2. Forms of Business Ownership
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation

3. ‘Cha Na Da’
(Wishing ‘Double Happiness’ – often only written.)

4. ‘Gong Suh’ Company / Corporation

5. Corporations
Corporations are a group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law.

6. Every Corporation must have at least one shareholder
Every Corporation must have at least one shareholder. (How many pieces of ownership can the company be split into?)
Coca Cola (KO) : Billion Shares

7. Shares outstanding (billions)
company
Ticker
Shares outstanding (billions)
General Electric GE
10.1
Microsoft
MSFT
9.3
Pfizer
PFE
6.8
Cisco Systems
CSCO
6.1
AT&T T
6.0
Intel
INTC
5.8
Exxon Mobil
XOM
5.4

8. Benefits of Corporations
Raising Capital!
Perpetual Existence!
Tax Advantages
Ownership is easily transferable
Limited Liability!

9. ‘The Corporation’
The principle concern of any corporation is making a sustained profit for the people who own it.
The Corporation is recognized as ‘a person.’ But what kind of a person will it be if it is solely concerned with profit?
When there are environmental disasters, products that cause health problems, unethical & exploitive work practices – who is responsible?

10. (We can replace the people running the company, but does that change that corporation’s primary purpose?)
Ultimately, our world will have corporations. We will need corporations.
HOW though, can corporations exist in the best interest of the world’s population? (Environmentally, Socially, Economically)

11. … the rest of the film …

12. Where do we stand?
How can we ensure corporations are held accountable for their actions?
Should individuals (directors, employees, shareholders) bear any responsibility for the actions of a corporation? If so, to what degree?
What are the benefits of the corporate form?
Could an alternative model offer these as well?

13. Global Business Ethics & Responsibility
Business Ethics is concerned with the behaviour of businesses, companies, and corporations in the treatment of:
employees
society
stockholders
consumers

14. Ethics Ethics determine policies for: Environmental Issues
Social Responsibility
Human Rights

15. Codes of Ethics (Codes of Conduct)
Companies may choose to express their principles and values (how their members should appropriately act) in a ‘code of ethics.’
This is similar to how a populations principles and values are expressed in codified laws.

18. Taking Action

19. Stock Portfolio Profile
Portfolio Stock Charts
Code of Ethics