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: //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 andResourcesUsing company computer software and internetservices for personal business is one of the mostcommonwaysemployeesmisusecompanyresources.Typical examples of using computer to abusecompany time:Sending personal emailsShoppingDownloading musicDoing personal banking
Abusive or IntimidatingBehaviorRefers 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 BulliesCorporate 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 commissionCreating a perception or belief by wordsthat intentionally deceived the receiver ofthe message.Example: lying about being at work; expensereports; carrying out work assignmentsIt can involve complex forms, procedures,contracts, words that are spelled the samebut have different meanings, or refuting the
LyingLying by omissionIt is intentionally not informing othersof any differences, problems, safety,warnings, or negative issues relating totheproductorcompanythatsignificantly affect awareness, intention,or behavior.
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