2014

Managerial Ethics
Group#12


A Giant Passes-Nelson Mandela and his Great Human
Personhood
In this paper, we would discuss the persona of one of the greatest beacons of peace and justice the
modern world has ever seen Nelson Mandela. We would also analyze his life through the Learning
frameworks that we have been taught in this course.
Reasons for selecting this case
Studying in a business school, we are more often than not oriented towards studying business
models, corporate strategies, financial terminologies etc. and their simultaneous application in the
real world and the corresponding- good or bad whatever they might be. Whilst there were many
cases that related to business, we chose this topic so as to put the lens of the framework that we
have been taught to an eminent persons life, who also happens to be a personal hero to all of us.
Nelson Mandela is one of the towering personalities in the modern times as far as fighting against
oppression of one human being by other is concerned; probably second only to Mahatma Gandhi
whose principles he lived by and worked with to attain the emancipation of the black population in
South Africa. He also embodies the highest human values of justice, forgiveness, truth and altruism.
These are best elucidated in the manner in which he handles the affairs in South Africa after
assuming presidential powers and working towards the formation of an equal society, which
otherwise would have very well descended into the womb of a civil war. However, he wasnt always
the embodiment of peace that he is well known for. There have many instances of armed rebellion
which he had organised. So, we take a closer look at these events and try to understand the
deviances in his personality over the course of his life.
Nelson Mandelas life

He was born on July 18, 1918 in a village named Mvezo. Mandela was named Rolihlahla,
meaning troublemaker, until his first day at school, where he was renamed as Nelson.
Met Walter Sisulu in Soweto at the age of 23 and was inducted in the African National
Congress.
Married Evelyn Ntoko Mase with whom he had four children but the marriage ended in a
divorce.
Soon after divorcing his first wife, he married Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela, a medical
social worker.
Mandela helped in energising the ranks of ANC by gaining the backing of the labor unions.
In 1961, ANCs peaceful liberation movement was seriously tested when police killed 69
demonstrators.
Mandela even advocated armed struggle and became the first commander of ANCs armed
wing and led the party on a path of armed resurrection, a 360 degree shift from his non
violence stance.
He used the courtroom as a platform to advocate his ideas and relay them to the world after
being held for treason in 1963.
At the age of 44, he was sent to Robben island prison where he stayed for 27 years before
being freed in 1990.
During the course of negotiations post his release, he assured the whites of equal rights and
opportunities.
Assumed the role of the president of South Africa in 1994.
Divorced his second wife in 1996 and went on to marry Winnie Madikizela.
Voluntarily left the presidency of South Africa in 1999.
Increasing acting as the broker of peace in the succeeding years, Mandela gradually retired
to a private life with failing health. He died aged 95 on December 5, 2013.

AOL 1
Domain
Search/Identify
Inputs Analysis:
Key Questions
Type of
Analysis
Ethical
Analysis
Key facts, Key
figures, Key data,
Key information

Nelson Mandela led a struggle
against apartheid in South Africa
demanding equal rights, justice
fairness for all regardless of the
colour of his skin.

Descriptive
The data that we have been
exposed to through the article as
well as the reading from internet
paint the picture of a man who
had the conviction to stand by his
values through the toughest
periods of his life. He is very high
on ethical quotient.
SOPE
Subject: Nelson Mandela
Object: Apartheid, public and
personal life
Properties: Iron will and fierce
determination, conviction
Event: Rise to prominence in ANC,
Trial and jailing, Rise as a epitome
of peace and justice
Descriptive

Nelson Mandela is someone who
has been under constant eye of
the world media at large.
Therefore the information
attributed to him are to a fair
extent true and unbiased.

Timeline of key
events

Apartheid practiced in South
Africa
Mandela driven to public life
after reaching Soweto
Organised violent rebellion and
subsequent capturing, trial and
jail
Freed from prison after 27 years
in 1990
Negotiates the peace settlement
with the white regime. Ascent to
president ship in 1994.
Renounces president ship in
1999 and works for peace and
reconciliation throughout the
world.
Dies in Dec 2013

Descriptive
Since Mandela was a highly
publicly scrutinized figure, the
timeline is accurate.
Explanations of SOPE

Antecedents: The brutal regime
and Mandelas dominant rise
against it.
Determinants: Persistent
Analytic
Some amount of BIAS might
obviously creep in due to the
larger than life persona of the man
as well as ignoring other facets of
his life since the focus was more
discrimination against the blacks,
killing of peaceful protestors, a
large support base yearning for
freedom.
Concomitants: Unshakeable faith
in equality and justice.
Circumstances: A society
balkanized on the lines of skin
colur
Critical Contingencies: Altruistic
practice and forgiveness of
Mandela.

on his illustrious public life.
We feel that the various
parameters of SOPE are rightly
selected to present, to a large
extent, the true picture of a great
man.

Analyze SOPE

There seems to be a strong
correlation between the four
elements of SOPE in the
moulding of Mandelas persona
over the years. The objective
seems to be the key driver for
shaping Mandelas life.
Analytic
The relationships are depicting the
correct correlation and convey the
appropriate meaning applying the
principles of natural justice.


Classify SOPE



Categorize SOPE



Characterize SOPE

The SOPE is obviously analogous
to many struggles for justice and
equality throughout the world.
The freedom struggle of India is a
case in point.

The SOPE falls into the category of
a high impact event spanning
decades.

The main DNA of the SOPE is a
large scale change positively
influencing millions of lives.
Analytic

The characteristics of this
particular case can be applied to a
fair degree of accuracy for similar
struggles of non violent nature
across the globe for human dignity
and justice.
Problem
Identification
Key Problems?
Underlying key
problem?

Controllable Variables - personal
conviction, control over human
resources, views on political
landscape.
Analytic
The control cant be assessed
100% objectively because the data
in the public discourse is muddled
with personal likes and biases.

Uncontrollable Variables -
political climate, human emotions
as a group.
Political climate to a large extent
dominates the emotional control
exercised by the leader.


Problem
Formulation

Political Landscape - is a
collection of the various forces
and point of views that come into
play in the political discourse of
the country.

Political climate The overall
impact of the similar/dissimilar
points of view on the society at
large.

Analytic
We have done justice in
identifying the major variables
affecting the discourse.
Problem solutions
alternatives?

The problem is the unjust
discrimination of one race by
another. The best problem
solution alternative to such kind
of problems is democracy
characterized by universal
franchise.

Analytic

The problem solution is one step
before the alternative system that
we have proposed.
Optimal problem
solution

The solution in this context can be
optimal when t is supported by
the general populace at large and
supported by the principles of
universal justice and respect for
human dignity.

Analytic

Yes, the optimal solution
encompasses every aspect of
human well being; which the basis
of any just system.

Optimal
implementation

The optimal solution should be
implemented either through
discussion and mutual agreement,
if new or should have attained
widespread acceptance through
previous instances.


Yes, the implementation qualifies
as legal, ethical and moral since it
maximizes the well being of the
human society.
Consequences

The major consequence of the
optimal solution is the redressal
of the injustice and grossly unjust
behaviour meted out to the
individuals. However, we need to
be cautious that these are
tempered with forgiveness and
understanding and justice failing
which, they will only restore the
vicious cycle of injustice, only the
colour of the oppressor will
change.

Analytic
The fairness is assessed through
the manner in which the solution
is implemented and the
safeguards built into the system to
prevent misuse. A certain level of
moral framework is the
prerequisite to success and
fairness of any such solution.
Learning

It has taught the causality of the
input variables onto the quality of
outcome. The values upheld by
Mandela and their subsequent
incorporation into the system
over the years led to the creation
of a just nation.
Reflective

Use the same framework to other
similar kind of situations.









AOL 2
Problem Process-
Exploration
Process Analysis:
Key Questions
Type of
Analysis
Ethical
Analysis
Who are the key
subjects, what are
the key objects,
Properties and
events (SOPE) in the
problem Process
domain?
Subject: Nelson Mandela
Object: Apartheid, public and
personal life
Properties: Iron will and fierce
determination, conviction
Event: Rise to prominence in ANC,
Trial and jailing, Rise as a epitome
of peace and justice
Descriptive
Observa-
tional
Standing up for the rights of
millions of people and having the
conviction to give up your entire
life for that purpose requires
fierce resolve and persistence.
The ethical quotient is definitely
high in the cause and process
being followed
What are the basic
legal, ethical and
moral issues
involved in the SOPE
process domain?
The legal aspect can surely be
questioned with the framework of
governance but the universality of
human rights and dignity bring the
three of them in congruence.
Analytic
Investi-
gational
The quest for equal rights, dignity
and justice for all clearly has high
ethical values attached to it.
History or narrative
of key SOPE process
elements
Mandela seems to be deeply
influenced by the history of the
blacks as well as the tools of
emancipation followed by Gandhi.
The history is the shameful
indignity suffered by the people of
South Africa on the basis of color
of their skin.
Descriptive
Analytic
Historical
Narrative
The only ethical blip in the
process followed by Mandela
seems to have been a call to
weapons and through organised
rebellion. Other than that, he has
always held the moral and ethical
high in his pursuit for justice and
equality.
Explanation of the
SOPE narrative and
processes from an
ethical and moral
perspective
The main trigger for this
movement has been the gross
subjugation of the majority blacks
by the minority and their systemic
deprivation. The limited
framework in which the black
population had been marginalised
was the key reason for the
agitation that was taken up by
Mandela. It was greatly successful
because of the persistence and
conviction displayed by Mandela in
his quest for equality and human
rights.
Market
Analytic
Yes. The narrative is unbiased and
objective since it is based on the
universality of human rights and
values.
Analyze SOPE
processes from an
ethical and moral
The SOPE elements are closely
interrelated morally as well as
ethically. It is out of a natural
sense for equality and fairness that
Analytic Yes. There are strong correlations
between the elements of SOPE.
The objective seems to have been
the key driver behind Mandelas
perspective Mandela took to agitation against
white supremacy.
endurance of hardships over the
years.
Categorize SOPE
processes from an
ethical and moral
perspective
There are many analogies across
the world similar to this movement
across the world. The Indian
freedom is a case in point.
Analytic
Categori-
zation
Yes. Since we have verifiable
evidence from history that clearly
demonstrates the efficacy and the
just nature of any such kind of
movement demanding equal
rights for any human soul.
Problem SOPE
processes
Characterization
from an ethical and
moral viewpoint

The main problem here is
apartheid and subjugation. This
kind of discrimination is one of the
worst similar to discrimination on
the basis of gender or class.
Ethical
Analytic
Characteri-
zation
The problem of human indignity
does not require much
deliberation and justification; that
too when we have two different
sets of rule governing two
population sets.
Problem SOPE
processes
Formulation from
ethics theory
perspective
The problem SOPE process is in
accordance with the major ethical
theories. The contours of the
freedom process were woven
largely upon non violence and the
premise of equal rights for all of
the citizenry.
Ethical
Analytic
Yes. We have invoked the correct
theories to understand the
situation.
Problem SOPE
processes
Formulation from
moral theory
perspective
Kantanian principle states the law
of will as the fundamental
principle of morality. But ones
free will should not become the
source of pain or discomfort for
another which was the case here.
Therefore, the behaviour of the
whites was purely immoral when
looked at from this principle.
Moral
Analytic
Yes. We have invoked the correct
framework of Moral principles.
Problem process
solution-
alternatives?
Organised violent agitation,
subjugation of the state,
communism is other solution
alternatives.
Analytic The problem with these
alternatives is the aggravation of
conflict in this situation since the
oppressor has a battery of
resources at his disposal and it
would lead to aggravated loss of
human lives.
Learning The power of applying a coherent
framework to understanding
complex situations.
Reflective We can reinforce good learning
by analyzing more cases through
the same construct.



AOL 3

Domain
Search/Identify
Analysis:
Key Questions
Type of
Analysis
Ethical
Analysis
Key outcome-
consequences to
subjects, objects,
properties and
events (SOPE)
Nelson Mandela architected the
liberation of the blacks but he
paid a great cost for it in terms
of numerous sacrifices in the
form of incarceration, loss of
family life and physical
endurance.
Descriptive,
Investigational
Yes. It is unbiased and objective
since it is the right of any human
being as vested though the
principles of natural justice.
Key subjects,
objects,
Properties and
events (SOPE) in
relation to problem
outcomes?
Subject: Nelson Mandela
Object: Apartheid, public and
personal life
Properties: Iron will and fierce
determination, conviction
Event: Rise to prominence in
ANC, Trial and jailing, Rise as a
epitome of peace and justice
Descriptive,
Investigational
Nelson Mandela had ro sacrifice
a lot- physically and more so
emotionally because of the
bigger responsibility that he had
taken of emancipating the
blacks.
Timeline of key
outcome-events
that led to
beneficial or
harmful
consequences
1. Induction into ANC and
becoming one of the
chief strategists.
2. Killing of peaceful
demonstrators by the
police which led to
armed rebellion
formation.
3. Sent to prison in 1964.
4. Freed in 1990 and
helped formulate the
framework for a unified
South Africa.
5. Became president in
1994.
Descriptive The harm is accurately expressed
when compared with the lives of
many other people. Mandela
ended up giving a lot of his
personal life for the quest of
unity.
Explanations of
harmful
consequences with
respect toSOPE?

The primary cause for this pain
was the misery inflicted by the
whites upon the majority black
population which led Mandela to
devote his life to the cause of
the freedom of the blacks from
Analytic,
Investigational
Yes, the explanation of harmful
consequences is unbiased.
oppression and the resultant
formulation of the ANC and the
sustained efforts and sacrifices
that he had to make to make this
dream come true.
Classify, categorize
and characterize
harmful
consequences in
relation to SOPE

1. Loss of innocent lives in
the ensuing violence on
the streets.
2. Physical and emotional
violence endured by
Mandela during the
course of almost 4
decades.
3. The constant ignominy
and injustice suffered by
the blacks.
4. The paint all approach
applied to all whites
because of the colour of
their skin.
Analytic Yes. These factors need to be
evaluated appropriately to arrive
at the consequences of this
sustained resistance that
Mandela gad put against the
tyranny of the government of the
day.
Intended and
unintended
consequences in
relation to SOPE
The imprisonment of Mandela,
which was sought to weaken him
only further, strengthened his
resolve to fight oppression.
The second negative unintended
consequence that Mandela had
to bear personally was the
failure of his married life.
Analytic,
Investigational
Yes. The search for the
unintended consequences is
unbiased and has been taken
from a neutral POV.
Teleological
analysis of the
consequences
The harmful consequences are
justifiable when we look at the
greater good at the expense of a
mans personal life; which in this
case was Mandela. Also, he
wouldnt have taken this effort
of gigantic proportions had it not
been for his deeper desire to
seek justice and freedom.
Teleological
analysis of the
consequences
Yes. The analysis is valid and
objective.
Deontological
analysis of the
consequences
The harmful consequences far
outweigh the benefits in this
case.
Deontological
analysis of the
consequences
Yes. The analysis is valid and
objective when we factor in the
benefits it brought about to the
large population of blacks and
potentially saved thousands of
human lives.
Distributive justice Honestly, the harmful Distributive Yes. The analysis is valid and
based analysis of
the consequences
consequences were minimised
and very less duties were
violated compared to the
benefits that accumulated to the
majority of the population of
South Africa.
justice based
analysis of the
consequences
objective.
Corrective justice
based analysis of
the consequences
The corrective principles of
justice were not employed in the
true sense since a lot of people
who had committed heinous
crimes were forgiven. But if you
look from a higher point of view,
this was the main cause for
reconciliation in the country
Corrective
justice based
analysis of the
consequences
Yes. Whilst it wasnt followed in
letter and spirit, the general
amnesty did help build an
atmosphere of mutual trust
amongst various communities.
Virtue-ethics based
analysis of the
consequences
While the marginalised blacks
had to endure suffering over a
protracted period of time, but
the outcome was much better as
compared to a violent strife
which would have descended
the country into chaos of civil
war.
Ethics of
virtue analysis
of the
consequences
Yes. The analysis is valid and
objective.
Trust-ethics based
analysis of the
consequences
The process of solution while
personally detrimental to
Mandela in particular and the
black community in general led
to mutual trust and fairness
amongst the blacks and the
whites from South Africa.
Ethics of
executive
trust based
analysis of the
consequences
Yes. The analysis is objective
since the ultimate goal is equal
human rights; not domination of
one race over another.
Hindsight versus
foresight analysis of
the problem-
resolution
This case has taught the
importance of persistent and
attachment to ones higher
purpose in life. The harmful
consequences could be reduced
if the world community could
have exerted more pressure on
the government of South Africa.
Hindsight-
foresight
analysis of the
consequences
Yes. The world should come
together as one community to
effectively fight injustice
wherever it is taking place. This
would lead to speedy resolution
of conflicts and minimize the
harms.
Assurance of
Learning
Importance of framework to
problem solving and the issue of
minimizing harmful
consequences.
Reflective By analysing problems of similar
nature and scale.

Synthesis of Findings
Nelson Mandelas life is an epitome of unwavering resolve and fearlessness in the face of the
grandest of difficulties and oppression. He never succumbed to the waves of hardships and setbacks
that kept on lashing him socially as well as personally. He kept a focussed resolve towards his goal fo
attaining human dignity and respect for the black population in South Africa. He also ensured that
new country does not descend into chaos and start following the very discrimination that he so
fiercely fought.
By applying AOL#1,2,3 frameworks, we were able to get a better understanding of some of the
underlying issues which would have otherwise not come to light if nor viewed through this kind of
framework. The frameworks are particularly useful in assessing the same problem from three
different points of view viz. inputs, process and output. While some of them are clearly overlapping,
still there are many disjoint points that come into picture.

Team Composition
Roll No. Name
G14024 Kavit Sharma
G14033 Peeyush Pankaj Singh
G14046 Sahil Baweja
G14060 Vikram Singh
G14103 Rohit Bhargava
G14084 Keshav Gupta