In this essay I will consider the ethical issues that arise in the six case studies I have written, as well as examine theories that can be applied to the situations. The first case study I will examine is the Enron accounting scandal. Issues that have emerged from the scandal include the concealment of off-balance sheet losses using special purpose entities (SPEs), executives personally profiting from the company's losses and subsequent bankruptcy, as well as failures to comply with fiduciary duties. Enron's aggressive, highly competitive culture rewards high performance and removes those considered weak links, selecting the top twenty percent of performers. These practices encouraged intense competition among employees of rival firms, as well as competition among existing staff members. “Such behavior creates a culture where ethics and loyalty are cast aside in the pursuit of profit.” (Fraedrich, J. Ferrell, L. Ferrell, OC (2011) Ethical Decision Making in Business a Managerial Approach. 9th edition: Canada. Nelson Education Ltd page 85). Considering the culture created by the new performance-based model implemented by Jeffery Skilling, it seems to follow a monist approach which would be in line with a quantitative hedonism. Monists see only one thing as intrinsically good, it is exemplified by hedonism, that being one's own pleasure is the highest good. Quantitative hedonists believe that you can't have too much of a good thing; therefore, removing the poorest twenty percent of employees to employ better performing individuals would fit this categorization as it would potentially lead to better performance, consequently higher profits for the company and better bonuses all round. This also fits the meaning of Teleology which...... half of the paper ......ion Ltd.Giddens.A (2009) Sociology 6th edition. United Kingdom Cambridge. Polity Press.Gross, R. (2010) Psychology, the science of mind and behavior 6th edition. Dubai. Hodder Education.Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. (2008) Topics and Perspectives in Sociology 5th Edition. 77-78 Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith London. HarperCollins Publishers Limited.Mullins, L.J. (2010) Management and Organizational Behavior 9th Edition. United Kingdom Essex. Pearson Education Limited.soe.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/modules/Common_Ethical_Issues/theories_of_ethics.aspx [Online] (12/11/2013)www.education.com/reference/article/kohlbergs-moral-reasoning/ [Online] (12/08/2013)www.pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ncoverst/Kohlberg's%20Stages%20of%20Moral%20Development.htm [Online] (12/08/2013)www.tarterkrinsky.com/media/pub /tearsheets/tkd_client_alert_031018.pdf [Online] (11/12/2013)