Firms engaged in new product development face a number of ethical dilemmas. Select one or more of the following examples, or identify another product development related ethical dilemma to discuss with your classmates this week.
Do you think product testing on animals should be legal or illegal? Does your position change depending on what kind of animal the product is tested on (e.g., a mouse versus dog)? What are some instances of when it would be acceptable or unacceptable to test products on animals (e.g., medical necessity versus enhancing one’s looks)?
Knockoffs are slightly modified copies of original product designs. Should knockoffs be illegal? Who is hurt by knockoffs? Is the marketing of knockoffs good or bad for consumers in the short run? Or in the long run?
Should a company opt to manufacture a product with a cheaper component if it knows that its inclusion will moderately increase the physical safety risk of the product for consumers? What if it is known that the increase in cost of using the more expensive and safer component will lead to about a 50 percent lower adoption rate for the product by consumers, does it become more justifiable to do so then?
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