Abstract

The case gives an overview of the Bhopal gas tragedy. On December 3, 1984, poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL’s) pesticide plant in Bhopal, which killed thousands of people. The case brings out the ethical issues involved in the disaster. It discusses in detail the reasons behind the disaster. The case discusses the role played by Union Carbide Corporation after the disaster, which seemed to be unethical. It also talks about the role of the GOI and Madhya Pradesh government in the disaster. The case is intended for MBA/PGDBM level students as a part of the Business Ethics Curriculum. From the case, students are expected to understand the ethical issues involved in the Bhopal gas tragedy and the role played by the governments in the disaster. With the help of the Theory of Image Restoration, students are expected to understand how Union Carbide responded to the situation. They should also analyze how Union Carbide should have responded to the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Corporate social responsibility.

Keywords

Bhopal gas tragedy, December 3, 1984, poisonous gas, Union Carbide India Limited, UCIL, pesticide plant, Bhopal, ethical, GOI, Madhya Pradesh, Business Ethics