Assigned Readings:

Chapter 7. Business Ethics Essentials

Chapter 8. Managerial and Organizational Ethics

Chapter 9. Business Ethics and Technology

Chapter 10. Ethical Issues in the Global Arena

Overview:

Chapter 7 introduces concepts and background that are essential to understanding business ethics.  The authors explore a wide range of topics that combine to form a network within which business decisions are made, how they are made, and how managers develop their abilities to make them. Chapter 8 has two primary purposes: to explore some of the various ways to make judgments about ethical dilemmas.  The authors present two approaches to making moral judgments, the principles approach and the ethical tests approach.  The second purpose is to discuss how managers can improve their organizations’ moral culture and behavior. Chapter 9 explores the subject of technology and business ethics.  Technology is such an integral aspect of our work lives and consumer lives that special treatment of these topics is warranted.  The authors first consider what technology means and some of its benefits and challenges.  Then, they discuss the subject of ethics and technology and finish the chapter by exploring ethical issues connected with two major components of technology—information technology and biotechnology. Chapter 10 serves a dual purpose.  First, it introduces the students to ethical issues in the global marketplace, including two infamous examples that demonstrate some of the difficulties encountered by operating in multiple nations.  Second, it offers several takes to improve ethical performance in the global economy, using four different popular strategies.

Learning Objectives:

Chapter 7. Business Ethics Essentials

Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

Describe the public’s opinion of business ethics.

Define business ethics, explain the conventional approach to business ethics and identify the sources of ethical norms in individuals.

Analyze economic, legal, and ethical aspects of a decision by using a Venn model.

Identify, explain, and illustrate three models of management ethics.

In terms of making moral management actionable, describe and discuss Kohlberg’s three levels of moral development and Gilligan’s ethics of care.

Identify and discuss six major elements of moral judgment.

Chapter 8. Managerial and Organizational Ethics

Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

Identify and explain the different levels at which business ethics may be addressed.

Enumerate and discuss the principles of managerial ethics and ethical tests for guiding ethical decisions.

In terms of managing organizational ethics, identify the factors affecting an organization’s ethical culture and provide examples of these factors at work.

Describe the best practices that management may adopt to improve an organization’s ethical culture.

Identify and explain concepts from “behavioral ethics” that affect ethical decision-making and behavior in organizations.

Explain the cascading effect of moral decisions, moral managers, and moral organizations.

Chapter 9. Business Ethics and Technology

Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

Identify and describe what the new world of Big Data is all about and the implications it holds for business.

Explain how social media have changed the world of business and technology.

Discuss how surveillance is a new dimension to being a consumer and an employee and what its implications are for stakeholders.

Articulate an understanding of technology and the technological environment.

Identify the characteristics of technology to include their benefits, side effects, and challenges in business.

Comment on the relationship between technology and ethics.

Define information technology and discuss the issues relating to e-commerce in business.

Define biotechnology. Identify the ethical issues involved in genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Chapter 10. Ethical Issues in the Global Arena

Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

Describe the ethical and social challenges faced by multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the global environment.

Summarize the key implications for managers of the following ethical issues: infant formula controversy, Bhopal tragedy, factory collapses, sweatshops, and human rights abuses.

Define corruption and differentiate between bribes and grease payments, and outline the major features of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. 

Identify and discuss strategies companies may employ for improving global business ethics.

Assignments.Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced in the workplace. Analyze how you would resolve the dilemma using (1) utilitarianism, (2) the principle of rights, (3) the principle of justice, (4) virtue ethics and (5) the Golden Rule.  Based on your analysis of these principles, what course of action would result in the most ethical outcome?   Determine what ethical principle(s) or tests(s), if any, were employed by senior management or required by the company’s code of conduct.  Finally, describe the course of action that you took in the situation and ascertain whether you would choose the same course of action again or if you would act differently based on your analysis of the ethical principles, management’s behavior and the requirements (if any) of the company’s code of conduct.