Business Ethics 2010

A few points... There will be lectures, presentations and discussions. There will be lectures, presentations and discussions. Assignments will be given most weeks. Assignments will be given most weeks. There will be a final examination. There will be a final examination. The course grade will consist of the grades received for the assignments and active participation (65%), as well as the final examination (35%). The course grade will consist of the grades received for the assignments and active participation (65%), as well as the final examination (35%).

Topics... The following topics will be covered: The following topics will be covered: 1.Why is business ethics important to business? 2.A brief introduction to theories of ethics 3.Safety in the workplace 4.Blowing the whistle

More topics Intellectual Property 6. Bribes 7. Advertising 8. Corporate Responsibility 9. The Responsibility of professionals

Textbooks John R. Boatright Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Prentice Hall John R. Boatright Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Prentice Hall Robert A. Larmer Ethics in the Workplace. West Publishing Company Robert A. Larmer Ethics in the Workplace. West Publishing Company Plus other literature you can find on these subjects Plus other literature you can find on these subjects

A short discussion... Today there is a lot of talk about the importance of ethics to business, many companies have hired special ethics officers to deal with this issue..

Ethical Officials These ethics officers are availble to talk to empoyees about any ethical concerns they may have. These ethics officers are availble to talk to empoyees about any ethical concerns they may have. They also visit subcontractors and check that their staff is not working in bad conditions, not polluting, and that they are not using child labour, etc. (Nokia is an example of a compamy that uses these officials.) They also visit subcontractors and check that their staff is not working in bad conditions, not polluting, and that they are not using child labour, etc. (Nokia is an example of a compamy that uses these officials.)

Can institutions have morality..? Persons can be moral or immoral, but can institutions? Persons can be moral or immoral, but can institutions? Do we expect different behaviour from institutions than from people? Do we expect different behaviour from institutions than from people? Do we expect certain type of conduct from different instituitions, and if they do not behave as we expect them to are they immoral? Do we expect certain type of conduct from different instituitions, and if they do not behave as we expect them to are they immoral? The courts, the church, the police, the banks. The courts, the church, the police, the banks. Do we have expect a bank to behave differently than a nightclub? Why? Do we have expect a bank to behave differently than a nightclub? Why?

Codes of conduct... Many companies have also drawn up codes of conduct often written by outside consultants. Many companies have also drawn up codes of conduct often written by outside consultants.

What counts are deeds... But has the behaviour of companies and of individual business men and women improved? But has the behaviour of companies and of individual business men and women improved? Volkswagen, Patria, Siemens, Kone,...the list of companies having problems with ethics does not seem to get any shorter. Volkswagen, Patria, Siemens, Kone,...the list of companies having problems with ethics does not seem to get any shorter.

Five simple questions... All business mannagers should ask themselves the following five questions before makig an important business decision: 1. Who are the people affected by this business decision? (Employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers,etc.) 2. Does this decision cause any serious harm to any of these parties and can I do something about that?

More moral questions Is my behavior deceptive? Would I regard it as deceptive if I were in the counter-party’s position? 4. Are there any disguised conflicts between me and those parties affected by the decision in question. 5. What where to happen if everyone involved in the transaction where to behave in a like manner (like I am planing to behave now)?