¶ … Meta-Analysis When it comes to the Volkswagen scandal, the real cost in human terms could be sixty or more premature deaths, according to an environmental study reported in Time. The 482,000 dirty diesel Volkswagen engines (sold in the U.S.) spewed enormous amounts of nitrogen oxide into the air for years before the deceptive software was discovered. The study by the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Letters suggests that "... as many as 130 additional people may die" premature deaths from pollution if the emission problems aren't fixed (Worland, 2015). The social costs may reach half a billion dollars (Worland).

Meanwhile Germany has suffered "major damage" to its image because of the scandal (Bremmer, 2015). Germany has shown strong leadership on the euro zone, on the recent refugee crisis, and in other European fiscal / social matters. But now, due to the " ... brazen deception" of Volkswagen, it will be hard for Germans to " ... complain that other governments aren't honest about reform," and their efforts to " ... cast Putin as an aggressive liar" may ring hollow (Bremmer). Whether German political officials knew about the deception or not, the perception is that Germany " ... doesn't play by its own rules (Bremmer).

Journalist Jerry Useem writes in The Atlantic that Volkswagen " ... seems intent on poisoning its own name, and future," and the current scandal wasn't the first sign of the company's unethical behavior. Ferdinand Piech, who was chairman of VW before the scandal hit (and quickly resigned), was a top figure in a 2008 corruption trial, in which there was " ... alleged...

Piech testified that the prostitute funds (for VW executives) should be called "irregularities" (Useem).
Kenneth Feinberg has been hired to devise a program that will compensate owners of the defective diesel VWs. Feinberg also compensated victims of the BP Gulf Oil spill, the General Motors ignition switch scandal, and other "high-profile" cases (Krisher, 2015).

Post Script -- (To be placed After Alternative Solutions)

How will I apply my leadership and management style in the business world, which is becoming more diverse and hence more challenging each year? How effective will my research skills prove to be when serious investigatory measures must be put in place to solve problems or pave new paths of success? I understand that my personal attitudes will be the focus of others around me when it comes to making decisions, leading people, and improving the culture of the company that I will work for in the future.

I have learned research skills by conducting research. I have kept my eyes wide open vis-a-vis the good and the bad of leadership and management in business. I am a stronger student because I have tried to go the extra mile to follow through on assignments. Not just to get the assignment done, but to profit from the information therein. It is frankly shocking to delve into issues of deceit and fraud and discover not only the truth as to how it happened, but the lies that come out of the mouths of people that consumers trusted to be ethical.

To wit, while doing the research on the Volkswagen scandal, which…