...Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative University of New Mexico http://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu Integrating Business Ethics in Business Courses INTRODUCTION Teaching business ethics requires an understanding of the organizational dimensions of ethical decisionmaking. Although most people believe that employees learn to be ethical at home and school and through life experiences, the work environment creates challenges for even the most ethical person. For example, employees cannot always make independent ethical decisions due to a corporate culture that has many types of managers and employees using their own concepts of right and wrong. Managers sometimes pressure employees into questionable activities. However, business ethics becomes more transparent once an organization establishes codes of ethics, as well as compliance requirements and ethical leadership. The objective of this chapter is to provide some essential strategies for integrating business ethics into business courses. The authors examine the role of stakeholders, implications of the global financial crisis, and important issues in teaching business ethics, as well as providing resources to integrate business ethics successfully into a course. THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS ETHICS Business courses provide an essential and dynamic foundation for students developing their business careers. Although it is important to teach many traditional concepts such as human resources and marketing, emphasizing emerging topics that are...
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...contained in this report is for informational purposes only. The Ethics Resource Center cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or any liability resulting from the use or misuse of any information presented in this report. ©2012 Ethics Resource Center. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Additional copies of this report and more information about permission and licensing may be obtained by calling 703-647-2185, or by visiting www.ethics.org/nbes. The Ethics Resource Center (ERC) is America’s oldest nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and the advancement of high ethical standards and practices in public and private institutions. Since 1922, ERC has been a resource for public and private institutions committed to a strong ethical culture. ERC’s expertise informs the public dialogue on ethics and ethical behavior. ERC researchers analyze current and emerging issues and produce new ideas and benchmarks that matter — for the public trust. For more information, please contact: Ethics Resource Center 2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 201 Arlington, VA 22202 USA Telephone: 703.647.2185 FAX: 703.647.2180 Website: http://www.ethics.org Email: ethics@ethics.org NBES Sponsors The 2011 National Business Ethics Survey® was conducted with the generous support of: Principal Sponsors Walmart Stores, Inc. Northrop Grumman Sponsors Altria Group, Inc. BP p.l.c. PricewaterhouseCoopers United Technologies Corporation Lockheed Martin...
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...Rolph EST1: Ethical Situations in Business Task 2 Standards and Procedures 1.) Information Confidentiality: As an employee, you will be exposed to client-sensitive as well as company-sensitive information that is to be viewed only by those who have the authority or permission to do so. Such information to be considered “confidential” includes business contracts, financial information, internal correspondence, and any and all documentation (electronic or paper-based) that is not authorized to be disclosed to the public. Disclosure of sensitive information will lead to immediate termination and possible charges/fines (depending on the severity of the violation) as is legal under state and federal law. Employees should not take advantage of privileged information and share it with our competitors. By leaking confidential information you are threatening the well-being of the company as well as that of our clients. If left unsure of what information is considered confidential, please consult with your direct supervisor, HR Department, or Legal Team for further guidance. 2.) Proper Communication: Company X’s public communications are to be properly constructed and delivered in a clear, accurate and informative manner. All direct communications with the public should be factually correct and not misleading in any manner. Such public communications include, but are not limited to speeches, press releases, and quarterly earnings reports or other public financial sharing. Public...
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...ETHICS PROGRAM Michelle Bennett EST1 11/23/2015 Ethics can be defined as a behavior or action of distinguishing between right or wrong doing and choosing to the right thing. In today’s corporate America, ethics program has become one of the integral parts of the organization as it helps to communicate the vision, mission and the direction of the company. It also helps to restore trust among all stakeholders – employees, investors, regulators, suppliers, buyers, distributors etc. Part A – Standards and Procedures 1) Accountability and Responsibility: All employees of company X should perform their task with sincerity and due diligence. All employee needs to understand rules; law and other regulations put forward by the company and other regulatory agencies and act accordingly. Employees and other personals should not participate or assist anyone in any activity that results in the violation of such law and rules. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary actions and possibly termination. All our employees and staffs are always held to a greater degree of accountability so everyone needs to exhibit higher standard of professional, business and personal conduct. This requires we put greater emphasis on company’s core values and interest of our clients before our own personal interest. 2) Diversity: We understand and deeply value the differences that our employee brings to the organization, so we strive to build a more friendly, profitable and effective environment...
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...A Code of Ethics DB Management Consultants is in business to serve non-profit clients with excellent management consulting skills and expertise that are essential for pursuing our client's goals. Our honesty and service is what we are all about and honest ethical behavior is our main priority. At DB Management Consultants we expect all of our employees, managers to behave ethically to company standards. If company ethical standards are violated than the employee can face disciplinary action and termination of his or her employment. The fulfillment of ethical rules and policy is a fundamental element to our Ethics Program- that pertains to DB Management Consultants; furthermore ensures compliance to rules and regulations within the company. Honesty and Service Integrating honesty and service means high morality; with customer satisfaction and good execution of work. Having a high morality shows proper care for people in our communities and socially responsible. Ethical Behavior DB Management Consultants employees and staff are expected to be honest and candid in their communications with their managers and with one another. When dealing with clients, government entities and the general public we need to act to the utmost level of personal integrity and promote in onto others. Employees must not be dishonest, deceiving or steal. All of DB Management Consultants employees must refrain from these illegal actions that can give our company a bad name. Quality Work and Customer...
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...Police Misconduct/ Corruption Over that past 50 years the media has done a spectacular job of broadcasting police misconduct and corruption to the public. Unfortunately, in the past 25 years the detection of misconduct and corruption has skyrocketed because of the rapid development of technology; for example dash cams and microphones have been notoriously known for catch police misconduct. Police officers are trained to follow certain ethical protocols, but after they leave the academy some officers diverge from that ethical line. This is for a variety of reasons; some being cynicism, arrogance, financial necessity, and even fear. The term corruption and misconduct has always been part of the police culture since the very beginning; from...
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...Assignment 5: Nike” From Sweatshops to Leadership in Employment Practices” Nia Lawson Diggs Dr. Jack Huddleston Human Resource Management 522 Ethics and Advocacy for HR Pro March 13, 2012 Discern how a more effective ethics programs and a more viable code of conduct could have mitigated the ethical issues faced by Nike Nike leads the world in the manufacturing and distributing of its athletic footwear and accessories. Nike is the brain child of Phil Knight and his former track coach, Bill Bowerman. The duo formed a company that would eventually become the leader in the athletic industry with the sales and manufacturing of athletic wear. The Nike brand is widely recognized by its catch phrase and its logo. Their marketing campaigns specially “just do it” helped it revive its brand image. The swoosh sign is recognizable across most of the world. This alone attributes for Nike's worldwide success. Overall, Nike keeps improving its product which helps to keep the population engaged with its brand. If Nike had a more effective ethics program and viable code of conduct, ethical issues could have been avoided by Nike. In the early 1990s, sports shoe giant Nike became the target of arguably the most intensive and widely publicized of these anticorporate campaigns up to that time (Conaway, 2011). According to Ferrell, ethics programs that provide guidelines outlining board responsibilities encourage compliance encourage compliance at the highest...
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...Standard Operating Procedures and Ethics All employees, management, and directors of Company X are expected to not only familiarize themselves with the Standard Operating Procedures and Ethics but to also help each other comply with these standards and embrace a team environment. While this handbook is a broad guide as to how to conduct yourself you will receive additional training regularly. In the event there is any question as to how standards are to be followed or of the proper ethical choice in a situation please reach out to Human Resources. They will help address your questions and guide you in the right direction. Ethical Responsibilities: All employees, management, and directors of Company X should make it their top priority to operate on a daily basis with honesty, integrity and without malice. Unfortunately, all ethical decisions are not easy and the right answer isn’t always apparent. In situations such as these, reach out to Human Resources. Beyond unusual circumstances we must treat all other employees as well as customers and people of the community with respect and dignity regardless, age, sex, origin, or different abilities. Staff Schedules: Directors and management of Company X are responsible for creating employee schedules. Work schedules are to be taken very seriously. Schedules are created two weeks in advance. If you are requesting time off you must submit your request in writing to your department manager no later than two and a half weeks...
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...strong Corporate Governance structure. The central objectives of his proposal “Restoring Trust” included improving the composition of WorldCom Board, eradicating financial misconduct, correcting executive compensation and enhancing shareholder influence and involvement. According the Breeden the WorldCom board seemed to have a decent combination of backgrounds and independence, however, the board did not provide the proper oversight to manage the company or its personnel. The board was described as disinterested, dysfunctional and had no control over its CEO Bernie Ebbers. Breeden made suggestions to improve the board, such as recommending maximum term limits for directors, continued separation of the CEO and chairman, an improved meeting schedule reflecting a minimum of 8 meetings per year, two of which were offsite away from the headquarters and to be lead by the non-executive chairman. Breeden also outlined the functions of board committees, the committee composition and also set director compensation at a flat rate in an effort for the directors to take their roles more seriously. The benefits of these changes would be to conserve the experience of the board but reduce complacency by having them more engaged in the operating of the WorldCom business and its issues. Breeden believed the reason the financial misconduct of the organization went undetected was due to the incompetence of WorldCom Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for the Internal Audit department...
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...Analysis of Ethical Corporate Culture between 2013 and 2015 Group 6: Michelle Delgado Lok Sum Lydia Fung Chau Nguyen ACCT 415 Dr. James Gong 5/14/2015 Executive Summary In business, leaders, managers, and employees face conflicting incentives, messages and pressures from multiple stakeholders. Conflict of interest is said to occur when a professional’s self interest offers an incentive that mitigates his or her judgment against the best interest of the corporation or its customers. In turn, most professionals are unaware of their unethical progression because they are blindsided by internal motivation and expectations. It has been proclaimed that the most important job of the board of directors is hiring the right CEO, causing most boards to fail to notice unethical behavior in someone they do not wish or expect to find it. In fact, research suggests that it is usually difficult to report wrongdoing in an organization because most employees believe the same and fear retaliation, rejection, or disbelief from corporate leaders. Ethical principles will often offer advice for procedures and norms that can reinstate ethical concerns before unforeseen behavior damages an enterprises culture or reputation. In general, ethical systems are designed to improve the ethical behavior within an organization. To do so requires examining the interaction of many factors and forces in a working environment - which were investigated (analyzed) in this report. Executives...
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...Corporate misconduct has received the greatest attention, in part because the abuses are so egregious and the costs so enormous. Chief contenders for most ethically challenged include former Merrill Lynch & Co. CEO John Thain, who spent $1.22 million in 2008 to redecorate his office, including the purchase of a $1,400 trash can and a $35,000 antique commode, while the company was hemorrhaging losses of some $27 billion.1 Still, the corporate sector has no monopoly on greed. Consider EduCap Inc., a multibillion-dollar student loan charity. According to Internal Revenue Service records, the organization abused its tax-exempt status by charging excessive interest on loans and by providing millions in compensation and lavish perks to its CEO and her husband, including use of the organization’s $31 million private jet for family and friends.2 Unsurprisingly, these and a host of other scandals have eroded public confidence in our nation’s leadership. According to a CBS News poll, only a quarter of Americans think that top executives are honest. Even executives themselves acknowledge cause for concern. The American Management Association Corporate Values Survey found that about one third of executives believed that their company’s public statements on ethics sometimes conflicted with internal messages and realities. And more than one third of the executives reported that although their company would follow the law, it would not always do what would be perceived as ethical. Employee...
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...Licensed to: CengageBrain User Licensed to: CengageBrain User This is an electronic version of the print textbook. Due to electronic rights restrictions, some third party content may be suppressed. Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. The publisher reserves the right to remove content from this title at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. For valuable information on pricing, previous editions, changes to current editions, and alternate formats, please visit www.cengage.com/highered to search by ISBN#, author, title, or keyword for materials in your areas of interest. Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. Licensed to: CengageBrain User Business Ethics, Ninth Edition O.C. Ferrell, John Fraedrich, and Linda Ferrell Vice President of Editorial/Business: Jack W. Calhoun Publisher: Erin Joyner Senior Acquisition Editor: Michele Rhoades Managing Developmental Editor: Joanne Dauksewicz Editorial Assistant: Tamara Grega Marketing Manager: Jon Monahan Senior...
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...customer relations in adverse ways. You are a Company X representative during work hours and during off work hours. Violations of Company X rules of acceptable behavior will be viewed as misconduct, which upon review can constitute immediate suspension. Pending further review and investigation some violations may result in termination. The following section is not an all- inclusive list of violations but a snapshot of some that could result in immediate termination. * Falsification of Company documents and or records such as, but not limited to, time cards, company financial reports and travel expenses for reimbursement. * Failure to report an accident involving a company issued vehicle. * Insubordination or refusal to follow instructions or carry out work task without proper justification. * Misuse of company resources such as but not limited to, the internet, computer and phone usage. Ethics Training Common Ethical Values: The following will provide employees and potential employees with a clear understanding of what is considered ethical and non-ethical behavior. One such behavior is sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment can occur in many forms. The request for sex in exchange for favorable treatment such as a raise or promotion is not acceptable ethical behavior. Sexual harassment can also include excessive touching, jokes that are sexual in nature, displaying pictures or videos which...
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...Brett Maslowski, EST1 Task2, December 11, 2014 A. Develop an applicable standards and procedures section that includes four elements of acceptable or unacceptable behavior found in a code of ethics. Welcome! We are quite pleased to have you as a new affiliate of our organization. As part of the family here at Brett's Bed & Breakfast Bungalow (often called Quad-B's), you will be held accountable to acceptable standards and procedures along with the rest of the company; in addition, the managment will stay committed to these standards. 1. All employees of Brett's are expected to abide by the golden rule of treating one another with Respect; we are confident that by displaying respect towards your diverse ethnic group of coworkers you are likely to receive the same in return. This holds true for our clientele; respecting our guests is a significant contributor to our success. Due to the diverse ethnic groups we serve, be aware of their religious practices and do not treat them in any negative fashion. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated at Quad-B's. 2. Each one of our guests shall be treated like royalty and their Privacy must never be compromised. A major necessity is for our clientel to feel completely at ease and comfortable while they relish their visit at Brett's Bungalow; thus, you must not intrude their privacy by entering their rooms unannounced. Knocking before entering a guests' room, and keeping credit card/personal information...
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...What are the potential ethical issues faced by Acme Corporation? -Acme Corporation faces the ethical issue of bribery in order for buyers to purchase their products. This type of behavior can cause the corporation million dollars of fees and decline of consumer trust. Moreover, if outsiders get a word of Acme’s misconduct, the corporation can loose large portion of revenue and damage its reputation. What should Acme do if there is a desire to make ethics a part of its core organizational values? -In order for Acme Corporation to prosper in the future it must establish a strong ethical code of business conduct. This change may require a new staff hiring or ethical simulation tests, in which employees are re-trained on ethical behavior. Moreover, the company must have a clear mission statement and vision for the employees to follow without being trapped between what is right or wrong. More than anything, the Acme employees must have clear transparency so that if something goes wrong, employees can feel secure and confident to point out where is the weakest link. Identify the ethical issues of which Frank needs to be aware. -There are several ethical issues that Frank needs to by aware off and the first issue is that Frank is engaging in some kind of bribery, thus putting on line his own reputation as well as the company’s. Also, Frank’s misconduct towards the customer results in questioning Frank’s personal and business integrity. It is one thing to have business relations...
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