Business Ethics (eBook)

An Ethical Decision-Making Approach

Mark S. Schwartz (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017 | 1. Auflage
328 Seiten
Wiley (Verlag)
978-1-118-39340-6 (ISBN)

Infos

Business Ethics: An Ethical Decision-Making Approach presents a practical decision-making framework to aid in the identification, understanding, and resolution of complex ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

• Focuses exclusively on three basic aspects of ethical decision making and behavior-how it actually takes place, how it should take place, and how it can be improved
• Uses real-life examples of moral temptations and personal ethical dilemmas faced by employees and managers
• Discusses the biases, psychological tendencies, moral rationalizations, and impact of self-interest as impediments to proper ethical decision making
• Includes relevant examples of ethical misconduct and scandals appearing in the news media

Mark S. Schwartz, MBA, JD, PhD, is Associate Professor of Business Ethics at York University's School of Administrative Studies in Toronto, Canada. An award-winning teacher and researcher, Dr. Schwartz has contributed to such journals as Business Ethics Quarterly, Journal of Business Ethics, Business & Society, Business and Society Review, Corporate Governance: An International Review, and Business Horizons. His most recent books include Corporate Social Responsibility: An Ethical Approach (2011) and, as co-editor, Business Ethics: Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality (2014).

Inhalt

Business Ethics 3
Contents 9
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction to Ethical Decision Making 13
Unethical Activity in Society 15
Unethical Activity in the Workplace 17
Major Corporate Ethical Scandals 18
An “Ethical Decision-Making Approach” to Business Ethics 19
About This Book 21
A Few Key Definitions 22
The Organization of the Book 23
Notes 24
References 30
Part One Descriptive Theory 33
1 What Determines Ethical Behavior? 35
The “Good or Bad Apple” Approach to Ethical Decision Making 37
Moral character – capability 38
Moral character – commitment 43
The Situational Approach to Ethical Decision Making 48
Issue 48
Organizational environment 51
Personal context 53
Chapter Summary 56
Notes 57
References 65
2 The Ethical Decision-Making Process 71
Environmental Norms 74
Moral Awareness Stage 75
Lack of moral awareness 75
Moral Judgment Stage 78
Intuition 79
Emotions 80
Reason 84
Integration 85
Moral consultation 86
Intention Stage 88
Moral Behavior Stage 88
Feedback loops 89
Basic propositions 91
Chapter Summary 92
Notes 94
References 100
3 Impediments to Proper Ethical Decision Making 105
Improper Framing 107
Economic frame 108
Legal frame 108
Ethical frame 109
Cognitive Biases and Psychological Tendencies 112
Moral Rationalizations 119
Denial of responsibility 123
Denial of the injury 123
Denial of the victim 124
Condemnation of the condemners 124
Appeal to higher authorities 125
Everyone else is doing it 125
Claim to entitlement 126
Prohibition should not apply 126
Self-Interest 127
Chapter Summary 129
Notes 130
References 135
Part Two Normative Framework 139
4 Distinguishing Right from Wrong 141
Stage 1: Application of Moral Standards 142
Moral standards that generally support ethical behavior 144
Moral standards that tend to be used to rationalize unethical behavior 154
Resolving conflicts between the moral standards 158
Stage 2: The Public-Parent-Pillow (3P) Filter 161
Putting It All Together: A Normative Framework for Ethical Decision Making 163
Chapter Summary 163
Notes 164
References 169
5 The Decision to Report Misconduct 171
How Does the Decision to Blow the Whistle Take Place? 175
Summary of Positions on the Morality of Reporting Misconduct 178
Proposed Criteria for External Whistleblowing 179
Harm criterion 179
Internal reporting 180
Anti-retaliation policy 182
Reasonable evidence 182
Make a difference 183
Legal protections 184
Proposed Criteria for Internal Whistleblowing 186
Application of Criteria 187
Dennis Gioia and the Ford Pinto 187
Sherron Watkins and Enron 188
DrJeffrey Wigand and Brown & Williamson
Implications 189
Chapter Summary 191
Notes 192
References 198
Part Three Practical Application 201
6 Developing and Sustaining an Ethical Corporate Culture 203
First Pillar: Core Ethical Values 206
Policies 208
Processes 208
Practices 209
Second Pillar: Formal Ethics Program 211
Developing an ethics program 212
Implementing an ethics program 214
Administering an ethics program 216
Third Pillar: Ethical Leadership 217
Other Considerations to Sustaining an Ethical Corporate Culture 224
Chapter Summary 228
Notes 229
References 238
7 What Would You Do? Common Workplace Dilemmas 243
Different Types of Ethical Situations 245
Pretending to be a Student to Get Competitive Information? 247
Commentary 248
What happened? 248
Conclusion 249
Disclose Leaving Firm for Graduate School? 249
Commentary 249
What happened? 250
Conclusion 250
Sending Emails to Bosss Personal Account? 250
Commentary 251
What happened? 251
Conclusion 251
Take Advantage of Firms 25 Dinner Policy? 252
Commentary 252
What happened? 253
Conclusion 253
Disclose Impending Layoffs? 253
Commentary 254
What happened? 254
Conclusion 254
Let Manager Take Credit for Your Analysis? 255
Commentary 255
What happened? 256
Conclusion 256
Disclose Mistake to Manager and Client? 256
Commentary 257
What happened? 257
Conclusion 258
Say Something When Boss Exaggerates Your Resume? 258
Commentary 259
What happened? 259
Conclusion 259
Report Friend with Substance Abuse Problems? 260
Commentary 260
What happened? 261
Conclusion 261
Hire Son of Important Client? 261
Commentary 261
What happened? 262
Conclusion 262
Post Rave Reviews for Product on Internet? 262
Commentary 263
What happened? 263
Conclusion 263
Summary of the Ethical Dilemmas 264
Chapter Summary 264
Notes 268
References 269
Conclusion: Navigating the Moral High Road 271
Implications for the Integrated and Multifaceted Ethical Decision-Making Models 272
Key Recommendations and Takeaways 273
Gather sufficient facts and use moral imagination 273
Be morally aware 274
Avoid bias 274
Avoid making decisions while in an emotional state 274
Further develop your moral character 275
Strive to be an ethical role model at home and at work 275
Conduct due diligence 276
Dont take personal financial risks 276
Be content with your “lot” in life 276
Reflect carefully before reporting misconduct 277
Ensure an ethical corporate culture exists 277
Pre-commit yourself to ethical action 277
Respond to and learn from ethical mistakes 278
Do good for others as well 278
Consider working in other less “profit-oriented” organizational environments 278
Final Thoughts 279
Notes 280
References 280
Appendix A Factors Affecting Moral Character 283
Notes 286
References 287
Appendix B Descriptive Ethical Decision-Making Models 289
Notes 294
References 296
Appendix C Normative Ethical Decision-Making Models 299
Notes 302
References 303
Appendix D Business Ethics in Hollywood Movies 305
Note 309
References 309
Index 311
EULA 326

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 14.2.2017
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Ethik
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management ► Unternehmensführung / Management
• ISBN-10: 1-118-39340-6 / 1118393406
• ISBN-13: 978-1-118-39340-6 / 9781118393406