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Question #1 As a recent graduate of the Saint Mary’s University DBA program, you have decided to start a venture capital firm. In order to forge a strategic advantage, you have decided to only invest in firms and industries that you believe to engage in ethical behavior. Thus, although profit maximization is important, you have declared that your firm will only accept funds and invest in start-up organizations that are morally sound. As the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of your firm, you are continuously seeking new and exciting growth opportunities. Currently the market for venture capital is stagnant as the stock market has leveled off and the bond market hovers around 5.0%. Although your firm’s performance is on par with the industry standard, more vocal investors are prodding you to pursue more aggressive nascent businesses. You agree with the majority of the investors and decide to research business opportunities outside of your core competencies. As of last review, a majority of your funds, roughly 75%, are deployed in; real estate, charter schools and autonomous automobile development. A major investor in your firm informs you of a recent development in the Minnesota’s legislation that promotes creating a market for human organs. Current proponents of the bill avow many Minnesotans die prematurely due to a paucity of organs. This is particularly true as it pertains to those in need of a kidney. According to a Wall Street Journey article of a few years back, 95,000 Americans were on the waiting list for a new kidney. Unfortunately, only 16,500 kidney transplants were performed during the same period. At this rate, the average American would have to wait over 4 years to obtain the precious organ. The article goes on to espouse that the wait time is growing as only a few decades ago, the average wait time was slightly less than 3 years. After reading this information, you also learned that kidney transplants seem to be a more effective option as opposed to dialysis. You gleaned from the article that those between the ages of 45-49 on average live an additional 8 years on dialysis as opposed to an additional 23 years with a kidney transplant. Additional research reveals similar findings in other parts of the world, particularly, developed nations. For instance, in Western Europe over 40,000 await a kidney, while only 10,000 kidneys become available and unfortunately, not all are a match. The market for human organs has been stained with horrific stories of individuals and children robbed of their precious body parts. Specifically, these stories seem to abound in less developed countries. For example, in the New Yorker, a story of a six year old child that was kidnapped and his eyes were stolen. The author contends that the perpetrator quickly abscond with assets that can be quickly sold on the black market for a profit. In other related stories, individuals in financially desperate situations have been known to sell their organs for cash. The procedures are often performed in unsafe and unsanitary environments; placing the individual in great harm. It is clear that the moral debate for establishing a market for human organs is multifaceted. There are economic, social, cultural, and class related challenges imbued in the conversation. In fact, in some countries, the practice is illegal while in others, there is a regulated market. Thus, the Minnesota legislators face a herculean task ahead as it pertains to the debate over the legal argument for allowing and promoting a market for human organs. Obviously, there is no guarantee the bill will pass. However, if the bill passes, there appears to be a market for organs. Your major investor is aware of the possible financial returns associated with the potential industry and invites you to a Zoom meeting in which to discuss the likelihood of your firm, entering the market. The meeting is scheduled for January 25th at noon. You are interested in learning more about the possible entry into the market, as it appears, at least on the surface, to be positioned to help save the lives of others while generating a surfeit of financial returns. However, you are committed to balancing profits with probity. In order to do so effectively, you must decide whether the market for human organs, specifically, kidneys is a moral endeavor. To do so, your firm’s code of conduct requires that you first analyze the organ industry from three distinct ethical frameworks. Once you examine the market for human organs from each of the distinct ethical frameworks, you are to synthesize your findings in a coherent and logical format supported by scholarly research. After analysis, you are to determine which framework is best to address the question and why. Finally, based on your findings, you are to decide whether the creation of a market for human organs is ethical or unethical and thus whether Lasalle Equities will or will not enter the market. A well-crafted response will be between 12-15 APA formatted pages. Each page should have a minimum of 10 references (in citation). Should have no plagiarism.
