Question

the text calls the practice of gaming the payment process "underhanded". What is your opinion of this common practice? Does it have any ethical implications?

Answer 1

We need to consider the deontological view on this matter. As per Kant's imperative, if everyone is doing something and it becomes a general phenomenon then the actions become ethical.

Based on this logic, if gaming the payment process is a common practice then everyone will expect the other parties to game the payment process. This may include manipulating the cash cycles, changing payment parameters, etc. This also bring arbitrary system into the market and uncertainty. This in turn brings balance to the overall system.

I personally do not like the gaming of any system or process because it defeats the key purpose of the system/process. This is why i feel gaming a payment process is not appropriate. However, if everyone else is doing it, then i would not avoid doing it. This is because it becomes a norm and by not gaming the system, i will be putting our organizaiton at a disadvantage.

Hence my view on gaming the system is that if everyone is doing it, then I should also do it.