This Tattle Tale Harvard Case Abstract: T.J. an undergraduate at a business scho

Question

This Tattle Tale Harvard Case

Abstract: T.J. an undergraduate at a business school was upset to find a group mate s contribution to his group project containing plagiarized and poorly paraphrased content (also without any citation as to source in some instances). T.J. and four others had to work with K.C. the errant group member on three group projects that together made up 30 per cent of the final mark for the course. In particular T.J. was upset by the shoddy corrections provided by K.C. when his error was highlighted. T.J. was also appalled at K.C. s nonchalant attitude towards plagiarism and the group projects especially after discovering that K.C. had done the same on their first group project. T.J. felt strongly that the matter should be brought up to the course professor but two of his group mates disagreed fearing that the group harmony would be adversely affected thus jeopardizing their last group project which carried significantly higher weight at 20 per cent. The remaining two group mates did not seem to consider the matter a serious one. T.J. wondered what the right thing to do would be. TJ Upset with Group Mate’s contribution to the group contained plagiarized and poorly paraphrased work without and citation TJ and 4 others had to work with KC on three group projects worth 30% TJ Upset with shoddy corrections provided by KC TJ upset with KC’s nonchalant attitude towards plagiarism and the group project TJ felt the matter should be brought to the course professor however 2 group mates disagreed as they thought the group would be adversely affected Possible final grade in jeopardy and with high weight The remaining two group mates did not seem to think it was a serious matter

Bottom line: The case highlights the difficult aspects of dealing with a poorly contributing group member of a group project with differing responses by other group members.

What is/are the ethical issue(s) presented by the scenario? What do you think is the right thing to do? Please provide sound reasons to justify and support your proposed solution Assume that TJ has decided to report to the course professor on his own and proceeded to do so without informing the rest of the group 1. What is the ethical issues presented in this altered scenario? 2. Is it right or wrong of TJ to do so? 3. What are the reasons in support or objection? 4. What should TJ have done instead? 5. What are the reasons in support of the alternative solution?

Explanation / Answer

1. The project was allotted to a group and it needs to be performed in group but the other member were not so serious about the project and they were submitting the plagiarized summaries for the report which could lead to poor ranking for all the team members. TJ should not report to course professor individually as it was a group assignment and individual reporting would be betrayal with the other group members. The move of performing project is not ethically correct move.

2. it’s the wrong move by TJ to work individually on a group project. The project was allotted to a group and the grading will be also given to the group and if he performs solo then the rest 4 members will suffer with their grading. It not necessary that all the group members be quality performers, so it’s our duty to make them perform up to a level where project requirements can be met. One should take it as challenge because no project can be executed by a single person which is up to mark.

3. This was only a small college project if he gets same situation while working in companies then he will not have an option to work individually and complete the project on time. He needs to perform as team. He should take it as a challenge and work as team leader and try to complete the project on time. A good leader is not who performs solo a good leader is who inspires other to perform better. So TJ should not work individually he should make his team perform and complete the task.

4. TJ should have called the meeting of all the group members and have allotted certain task and ask them not copy it from somewhere and he should also inspire his group members to participate actively because at the end each will be awarded with good grades if the projects will be executed properly. He should also explain the consequences of plagiarism that if a single person underperforms whole group will suffer as they will get low grading.

He should also monitor the work of his team members and suggest them if any improvements are required. He should also call meetings time to time in and brief them about their proceedings and also ask for any suggestions if required.

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