Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
BUS 5115: Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
8 April – 14 April:
Unit1: Introduction to Ethics in Business
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 1
• Using the readings for this unit as a guide, discuss what you see as the role of ethics as it pertains to management and managers. Does management, in your view, help shape the values and ethics of an organization? Is employee behavior, ethical or not, a by-product of the organization’s ethical climate? What ideally is the manager’s role in helping to create and maintain organizational integrity?
• Using your professional experience as a backdrop, provide examples of managers who have demonstrated ethical behavior (or not) and discuss how this affected the organization, the employees, etc.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 1
Pick an organization (public or private) and then choose a particular type of COI that is associated with this type of organization. Sustainability-related COIs are especially encouraged.
• Locate and describe any laws that are designed to discourage or prevent this type of COI in your country. If there are no laws particular to the type of COI you chose, discuss why this is the case.
• Locate examples of organizational policies used to also discourage the particular COI and discuss how the main features of the policy around the particular COI.
• Discuss ways that managers can use both policy and the existing laws in your home country to discourage employees seeking their own interests over that of the employer.
• In your estimation, do laws and policies help promote ethical behavior? Do you feel that the laws, as they are currently, are sufficient and effective?
• Finally, suggest ways that the laws and/or policies could be improved to both motivate employees to pursue the interests of their employers, as well as to minimize the costs of employers complying with or enforcing the laws.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 3-4 pages in length exclusive of the reference page. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
Written Assignment Peer Assessment
In the unit following the submission of your written assignment, you will peer assess three (3) of your classmates’ assignments according to the instructions found in the Assessment Form. During this peer assessment period, you are expected to provide details in the feedback section of the Assessment Form, indicating why you awarded the grade that you did to your peer. The written assignment grade is comprised of a combination of your submission (90%) and your peer assessments (10%).
Written Assignment Peer Assessment Rubric
For this assignment, your peers will be evaluating your work with the following criteria.
• An organization is chosen and a particular conflict of interest is identified.
• Laws pertaining to the particular COI have been located and described. If no laws are described, reasons are provided.
• Organizational policies pertaining to the COI are discussed, particularly the main features of the policy.
• Ways that managers can use both policy and the existing laws in your home country to discourage employees seeking their own interests over that of the employer are discussed.
• The paper addresses the questions: do laws and policies help promote ethical behavior? Do you feel that the laws, as they are currently, are sufficient and effective?
• The paper suggests ways that the laws and/or policies could be improved to both motivate employees to pursue the interests of their employers, as well as to minimize the costs of employers complying with or enforcing the laws.
• Writing Organization and Clarity – the ideas are arranged logically to support the purpose or argument. Ideas presented flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked to each other. Writing is clear and it is of high-quality.
• Written Assignment conforms to the structural requirements including APA style guidelines for references.
Task 3: Portfolio Activity Unit 1
Portfolio Assignment
Building on the themes discussed in the paper from this week, discuss the following issue from your own personal perspective. Draw on your own experience and knowledge. Put yourself in the shoes of both an employer and employee.
• How can effective and ethical management provide a better business environment (defined and interpreted to include sustainability-related issues and implications) that benefits all parties, including employees, employers, and customers? Extend your analysis to how effective and ethical management might also promote a more environmentally aware business environment. How does this compare to situations in which self-employed individuals conduct business on their own without management policies?
Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio assignments should be about 500 – 750 words (1 – 1.5 pages) in length.
Grading Rubric
The rubric detailing how you will be graded for this assignment can be found below.
Self-disclosure Seeks to understand concepts by examining openly own experiences in the past/present as they relate to the topic, to illustrate points being made. Demonstrates an open, evaluative stance and the ability to self-appraise, discussing both growth and frustrations as they related to learning in class. Risks asking probing questions about self and seeks to answer these.
30points Seeks to understand concepts by examining somewhat cautiously own experiences in the past as they relate to the topic. Sometimes defensive or one-sided in theanalysis. Asks some probing questions about self, but do not engage in seeking to answer these.
20points Little self-disclosure, minimal risk in connecting concepts from class to personal experiences. Self-disclosure tends to be superficial and factual, without self-reflection.
10points
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Connection to outside experiences In-depth synthesis of thoughtfully selected aspects of experiences related to the topic. Makes clear connections between what is learned from outside experiences and the topic.
30points Goes into some detail explaining some specific ideas or issues from outside experiences related to the topic. Makes general connections between what is learned from outside experiences and the topic.
20points Identify some general ideas or issues from outside experiences related to the topic
10points
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Connection to course readings (videos, presentations, etc.) and discipline specific literature In-depth synthesis of thoughtfully selected aspects of readings related to the topic. Makes clear connections between what is learned from readings and the topic. Demonstrate further analysis and insight resulting from what has been learned from reading. When appropriate includes multiple references to readings other than those assigned for class.
25points Goes into more detail explaining some specific ideas or issues from readings related to the topic. Makes general connections between what is learned from readings and the topic. When appropriate includes a reference to readings other than those assigned for class.
15points Identify some general ideas or issues from readings related to the topic. Shows little connection to assigned or other readings.
5points
Connection to class discussions & course objectives Synthesize, analyze and evaluate thoughtfully selected aspects of ideas or issues from the class discussion as they relate to this topic.
15points Synthesize clearly some directly appropriate ideas or issues from the class discussion as they relate to this topic.
10points Restate some general ideas or issues from the class discussion as they relate to this topic.
5points
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Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
15 April – 21 April:
Unit2: Ethics in Accounting
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 2
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
Oversimplifying the case of Enron and Arthur Andersen, Enron was using some accounting practices that were questionable. Because Arthur Andersen was an independent auditor, they were responsible for reporting any questionable accounting practices might be risky to the shareholders of Enron. The Security and Exchange Commission was responsible for requiring and publishing accurate information about Enron’s accounting information. In the end, a few Enron employees went to jail, and Arthur Andersen stopped doing business under that name.
• Identify what you consider any conflicts of interest in the case of Enron and Arthur Andersen.
• What could have been done to avoid the conflicts of interest you identified?
• How would you change the laws to correct the problems that came up in the Enron and Arthur Andersen case?
• Explore how Enron and Arthur Andersen might have been encouraged to act ethically other than direct legal pressures.
• To what extent (if any) should sustainability concerns and issues be incorporated in accounting analyses?
• When (if ever) should organizational decisions with sustainability-related impacts and significant associated cost-implications (savings or expenditures) be shared with shareholders?
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 2
Use the Instructions for Case Analyses to craft a response to this case, articulating the main issues and ethical dilemma. Review the assessment criteria below before you begin writing.
Case Study: Conflicting Clients
Topic: Auditing (Confidentiality, Misrepresentation of Facts)
People Involved:
• Jennifer Grace, First year member of her CPA firm’s management group
• Tom Ward, CFO of Fantastic Developments, Inc., a client
While reviewing the current-year audit working papers of Coshocton National Bank (CNB), the engagement manager, Jennifer Grace, noted something curious. In the working papers related to loan valuation, Jennifer saw that the commercial loan of Fantastic Developments had been randomly selected for confirmation but that Fantastic had not responded to either the initial or second confirmation request. The audit staff disposed of this “loose end” by alternate procedures: examining cash collections (which had become somewhat sporadic) and vouching to underlying loan documentation, including a set of recent (unaudited) financial statements that showed Fantastic’s solid financial position and operating profitability.
Jennifer noted this reference to Fantastic Developments because this private company was also a client of her firm. In fact, Jennifer had served as the audit senior on Jennifer noted this reference to Fantastic Developments because this private company was also a client of her firm. In fact, Jennifer had served as the audit senior on the prior-year audit of Fantastic. She knew that the company had been struggling for a couple of years and had experienced recurring operating losses. Her knowledge of Fantastic did not reconcile with the discussion in the audit working papers related to the financial statements furnished to the bank.
When Jennifer contacted Fantastic’s CFO, Tom Ward, and inquired about the company’s apparently miraculous turnaround, he was noncommittal and unhelpful. Tom replied that business had picked up. He apologized for not calling Jennifer’s firm himself because he had been so busy, and then he told her that Fantastic had decided to engage another CPA firm for its accounting and auditing needs. Although confused, Jennifer obviously couldn’t reject the possibility that this abrupt dismissal was a direct consequence of her inquiry.
As a result, Jennifer wonders whether the financial statements which Fantastic furnished to the bank as a basis for a loan application are fraudulent. The bank apparently has no such suspicion, however.
Written Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 2-3 pages in length exclusive of reference page and that is double-spaced. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
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Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
22 April – 28 April:
Unit3: Ethics and Environmental Concerns
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 3
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
• Corporations often “vote with their feet” in terms of doing business where expenses are lowest and revenues are highest. Buying low and selling high is a basic economic formula for success that has motivated international trade in many ways over the centuries. This is popularly discussed when governments consider tax policies and is also applicable when they also consider the less obvious factor of environmental protections laws. If Mexico has no ban on DDT (a pesticide used in agriculture) and the USA has banned the use (but not the manufacture) of DDT, should a corporation buy land in Mexico, import DDT from the USA, grow larger crops, and export them to the USA?
• What ethical duties does the corporation have to the workers in Mexico, the neighboring landowners, and the USA consumers about the potential dangers of using DDT?
• Is there an ethical duty of DDT manufactures related to their export of DDT to countries that do not ban its use as the USA does?
• Do you agree that environmental protection laws are “less obvious” as suggested above? Why/why not?
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 3
Use the Instructions for Case Analyses to craft a response to this case, articulating the main issues and ethical dilemma. Review the assessment criteria below before you begin writing.
Topic: Corporate Social Responsibility
People Involved:
• Bob, President
• John, Chemical Engineer
• Henry, Controller
• Kirk, Assistant Controller
Kirk is a bright individual who is being groomed for the Controller’s position in a medium-sized manufacturing firm. After his first year as Assistant Controller, the officers of the firm were starting to include him in major company functions. For instance, today he was attending the monthly financial statement summary given at a prestigious consulting firm. During the meeting, Kirk was intrigued at how all the financial data he had been accumulating was transformed by the consultant into revealing charts and graphs.
Kirk was generally optimistic about the session and the company’s future until the consultant started talking about the new manufacturing plant the company was adding to the current location and the costs per unit of the chemically plated products it produced. At that time, Bob (the President) and John (the chemical engineer) started talking about waste treatment and disposal problems. John mentioned that the current waste facilities were not adequate to handle the waste products that would be created by the “ultramodern” new plant in a manner that would meet the industry’s fairly high standards, although they could still comply with federal standards. Kirk’s boss, Henry, noted that the estimated cost per unit would be increased if the waste treatment facilities were upgraded according to recent industry standards.
While industry standards are presently more stringent than federal regulations, environmentalists are strongly pressuring for more stringent regulations at the federal level. Bob mentioned that since their closest competitor did not have the waste treatment facilities that already existed at their firm, he was not in favor of further expenditure in this area. Most managers at this meeting resoundingly agreed with Bob, and business continued on to another topic.
Kirk did not hear a word during the rest of the meeting. He kept wondering how the company could possibly have such a casual attitude toward the environment. Yet he did not know if, how, or when he could share his opinion. Soon he started reflecting on whether this was the right firm for him. What should Kirk do? Putting Corporate Responsibility first, but recognizing the politics at play, what is the most ethical thing to do? The most practical? What strategy would you suggest to Kirk if he came to you for advice?
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
29 April – 5 May:
Unit4: Ethics in Finance
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 4
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
• What limits should there be on insider trading? In the USA, Pete Rose was a popular baseball player, and then manager, who was punished for betting on his own team to win. Should Pete Rose be allowed to profit from betting on the success of a team he managed? Should Pete Rose be punished more harshly if he profited from betting on the failure of a team he managed?
• In the Enron case, several managers sold all their Enron stock about an hour before it became public knowledge that the company was not worth as much as everyone thought. Should a manager be punished for acting prudently based on knowledge they have discovered honestly only because the general public does not have that knowledge?
• Should managers be required to disclose private information they have that might influence the investment decisions of the public? Also, address the question of timing about the dissemination of information: is it enough to share information on a public website or should a formal press conference be required?
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 4
Use the Instructions for Case Analyses to craft a response to this case, articulating the main issues and ethical dilemma. Review the assessment criteria below before you begin writing.
Case: The Good Credit Reference
Topic: Insider Information/Trading
People Involved:
• Kathy Ryan, Trade Credit Officer, Diversified Consolidated Corporation
• Scott Bradley, Treasurer, North Manufacturing
• Mike Walman, Credit Managers, Basic Products
Kathy Ryan, a credit officer at Diversified Consolidated Corporation (DCC), had heard rumors that North Manufacturing was in deep trouble. She is responsible for credits to North of approximately $1 million. North always pays on time and is current on outstanding payables to DCC. North, in fact, uses DCC as a credit reference with other suppliers. Nevertheless, Kathy decided a visit to North was in order.
Kathy Ryan and Scott Bradley, North’s treasurer, had developed a good working relationship and went to lunch during Kathy’s visit. After several drinks, Scott Bradley said: “Kathy, we’re fried. I have to tell you, our financial statements aren’t fraudulent, but they don’t paint the full picture. Not only are we not doing well, but we’ve been talking to bankruptcy attorneys. If things don’t turn around soon, we may file before the end of next quarter. We plan to continue paying DCC promptly because we need all the trade credit we can get. In fact, supplier credit is giving us a chance to come back. Without it, we’d be under right now; with it, we might just squeak by. Frankly, if there is any way you can encourage your competition to supply us–do it. I’ve told Purchasing to place a large order with Basic Products instead of DCC. If Basic gives us credit, we can pay DCC in full before we file. If we make it through this, DCC will get our business back, but I don’t want your career to suffer because of our problems now.”
Kathy was shaken by Scott’s comments. She knew that if North’s credit went bad she would lose her annual bonus–25 percent of her compensation–and probably any chance for promotion. At worst, she could be fired. Shortly after her visit with Scott Bradley, she received a call from her friend in the Credit Department at Basic Products, Mike Walnnan. Suppliers often share credit information on common customers, so it was not surprising that Mike called. DCC’s policy is to provide what they refer to as the “prompt payment history” for the customer. This includes recent high credit balances, any past-due balance, and how promptly customer payments had been received.
After Kathy provided North’s prompt payment history–which in fact had been good–Mike was enthusiastic. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “We just got a huge order to supply them through the end of the year. There are a lot of rumors floating around, but if you’re getting paid promptly on that much, I guess it’s OK.” Kathy broke in at that moment. “Can you hold the line, Mike? There’s someone at my door.” She put Mike on hold, her mind racing. She could suggest that Mike look into other public information sources or contact other suppliers about credit histories with North. That would be within acceptable company practice and almost certainly would send up a red flag for Mike. But who else could supply enough credit to North for DCC to get its money out?
She couldn’t keep Mike on hold forever, she pressed the flashing button on her telephone– “Mike?…” What should Kathy say?
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Written Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 2-3 pages in length exclusive of reference page and that is double-spaced. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Task 3: Portfolio Activity Unit 4
Every manager has different skills, and specialties of expertise. It is quite possible that you could be in a situation where you see something that someone else does not see, especially if they are working under you with less education or experience than you. If a loan officer working under you recommends a loan to a customer, describe (A) when you would authorize that loan, and (B) when you would deny the loan in each of the following cases and give your rationale.
1. You disagree with your subordinate because you do not think restaurants are good investments in general, so you have a bad feeling about this customer’s ability to repay the loan based on your experience with the market rather than any financial facts.
2. You disagree with your subordinate because you think medical operations are high risk for legal problems, so you have a bad feeling about this customer’s ability to repay the loan based on your experience with the law rather than any financial facts.
3. You disagree with your subordinate because you think members of their family are business failures, so you have a bad feeling about this customer’s ability to repay the loan based on your experience with social history rather than any financial facts.
4. You disagree with your subordinate because you just have a bad feeling about this customer’s ability to repay the loan based on your gut instinct rather than any financial facts.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
6 May – 12 May:
Unit5: Ethics in the Law
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 5
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
• If you found a one-of-a-kind prototype of a revolutionary new mobile phone lying on a public beach, what would you do with it? What would be the consequences of your chosen action?
• Does the value of a parcel of land come only from the profits it can generate? If not, what makes land valuable? Does it ever have any value that is not recognized by the law? Actively research and address issues of sustainability in this context.
• What is the role of governments in regulating the use of any form of property? Why do laws work so well to maintain standard uses, and what would be alternative ways to set boundaries on what businesses could do?
• What are some limitations of current law (choose any country of interest) in terms of protecting the use of public and private property from a sustainability perspective?
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 5
Agricultural-Biological-Technology is the future, and a company developing a new “gene” that would make food more nutritious would have a valuable asset if no other company could use their discovery. Make an argument as to why businesses that develop modified organisms should be able to preserve their property rights by patenting such organisms.
Your argument might include the purpose of a patent being designed to protect the payoffs from investments in this sort of research and development. Then, make a counterargument as to why such organisms should not be allowed a patent. While you should present both sides, you should clearly choose a position for or against and attempt to persuade the reader to adopt your position. Actively incorporate and consider issues related to sustainability (societal, economic, and environmental), as well.
Arguments against might be found on websites such as Greenpeace. Also, be sure to read the United States Supreme Court decision of Diamond v. Chakrabarty.
Written Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 3-4 pages in length exclusive of the reference page. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
Task 3: Portfolio Activity Unit 5
Consider the following from your own informed and educated point of view:
• How important are laws to protect the prosperity of businesses?
• How important are laws to protect society from the (perhaps unintended) costs of business?
• How important are laws to protect our Earth from the (perhaps unintended) costs of business?
• How important are law to protect the health of the environment?
• What balance should laws seek to maintain the rights of businesses and the rights of their customers?
• What balance should laws seek to maintain the rights of businesses and consumers and related impact on sustainability (broadly defined and interpreted)?
Critically consider these questions, looking not only at what you believe but why you hold these beliefs and opinions.
Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio assignments should be about 500 – 750 words (1 – 1.5 pages) in length.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
13 May – 19 May:
Unit6: Ethics in Marketing
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 6
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
• Celebrities often contract to endorse a product. Should they use the product regularly, or even like the product before they are allowed to claim that they “endorse” the product?
• If you were assigned to sell a product called “Sweet Treats” with the slogan, “so sweet, it will make you tweet,” but you thought the product tasted sour, and not at all sweet, what would you do?
• Explore where the line is between harmlessly implying that someone is promoting a product, and someone dishonestly claiming that they genuinely believe the product is the best.
• Consider the impact information on a product’s supply chain might have in this context? Should, for example, a celebrity endorses a product if the product’s manufacturing depends upon a supply chain with negative impact on the environment, for example? Suppose the product itself relies upon ethical suppliers, but other products in the organization’s supply chain might not? Any change?
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 6
Use the Instructions for Case Analyses to craft a response to this case, articulating the main issues and ethical dilemma. Review the assessment criteria below before you begin writing.
Case Study: The Pizza Puzzle
Topic: Deceptive Advertising
Involved Parties:
• George Hansen, General Manager of Augusta Marigold Inn, a Subsidiary of Hospitality Enterprises
• Sharon Coombs, Food Services Manager, Augusta Marigold Inn
George Hansen is General Manager for the Marigold Inn in Augusta, Georgia. Sharon Coombs is Restaurant and Food Services Manager for the Inn. She reports to George. Two years ago, Sharon noticed a decline in room service business, the highest margin portion of her operation. This decline coincided with an increase in the national sales of pizza delivery and carryout firms as well as an increase in the number of empty pizza boxes from these firms being left in guest rooms in the Inn. Her immediate response was to install a pizza oven in the kitchen and offer room service pizza to guests. The effort met with modest success, though it was well below her expectations. Questionnaires completed by departing guests revealed a problem of product quality.
Focusing on this problem, Sharon improved the Inn’s pizza until blind taste tests judged it at least equal in quality to the products of the two major pizza delivery competitors in Augusta. Sales did not improve, convincing Sharon that the problem was a perceived mismatch between the hotel’s image and guests’ expectations of pizza makers. Guests simply did not seem to believe that the traditional steak and seafood restaurant at the Inn could make a high-quality, authentic pizza. Based on this conclusion, Sharon presented the following proposal to George:
Sales of room service pizza are stagnant due to guests’ misperception that our product is lower in quality than that of competitors. This misperception is based on the belief that until we disassociate our pizza from the Marigold Inn name. Therefore, to capture more room service pizza business, we should create a ‘Napoli Pizza’ image for our guest room delivery service by:
o Preparing ‘Napoli Pizza’ brochures for each guest room, complete with a phone number with a prefix different from that of Marigold Inn.
o The number will reach a special phone in room service, which will be answered, “Napoli Pizza, authentic Italian pizza from old, family recipes.”
o Using special ‘Napoli Pizza’ boxes for delivering room service pizza to guests.
o Issuing ‘Napoli Pizza’ hats and jackets to room service personnel for use in pizza delivery. Room service waiters and waitresses will wear these garments to deliver pizza. They will change to their regular uniforms for other deliveries.
How should George respond to this proposal?
Written Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 2-3 pages in length exclusive of reference page and that is double-spaced. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
20 May – 26 May:
Unit7: Ethics in Management
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 7
Using the readings for this unit as a guide, discuss in at least 300 words, the following.
• How important is the reputation of a business?
• How important is a CEO’s reputation to the reputation of the business itself?
• Is it better to have the reputation of being powerful or of being fair? For example, do you want to be insured by a company that always wins, or by an insurance company that is willing to allow the benefit of any doubt?
• Goodwill is the technical word for the asset of a company being worth more than the sum of its parts. How would you measure the Goodwill of a company in dollar figures?
• How important is it that an organization demonstrate social responsibility towards the environment?
• If given the choice, would you opt to invest in a company that is more likely to generate profits or more likely to respond to shareholder concerns for fair trade in supply chain dealings? Please explain why.
Business Law Ethics Social Responsibility
Task 2: Written Assignment Unit 7
Use the Instructions for Case Analyses to craft a response to this case, articulating the main issues and ethical dilemma. Review the assessment criteria below before you begin writing.
Case Study: A Good Team Player
Topic: Leadership
Involved Parties:
• Steven, Assistant Department Manager
• Kristin, Newly appointed supervisor of Steven’s work team
Having done well as a staff accountant in the accounts payable section of a major industrial firm for several years since his graduation from college, Steven felt that he had learned much about the “ins” and “outs” of survival in an intensely bureaucratic organization. It is thus not surprising that he was relaxed and unconcerned about his circumstances at the company as he entered the employee lounge to attend the late-afternoon welcoming reception for his new supervisor.
The new manager of accounts payable, Kristin, had been transferred to Steven’s division from a similar position in another subsidiary of the company because of her proven talent for organizing and improving the efficiency of operations there. A no-nonsense type of manager, Kristin was experienced and determined to perform her new assignment with the same vigor that had brought her so much success throughout her career.
At the reception, Kristin circulated through the room, introducing herself to her new subordinates and asking each of them if they had any suggestions that would help make the payables section a better place to work. When she approached Steven, he told her about something that had been on his mind lately: that people seemed to him to gain promotions and be given opportunities to work overtime based on who liked them and not on the quality of their work. In reply, Kristin politely stated that she would do everything that she could to see that whatever it was he was referring to would have no place in the team she would lead.
Upon his arrival at work the next day, Steven received a phone call from Kristin’s secretary asking that he meet with his new boss later that morning. He had barely entered her office for the meeting when she looked him straight in the eye and said, “I will not tolerate individuals in this organization who are not good team players. Yesterday afternoon you led me to believe that there are people in this office who are not acting in the best interests of the company, and I want to know who. I want you to tell me the names of the managers you were referring to note, and keep me informed if you see anyone hurting this company, or I’ve got to think that maybe you’re part of the problems around here.” Stunned by both the tone and content of her statement, Steven quickly tried to think of a way to respond.
How should Steven respond?
Written Assignment Requirements
Submit a written paper which is 2-3 pages in length exclusive of reference page and that is double-spaced. The paper should cite sources to support your ideas. Be sure to review the assessment criteria below before beginning your paper. Cite any reference(s) you use in the preparation of your essay using proper APA format.
27 May – 2 June:
Unit8: Ethics in Corporate Planning
Task 1: Discussion Forum Unit 8
For this assignment write at least 300 words answering the following.
Choose a company and research how it defines and interprets CSR. In your post discuss these things, as well as outlining one or more of its major CSR efforts. At this point in the course, you are very familiar with outlining a case – you should apply these skills to this discussion. For the company you choose, write up a short case report on the company and how it sees the concept of ‘doing well by doing good.” To see a ranking of large companies who practice CSR, see Sustainable Brands. (2015, Sept. 21). Google, BMW, Disney, Microsoft once again tops list of best CSR reputations.
Task 3: Portfolio Activity Unit 8
Has your understanding of ethics in business changed since beginning the course? What about your thinking on sustainability related issues? Critically reflect on your learning this term and address the following questions and include any other thoughts you have on all we have covered during this course.
• What does it mean to you to be ethical?
• What role does sustainability have in connection with the way you think about behaving ethically?
• Do you anticipate ethical challenges as you go forward in your career?
• What resources and tools will you utilize to help you when you face these challenges?
Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio assignments should be about 500 – 750 words (1 – 1.5 pages) in length.
