed by group reflection on how moral choices differ across industries

I. References (If Related)

Each group must include a reference at the end of their report listing all sources used including:

a. News articles

b. Official company reports or statements

c. Academic sources or journals (if any)

d. Any websites or media used for information

e. Use proper citation format (APA, etc.) where possible.

DPB40113 Rubric For Case Study (25%)