Business

Every business has an obligation to observe ethical issues while conducting its affairs to ensure fairness to both the seller, customer and the world at large. Most multi-million companies are forced to compromise on ethical issues because of the money that they stand to make incase they do not follow ethics. However, there are penalties imposed on such companies but these penalties are too lenient and big companies opt for the fine because it is negligible compared with the profit they stand to make in the transaction at hand.
    Many business people argue that the strict ethical issues are found in books and lecture hall but do not apply in the real world. Such corrupt people support their case by saying that the essence of   capitalism is making profits. So they should not involve themselves so much with ethical issues but rather should be concerned on how to maximize on their profits.
Ethical dilemma faced by Bob Hopkins
    In the scaffold plank incident Bob Hopkins is faced with an ethical issue of being honest and tell the customer the truth that the scaffold planks that they had in their shop was not the right quality the customer needed. By doing so Bob Hopkins would have created a good relationship with that customer and therefore ensure that he retains himher in the future. This is because the customer will develop confidence that any item sold to himher from that shop is of good quality.
    On the other hand Bob Hopkins was faced with the option of selling the product to the customer and make money at that moment but risk losing the customer after they realize that the product they purchased was substandard. The business could also risk losing other potential customers since the customer was likely to share his experience with other people.
Other stakeholders
    Other stakeholders in Bobs conflicting decision were his co-workers who benefited from the business through employment. Such people were so critical that for the business to perform all workers must work in unity and in one spirit. The unity will ensure that the business makes profits inorde to sustain the entire workforce so that they could meet their personal needs.
Bobs alternatives
    Bob Hopkins had two alternatives to be in a position to deal with the dilemma he was undergoing. One was to stand his ground and be informed by his morals. In this way he could chose to advise the client that the lumber they were buying was not the correct quality and therefore ensure that the lives of other people is safe. This is because scaffold planks are used to support people working in tall buildings and if it was of low quality it would put the lives of such workers at risk.
    The other alternative was for Bob to tow the line and let the customer buy the product. In doing so the business would make profit. There was a probability that the substandard lumber would work normally without any problems and the customer would never know that they bought substandard lumber.
Solution
    The best thing for Bob to do would be to share his dilemma with the senior management of the business and hear their take on the issue. If he is convinced beyond any doubt that he was doing the right thing and the management fails to support his stand, my opinion is that he should do the honorable thing and resign. By doing this he would safeguard his personal integrity and his conscience would remain clean. This is the best practice and attitude that anybody who wishes to do business should emulate.