Role of Ethics in Business and Society
Prague, Czech
Republic, October 2004
a. Why is this so?
b. Where do people learn their ethics?
c. Is ethics in business and government different than personal ethics?
C. What do people mean by ethical?
a. Greeks-Philosophy: philio and sophos---seeking the truth-- quest for a virtuous life of character. This would lead to ___________________.
The person with the greatest virtue would be the ___________________.
Why try to be ethical? So you can be _______.
b. European/western philosophy
1. Looking for justice
2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
D. Law versus Ethics: Real World controversies about treating others
a. Law: authoritarian which governs human conduct
b. Ethics: governs human conduct because it is the right thing to do
c. Morality: recognition by the actor of the moral nature of an act
E. Main sources of information about Ethics: Academics, Social Critics,
And Philosophers—
a. Taught as logical thinking: Movie Paper Chase: Question, Question.
b. Taught as cause and effect: Bad people will be punished
c. Action – Reaction: theory of generalized self concept
d. Socratic: Reasoning-5 steps
Teaching methods primarily
consisted of case studies:
b. Enron
scandal-10 years in prison
c. Tyco-accused
of stealing 170 million dollars
d. WorldCom
e. My
adopted son and Wal-Mart
f. John
has used up his vacation time but has cancer
g. Charging
clients for travel time
h. A
child is beaten severely in the back seat of a car
i.
One observes dishonesty in the workplace
j.
A customer wants new jeans when the old ones are worn
out
k. A
government official is offered a bribe
l. Nestle foods and baby formula
How bad is corruption in the World?
Rankings by Transparency International
a. Finland is the cleanest country out of 133
b. Bangladesh was consider the most corrupt
c. Romania and India at 83rd
d. USA at 18th with Ireland
The United Nations in 1996 Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions: Five Points In 1999, the UN requested to enact the Global Compact in their corporate practices: Human Rights, Labor Standards, Environment and Anti-Corruption
Maxwell’s whole premise is that the Golden Rule is enough for the following reasons:
a. Accepted by almost everyone
b. Easy to understand
c. Win/win philosophy
d. Acts as compass when one needs direction
e. Most religions have a form of the golden rule.
What do people in the workplace really want?
a. To be valued
b. Appreciated
c. Trusted
d. Respected
e. Understood
Why do people not follow the Golden Rule?
a. Pressure
b. Pleasure:
c. Power
d. Pride
e. Priorities
Jim Collins book: Good to Great: Core Values Make a Company Great.
Are there examples of companies that have high ethical standards and have been really successful?
a. Chick Fil a
b. IBM Corporation
c. Simmons Company
d. Johnson & Johnson-Tylenol Case
What should we do as an organization if we want to have success and ethics at the same time?
