A chief financial officer (CFO) at a major telecommunications company decides to replace a high...

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that determines the morality of an action based on its outcomes or consequences rather than intrinsic moral duties or virtues. In this case, the CFO's decision is driven by anticipated business benefits—expanding the subscriber base, reducing customer churn, and increasing profits—while acknowledging the negative consequence of job losses.

This decision aligns with utilitarian consequentialism, which weighs overall benefits against harm and justifies actions that lead to the greatest good for the greatest number. While the workforce reduction is a significant ethical concern, the CFO believes that the positive business impact outweighs the negative effects.

Utilitarian Ethics (John Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham) – Prioritizing company growth and customer convenience over job losses reflects a utilitarian cost-benefit analysis.

Automation and AI Ethics – The ethical implications of replacing human jobs with AI are widely debated in the context of digital ethics and corporate responsibility.

Corporate Stakeholder Ethics – Ethical business practices should balance the needs of employees, customers, and shareholders rather than focusing solely on financial outcomes.

Future of Work Ethics – Ethical discussions in AI-driven automation stress responsible innovation, retraining displaced workers, and ensuring economic fairness.

Relevant Ethical References in Technology:Since the CFO is primarily weighing outcomes, this decision-making process reflects consequentialist ethics rather than deontology (duty-based), virtue (moral character), or care ethics (relationship-driven concerns).