Conclusion What did we learn?

What did I learn during this course? Business students in China are very sensitive to grades. I can help by making sure that the evolution of the grades during the course is motivating It can be too difficult to have too open questions. So maybe next year, I can propose a choice of more structured, step by step questions. The more I try to give students opportunities to be free in their mind, the more I am obliged to open my mind, and I like it. There was a good flow in the course, and I hope you have been learning something useful for you and your career. I hope to come again next year.

My Intentions Make you face different contexts Make you collect data that go contrary to your implicit bias Question yourselves, provoke your thoughts Make you scared Raise emotions, experience conflicts of values Broaden your decision-making Animate debates, decode discourses Propose structures and framework, illustrate them Be systematic Make you dream Make you join the enthusiastic crowd of those who believe in ethics and still do business

A store has been selling large snow shovels for sale for $15. The morning after a major snowstorm, the store raises its price to $20. Please rate this action as: 1 Acceptable 2 Neither acceptable nor unfair 3 Unfair Is it fair business?

Bhopal Legal responsibility of business is limited Moral responsibility is not, and it is inescapable Why is it so difficult to assume it? Economy Industry Company Plant Team Human act Causal Chain? There are different views on causality, which imply different views on responsibility

Economists’ Models What are the consequences of business having no other responsibility than maximizing profit? Is an idealist view of law realist and sufficient? Why do we maximize revenues for shareholders while employees are the ones creating value? Should you serve your self-interest or the one of the company? Is the discourse of profit maximization scientific, ideological, or propaganda?

You feel good, full of energy You may not be very credible And you may be blind to risks You are honest It feels bad But you are more aware and anticipate Looking at the good side Looking at the bad side Thinking Ethics as a Grey Zone  Your ethical judgments are bounded and biased by your emotions, your interest, your mental habits and self-image, your cultural context and work environment, etc.  This psychological phenomenon is not necessarily intentional, but it can have significant consequences. It can be used by others to influence or even control you.  With training and effort, you can develop, refine and structure your ethical consciousness. It requires to open your mind and be able to think beyond the justification of your ethical opinion. Purely ethical You are here! Purely unethical

Ethical Rationality, a Framework There is more to happiness than just attainment of goals. The process too has a reward, more immaterial but so meaningful… Best consequence for the actor Unethical Action Worse Consequence for the actor Ethical Action A tool to face Dilemmas Profitable Costly Neutrality ETHICS INTEREST Irrational Priority to Ethics Priority to business Ideal A tool to think strategically

Changmaï When you will be faced with corruption, will you? 1. Identify the lack of ethics? 2. Anticipate all its consequences? 3. Imagine consequences of not doing it? 4. Openly discuss with others? Any unethical action should be battle that has been lost! Who would you be if you could make any ethical dilemma an opportunity for self-accomplishment?

Addicted to lies A harmful product raises an ethical dilemma A harmful behavior is likely to hide it… And it creates even more dilemmas, and unethical behaviors. The most harmful effect of Tobacco companies maybe on society through the weakening of democracy, the subversion of institution, the distortion of science and the manipulation of opinion The tactics of business to manipulate public opinion, to subvert institutions and to distort science are powerful, sophisticated, and secret.

A change of climate There are different possible strategies in front of ethical dilemmas Some are more ethical than other, when priority is given to business And ambiguity always remains part of the issue. Irrational Priority Ethics Priority Business Ideal Situation Natural Dynamics Irrational Priority Business Ideal Situation Priority Ethics A Proactive Credible Strategy

The Spirit of Money Only after the last tree has been cut down Only after the last fish has been caught Only after the last river has been poisoned Only then will you find money cannot be eaten

Objectives To raise your awareness of issues faced by business with regard to society and the environment: the ethical issues To help you dealing with ethical dilemmas To increase your ability to see things “differently” To learn from yourself, to learn from each other, and to develop your own questioning; To share my enthusiasm in analyzing the relation between business and society in the century to come.

Now we are here and now

We have more power to see both the white and the black in every situation

We can be the idealist and the realist at the same time

We have the strength to go within ourselves to find solutions…

And we know ethics is about drawing a line And some lines are simply beautiful

Joan Miro, 1968

Enjoy your life!