1. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed1 Advanced Technical Writing Lecture 15 Presentation on Ethics in Business and Society13/7/2008

2. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed2 Ethics: What’s the Fuss?

3. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed3 What Is Ethics? A few years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you?" Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong." "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs." "Being ethical is doing what the law requires." "Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts." "I don't know what the word means

4. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed4 What Is Ethics? In order to understand what ethics is, and what it might look like, it's important to distinguish the difference between ethics and values. Ethics is about the way we treat one another and is an action concept that dictates how we choose to live our lives. The ultimate true test of our character is when we are willing to do the right thing even when it is not in our best interest to do so.

5. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed5 VALUES Refers to our core beliefs or desires, the things we value the most. Our values shape our attitudes and determines how we will behave in certain situations. Refers to our core beliefs or desires, the things we value the most. Our values shape our attitudes and determines how we will behave in certain situations.

6. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed6 Ethical Values Vs. Non-Ethical Values Ethical Values directly relate to our beliefs concerning our moral duty as opposed to what is correct, effective, or desirable. These are the values that drive our principles. Non-Ethical Values are concerned with things that we like or find personally satisfying and/or important, with no regard to the moral content.

7. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed7 When evaluating one’s goals and objectives, a vital question must be asked: What is your highest aspiration? A. Wealth B. Fame C. Knowledge D. Popularity E. Integrity

8. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed8 If integrity is second to any of the alternatives, then it is subject to sacrifice in situations where a choice must be made. Such situations will inevitably occur in every person’s life.

9. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed9 Why talk about ethics? Why talk about ethics? In the aftermath of major corporate failures and questionable accounting practices, American Accounting Association President G. Peter Wilson said that in the classroom, educators need to increasingly emphasize the value of integrity, what has long been a mainstay of accountants’ reputation

10. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed10 Wellllll…. How about… Being a little late to work occasionally? Surfing the Web when you run out of things to do? Downloading some music to your computer? Installing software that isn’t approved by the company? Forgetting to handle a couple of tasks you were given? Getting stuck on a problem but not asking for help?

11. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed11 There are lots of things that might seem “OK” with a casual glance but which can actually be “Not OK” for the employer. The secret to not getting on the wrong side of your boss is to have a proactive attitude to your job. Even a job that isn’t everything you want.

12. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed12 How do you handle a problem? Be thoughtful about your activities and you probably won’t have a problem, but if you should make a mistake… Be HONEST; let your supervisor know in a timely way so he/she isn’t taken by surprise. ANALYZE the problem; why did it happen, what will prevent it from happening again? CORRECT the problem as quickly and completely as possible. Don’t sweep it under the rug.

13. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed13 In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Psychology professor Steven Davis says that cheating by high school students has increased from about 20 percent in the 1940’s to 75 percent today. “Students say cheating in high school is for grades, cheating in college is for a career.”

14. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed14 If students lack ethics in high school and college, then there should be little surprise that they lack ethics in their careers. Greed and over-reaching ambition often end in disastrous personal consequences. Convicted inside trader, Dennis Levine, in a Fortune magazine article wrote:

15. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed15 Many institutions of higher education have instituted policies regarding ethics education. For example, the Faculty Handbook of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University includes the following statement: “Therefore, faculty and staff have a responsibility for creating an academic environment that promotes honest academic inquiry and teaches students ethical behavior in the process.”

16. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed16 "We Will Not Lie, Steal Or Cheat, Nor Tolerate Among Us Anyone Who Does" -- Which do you think is the harder part: Line 1 or Line 2? Why? Educational Institutions have established ethics codes for their students, e.g. the U.S. Air Force Academy:

17. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed17 What do profs think? In a survey of college faculty, 187 professors responded to several statements about teaching ethics: 1. The importance of ethics and personal integrity should be stressed in the courses I teach.4.75 2. The basis for ethics and personal integrity should be discussed (e.g. benefit to society as a whole, moral and religious foundations of society, etc.) 4.11 Note: Scores are based on a scale from 1: Strongly Agree to 5: Strongly Disagree

18. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed18 Is there an ethics crisis in America? One recent national election day poll indicated that 56 percent of voters thought that America’s problems are “primarily moral and social.” Only 36 percent thought that the nation’s problems were “primarily economic.”

19. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed19 Can ethics be taught? Teddy Roosevelt said, “To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

20. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed20 In his best-seller, The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom says that the eternal conflict between good and evil has been replaced with “I’m okay, you’re okay.” Students unthinkingly embrace a blind tolerance in which they consider it “moral” never to think they are right because that mean someone else is wrong. [Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, New York, Simon and Schuster, Inc. 1987]

21. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed21 Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports… Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in the exclusion of religious principle. George Washington’s Farewell Address, September 17, 1796

22. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed22 “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.” Th omas Jefferson “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”

23. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed23 Whether we derive a code of ethics from religious beliefs, a study of history and literature, or personal experience and observation: We can all agree upon some basic values.

24. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed24 In an issue of Management Accounting, James Brackner stated: The universities are responding with an increased emphasis on ethical training for decision making. For the most part, however, they ignore the teaching of values. For moral or ethical education to have meaning there must be agreement on the values that are considered “right.”

25. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed25 Be sure you are right, then go ahead. Davy Crockett 1786-1836

26. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed26 Michael Josephson, in Chapter 1 of Ethical Issues in the Practice of Accounting, describes the “Ten Universal Values: “Honesty, integrity, promise keeping, fidelity, fairness, caring, respect for others, responsible citizenship, pursuit of excellence, and accountability.”

27. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed27 “Until about 50 years ago, it was commonly accepted that universities were to provide students not only with knowledge and skills, but also moral guidance based on the essentials of the our tradition.” Business Prof Geoffrey Lantos

28. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed28 If we want to produce people who share the values of a democratic culture, they must be taught those values and not be left to acquire them by chance. Cal Thomas, The Death of Ethics in America

29. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed29 Can you make a difference?

30. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed30 The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. Japanese proverb

31. Islamic UniversityDr. Basil Hamed31 Be ready to represent your formal report next meeting Good Luck