Is a problem situation or opportunity requiring an individual group or organization to choose among?

Business Ethics Course Notes

 Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa, 2010 Page 1

INTRODUCTION

This area of study in your course for Commercial Law is not covered in the prescribed

textbook.

The material chosen to cover the concept of Business Ethics is available as a free download

from the following website: http://www.managementhelp.org/ethics/ethxgde.htm. It is about

20 pages long.

You may make a copy of this document for your own study purposes. Once you have studied

this material, please answer the following questions:

SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

A.Multiple Choice Questions

Please note that you may not be able to answer all these questions directly from the

notes, but if you have a good understanding of the concepts, you will be able to work out

the answers.

1.Ethical issues in business typically arise because of conflicts between an individual’s

personal moral philosophies and values and

A.the values and attitudes of the organization in which he or she works.

B.the values and attitudes of the society in which he or she lives.

C.the values and attitudes of the organization in which he or she works and the society

in which he or she lives.

D.the laws and regulations of the country in which he or she lives.

E.the values and attitudes of his or her parents and religion.

2.An employee for Acme, Inc., has been asked to carry out an assignment that she believes

is wrong. This situation can be classified as

A. ethical.

B. unethical.

C.an ethical issue.

D.a dilemma.

E.a violation of the law.

3.A person uncomfortable with his employer’s hiring only white men is experiencing

A.a conflict of interest.

B.an ethical issue.

C.a feeling of guilt.

D.intraorganizational conflict.

E.a moral attribute.

– is a problem, situation, oropportunitythatrequiresanindividual,group, or organization to choose amongseveral actions that must be evaluated asright or wrong, ethical or unethical.Ethical Dilemma– is a problem, situation,or opportunity that requires an individual,group, or organization to choose amongseveralactionsthathavenegativeoutcomes; there is no right or ethical choice,

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas inBusinessSHAREHOLDER ISSUESCore valuesShareholder participation in electing directorsExecutive compensationLegal complianceLobbying and political activitiesReputation managementIntegrity in collecting and managing dataSupply chain relationships and human rights

Misuse of Company Time andResourcesUsing company computer software and internetservices for personal business is one of the mostcommonwaysemployeesmisusecompanyresources.Typical examples of using computer to abusecompany time:Sending personal emailsShoppingDownloading musicDoing personal banking

Abusive or IntimidatingBehaviorRefers to many things – physical threats,false accusations, being annoying, profanity,insults, yelling, harshness, ignoring someone,and unreasonableness – and their meaningdiffers from person to person.Bullyingisassociatedwithahostileworkplacewheresomeone(oragroup)considered a target is threatened, harasses,belittled,verballyabused,oroverlycriticized. It can cause psychological damage

Actions Associated with BulliesSpreading rumors to damage othersBlocking others’ communication in the workplaceFlaunting status or authority to take advantage ofothersDiscrediting others’ ideas and opinionsUse of e-mails to demean othersFailing to communicate or return communicationInsults, yelling, and shoutingUsing terminology to discriminate by gender, race,or ageUsing eye of body language to hurt others or theirreputations

Actions Associated with BulliesCorporate bullies target employees whoexcel at their jobs and are popular with theircoworkers.It has been found that employees who havebeen bullied are more likely to find itacceptable to bully others.

LyingLying by commissionCreating a perception or belief by wordsthat intentionally deceived the receiver ofthe message.Example: lying about being at work; expensereports; carrying out work assignmentsIt can involve complex forms, procedures,contracts, words that are spelled the samebut have different meanings, or refuting the

LyingLying by omissionIt is intentionally not informing othersof any differences, problems, safety,warnings, or negative issues relating totheproductorcompanythatsignificantly affect awareness, intention,or behavior.

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

End of preview. Want to read all 27 pages?

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

Is a problem situation or opportunity requiring an individual group or organization to choose?

Is a problem situation or opportunity that requires an individual group or organization to choose among several wrong or unethical actions?

Which dimension of social responsibility refers to business social contribution of time money and other resources?

What type of ethical issues does a green company resolve?