HU245 Unit Six Seminar HU245 Unit Six Seminar

New Business! Reading Case Study Discussion on Affirmative Action Discussion of the Ethics of Cheating

Background to the Case Study In an effort to combat racism and sexism, the regents of State University passed an affirmative action admissions policy designed to open up spaces in the freshman class for members of groups that have faced discrimination and that are underrepresented at the University. Katie Sampson, an African-American student at the University, strongly objects to her institution's affirmative action policies, and she has asked the Regents to institute an admissions policy that does not give special preference to anybody. She is concerned that affirmative action policies create the false impression that minority students like her do not deserve their position at the University. Katie is an effective organizer and has led a student group that has successfully pressured the Regents to consider her proposal. A vote is scheduled to follow a debate about whether or not affirmative action in admissions lives up to its idealistic intentions.

What is Affirmative Action? Do all affirmative action measures involve quotas? “Affirmative action is a program designed to ensure the proportion of minorities within an organization matches their proportion in the available workforce” (Velasquez, 2006, p. 309) Velasquez, M. (2006). Business Ethics Concepts and Cases (6 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Why Affirmative Action? Does job discrimination still take place? How do you prove job discrimination? 2001 Average Family Income for White Families was $73, Average Family Income for Black Families was $43,938 (or 60% of white) 1975 Average Family Income for White Families was $16, Average Family Income for Black Families was $11,096 (or 64% of white) (Velasquez, 2006, p. 311)

Arguments For Affirmative Action Gives advantage for disadvantaged groups Creates diversity. Job discrimination will continue without it. Seeks to address past wrongs.

Arguments Against Affirmative Action Results in reverse discrimination. Results in hiring and promoting less qualified individuals. Causes harder feelings and more racial tension. Portrays minorities and women as less competent.

What do you think? Which case do you find most convincing? Why? What are the weaknesses of the views?

Seminar Question 1 Of the issues discussed in the text, what topics are most important to you? Why?

Why Do People Cheat?

When is it Okay to Lie, Steal or Cheat?

Seminar Question Continued! Today, most people work in organizations. Does this affect people's sense of moral responsibility and conduct?

I’m Just Doing My Job! Does authority and loyalty hinder ethical judgment? Do people compromise ethical standards in a “groupthink” setting? ◦The Stanley Milgram Experiment  I’m just doing my job!

The Company Isn’t a Person Does an organization have an ethical responsibility as a whole or can only individuals be ethical or unethical? Does ethics flow from the top down? How does a company develop an ethical culture?

What Business Ethics Isn’t Business ethics is not a list of rules to follow. Business ethics is not compliance training. Business ethics is not something that can be learned without an understanding of basic ethical theory.

Questions? Final Thoughts?