How to Pass WGU C717 Task 1 Without Revisions

WGU C717 Task 1: Complete Business Ethics Guide to Passing on the First Attempt

If you are searching for a WGU C717 Task 1 example, you are probably staring at a blank document, feeling overwhelmed by the rubric, unsure where to start, and anxious about revisions. You are not alone. C717 Business Ethics Task 1 is one of the most misunderstood assignments in WGU’s business programs — not because it is impossibly difficult, but because most students do not receive clear guidance on what evaluators are actually looking for.

This guide was written to close that gap. By the end, you will understand exactly what Task 1 requires, how to structure each section, what ethical frameworks to apply, how to approach the CSR analysis, and what common mistakes to avoid. You will also find sample language, rubric-aligned tips, and expert commentary that reflects real evaluator expectations.

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What Is WGU C717 Task 1?

WGU C717, titled Business Ethics, is a competency-based course that evaluates your ability to analyze ethical dilemmas, apply ethical frameworks, and assess organizational responsibility. Task 1 is the primary written performance assessment for this course and accounts for 100% of the grade in the task category.

Unlike traditional exams, Task 1 is a written case-based analysis. You are given a business scenario and asked to evaluate it through multiple ethical lenses, including stakeholder theory, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and at least one established ethical framework such as utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue ethics.

Course Overview at a Glance

Understanding the C717 Task 1 Rubric

The rubric is your blueprint. Every evaluator grades your submission section by section, and ‘Not Yet Competent’ on even one rubric criterion means a full revision. Understanding what evaluators want — not just what the prompt says — is the single most important skill you can develop before writing.

Rubric Section Breakdown

Section A: Organizational Overview

This section requires you to identify and describe the organization at the center of your ethical analysis. Evaluators look for specificity. Do not write a generic company description. You need to identify the company’s industry, its core stakeholders, and the ethical environment in which it operates.

Section B: Stakeholder Analysis

This is one of the most heavily weighted sections. You must identify all relevant stakeholders — internal and external — and analyze how the ethical issue impacts each group differently. This is not a list. This is a structured analysis that requires cause-and-effect reasoning.

• Identify primary vs. secondary stakeholders
• Analyze how each stakeholder is specifically affected
• Address both positive and negative impacts where applicable
• Use stakeholder theory language where appropriate

Section C: Ethical Theory Application

You must select and apply at least one ethical theory to analyze the organizational dilemma. The most commonly applied theories in C717 Task 1 papers are:

• Utilitarianism — greatest good for the greatest number
• Kantian Deontology — duty-based ethics, categorical imperative
• Virtue Ethics — character and moral virtues of decision-makers
• Rights-Based Ethics — individual rights as moral constraints
• Justice Theory — fairness and equitable distribution

Evaluators look for correct application, not just identification. Naming utilitarianism and then writing a paragraph that does not demonstrate utilitarian reasoning will result in ‘Not Yet Competent.’

Section D: CSR Analysis

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) analysis is the section where most students underperform. You must evaluate the organization’s responsibilities across Carroll’s four-part CSR pyramid or a similarly structured framework:

Section E: Recommendations

Your recommendations must be specific, actionable, and tied directly to the ethical analysis you completed in earlier sections. Vague recommendations like ‘the company should improve its ethics policy’ are not competency-level responses.

• Reference the ethical framework you applied
• Tie recommendations to specific stakeholder needs
• Propose at least two to three distinct, concrete recommendations
• Explain how each recommendation addresses the identified ethical failure

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How to Structure Your WGU C717 Task 1 Paper

WGU does not prescribe a rigid page count for Task 1, but most competent submissions fall between 7 and 12 pages, excluding references. Below is a rubric-aligned structure that organizing your paper for evaluator clarity.

Recommended Paper Structure

APA 7 Formatting Requirements

WGU requires APA 7 format for all written assessments. For C717 Task 1, ensure the following:

• 12-point Times New Roman font
• Double-spaced throughout, including references
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• Title page with paper title, your name, WGU, course name, and date
• Running head NOT required in APA 7 (only for manuscripts submitted for publication)
• In-text citations for every borrowed idea, not just direct quotes
• Hanging indent on all reference entries
• DOI links where available

Ethical Frameworks: Application Guide

Choosing the right ethical framework and applying it correctly is the difference between a first-attempt pass and a revision. Below is a practical guide to the most commonly used frameworks in C717 Task 1.

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on their outcomes. The morally correct action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

• Key Question: Who benefits and who is harmed by this decision, and to what degree?
• Application Tip: Quantify the impacts where possible. How many employees are affected? How significant is the harm to each stakeholder group?
• Common Mistake: Arguing that a decision is utilitarian because management decided it, without analyzing the actual distribution of benefits and harms.

Kantian Deontology

Kant’s deontological ethics judges actions by their adherence to universal moral duties, not by their outcomes. The categorical imperative states that one should act only according to principles that could be universalized.

• Key Question: Could this decision be made a universal rule? Does it treat people as ends in themselves, not merely as means?
• Application Tip: Evaluate whether the organization’s decision would be morally acceptable if every organization in that industry made the same choice.
• Common Mistake: Conflating rule-following with Kantian ethics. Following a law is not the same as adhering to a categorical imperative.

Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics focuses on the character and motivations of the decision-maker rather than the rules followed or outcomes achieved. It asks what a person of good character would do.

• Key Question: Do the leaders and organization demonstrate virtues such as integrity, honesty, courage, and fairness?
• Application Tip: Analyze leadership behavior and organizational culture as evidence of virtue or its absence.
• Common Mistake: Discussing virtues in the abstract without connecting them to specific organizational decisions or behaviors described in the case.

CSR Analysis: Real-World Examples for C717 Task 1

One of the strongest ways to strengthen your CSR section is to anchor it in real organizational examples that reflect the Carroll pyramid levels. Below are examples you can draw on and adapt for your analysis.

CSR in Practice: What Evaluators Want to See

Our WGU specialists review submissions against the rubric and identify revision risks before you upload. Fast turnaround available.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Revisions

Understanding why students fail C717 Task 1 on the first attempt is just as valuable as understanding the rubric itself. Below are the most frequently cited revision reasons based on WGU evaluator patterns.

Sample Language and Sentence Starters

The language of ethical analysis matters. Below are sentence starters aligned with each rubric section to help you write at the competency level evaluators expect.

For Stakeholder Analysis

• “The primary internal stakeholders in this scenario include… who are directly affected by [decision] because…”
• “External stakeholders, particularly [group], experience [impact] as a result of the organization’s failure to…”
• “The differential impact on [stakeholder A] versus [stakeholder B] reveals a fundamental tension between…”

For Ethical Theory Application

• “Applying a utilitarian lens to this case, the decision to [action] produces net harm because…”
• “From a Kantian deontological perspective, the organization’s conduct violates the categorical imperative in that…”
• “Virtue ethics would evaluate [leader/organization] based on demonstrated character, specifically…”

For CSR Analysis

• “At the economic level of Carroll’s CSR framework, the organization’s decision reflects a prioritization of…”
• “While the company satisfies its legal obligations under [applicable regulation], it falls short of ethical responsibility by…”
• “The philanthropic dimension of the organization’s CSR profile is [strong/weak] because…”

For Recommendations

• “Consistent with [ethical framework], the organization should adopt [specific action] to address [specific harm]…”
• “To fulfill its ethical responsibilities under Carroll’s CSR framework, the company should implement…”
• “This recommendation directly addresses the stakeholder impact identified in Section B by…”

Frequently Asked Questions About WGU C717 Task 1

How long should WGU C717 Task 1 be?

There is no official minimum or maximum page count, but most competent submissions are between 7 and 12 pages of body content, not including the title page or references. Shorter papers rarely provide enough depth to achieve competency across all rubric sections.

How many sources do I need for C717 Task 1?

WGU does not specify a minimum source count for C717 Task 1, but most evaluators expect at least 5 to 7 peer-reviewed scholarly sources. These should be integrated throughout your analysis, not simply listed in a reference page. Sources should be recent, ideally published within the last five years.

What case should I use for the organizational analysis?

WGU typically allows students to select their own organizational case unless the assessment prompt specifies one. Choose a case with a clear, documented ethical dilemma that allows for stakeholder analysis and CSR evaluation. Well-known corporate ethics cases such as Enron, Wells Fargo, Johnson & Johnson, or Patagonia’s supply chain practices provide rich material for analysis.

Can I use Carroll’s CSR pyramid for Section D?

Yes. Carroll’s four-part CSR pyramid is one of the most appropriate frameworks for the CSR section and aligns well with how WGU evaluators interpret the rubric. Ensure that you address all four tiers explicitly and connect them to your specific organizational case.

What happens if I receive a ‘Not Yet Competent’ on C717 Task 1?

You will receive detailed evaluator feedback specifying which rubric sections were marked ‘Not Yet Competent.’ You then revise and resubmit. There is no limit on resubmissions, but each revision cycle delays your course completion and can affect your pacing. Addressing all evaluator comments thoroughly before resubmitting is critical.

Is there a C717 Task 1 template I can follow?

WGU does not publish an official C717 Task 1 template. However, the rubric itself functions as a structural guide. Organizing your paper around the rubric sections with clearly labeled headings is the most effective approach for ensuring evaluators can locate and score each section of your submission.

Final Thoughts: Passing WGU C717 Task 1 on the First Attempt

WGU C717 Task 1 is a substantial paper, but it is entirely manageable when you understand what evaluators are looking for. The students who earn first-attempt competency are not necessarily the most experienced writers — they are the students who read the rubric carefully, structure their analysis around its sections, apply ethical theory correctly rather than superficially, and support every major claim with scholarly evidence.

Use this guide as your foundation. Return to it when drafting each section. If your analysis feels shallow, deepen it. If your ethical theory application feels like a definition rather than an application, revise it. If your recommendations feel vague, make them specific and tie them back to your earlier analysis.

And if you need expert support — whether for a full paper, a rubric review, or targeted help on a specific section — our WGU Business Ethics specialists are here to help you get it done right.

References

• Carroll, A. B. (2021). Corporate social responsibility: Perspectives on the CSR construct’s development and future. Business & Society, 60(6), 1258–1278. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650321992813
• Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2022). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Freeman, R. E., Harrison, J. S., & Zyglidopoulos, S. (2024). Stakeholder theory: Concepts and strategies. Cambridge University Press.
• Hartman, L. P., DesJardins, J., & MacDonald, C. (2021). Business ethics: Decision making for personal integrity and social responsibility (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Velasquez, M. G. (2023). Business ethics: Concepts and cases (8th ed.). Pearson.