ETHICS Chapter 1
“People do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” Plato Good
What management behaviors do you consider morally repugnant?
Socially Responsible Businesses Johnson & Johnson Coca-Cola Gerber IBM Deere 3M Xerox JC Penney Pitney Bowes
Shareholders Customers Employees Community Environment Stockholders
Ethical Behavior Behavior that is consistent with the principles, norms and standards of business practice that have been agreed upon by society.
Ethical Behavior Good business Social responsible Attracts good talent Attracts customers
Is Business Ethics Just a Fad? Fads last about 10 years Interest for the last 40 years Media keeps focus on Government Business US Military Religion Sports
Can Business Ethics Be Taught? Don’t the bad examples lead us astray? Shouldn’t employees already know the difference between right and wrong? Can adults’ ethics be changed? Does our environment influence our ethics?
Should the only guiding principle Ethics and the Law Should the only guiding principle be the law?
Linda K. Trevino and Katherine A Linda K. Trevino and Katherine A. Nelson, Managing Business Ethics, (Wiley, New Jersey) pp. 2-22