Business Ethics Concepts & Cases Book

Part One Basic Principles

CHAPTER 1 Ethics and Business

Introduction

1.1 Business Ethics and Its Issues

Morality

Ethics

Business Ethics

Globalization, Multinationals, and Business Ethics

Business Ethics and Cultural Differences

ON THE EDGE: Business Ethics in Saudi Culture

Technology and Ethics

1.2 Moral Development and Moral Reasoning

Moral Development

ON THE EDGE: WorldCom's Whistleblower

Moral Reasoning

Analyzing Moral Reasoning

1.3 Arguments for and Against Business Ethics

Three Objections to Bringing Ethics into Business

The Case for Ethics in Business

1.4 Moral Responsibility and Blame

ON THE EDGE: Was National Semiconductor Morally Responsible?

Corporate Responsibility

ON THE EDGE: Gun Manufacturers and Responsibility

Subordinates’ Responsibility

Cases for Discussion

Child Slavery in the Chocolate Industry

Enron's Fall [ABC Video CDROM]

Web Resources

CHAPTER 2 Ethical Principles in Business

Introduction

2.1 Utilitarianism: Weighing Social Costs and Benefits

Traditional Utilitarianism

Measurement Problems

Utilitarian Replies to Measurement Objections

Problems with Rights and Justice

Utilitarian Replies to Objections on Rights and Justice

2.2 Rights and Duties

ON THE EDGE: Working for Eli Lilly & Company

The Concept of a Right

Negative and Positive Rights

Contractual Rights and Duties

A Basis for Moral Rights: Kant

The First Formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative

The Second Formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Problems with Kant

The Libertarian Objection: Nozick

ON THE EDGE: Conflict Diamonds

2.3 Justice and Fairness

Distributive Justice

Justice as Equality: Egalitarianism

Justice Based on Contribution: Capitalist Justice

Justice Based on Needs and Abilities: Socialism

ON THE EDGE: ExxonMobil, Amerada Hess, and Marathon Oil in Equatorial Guinea

Justice as Freedom: Libertarianism

Justice as Fairness: Rawls

Retributive Justice

Compensatory Justice

2.4 The Ethics of Care

Partiality and Care

Objections to Care

2.5 Integrating Utility, Rights, Justice, and Caring

2.6 An Alternative to Moral Principles: Virtue Ethics

The Nature of Virtue

The Moral Virtues

Virtues, Actions, and Institutions

Virtues and Principles

2.7 Morality in International Contexts

Cases for Discussion

Publius

Unocal in Burma [ABC Video CDROM]

Web Resources

Part Two The Market and Business

CHAPTER 3 The Business System: Government, Markets, and International Trade.

Introduction

Economic Systems

3.1 Free Markets and Rights: John Locke

Criticisms of Lockean Rights

3.2 Free Markets and Utility: Adam Smith

Criticisms of Adam Smith

The Keynesian Criticism

The Utility of Survival of the Fittest: Social Darwinism

3.3 Free Trade and Utility: David Ricardo

Criticisms of Ricardo

3.4 Marx and Justice: Criticizing Markets and Trade

Alienation

ON THE EDGE: Napster’s, Grokster’s, and Streamcast’s Revolution

The Real Purpose of Government

ON THE EDGE: Brian’s Franchise

3.5 Conclusion: The Mixed Economy

Property Systems and New Technologies

The End of Marxism?

Cases for Discussion

GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and AIDS in Africa [ABC Video CDROM]

Accolade versus Sega

Web Resources

CHAPTER 4 Ethics in the Marketplace

Introduction

4.1 Perfect Competition

Equilibrium in Perfectly Competitive Markets

Ethics and Perfectly Competitive Markets

4.2 Monopoly Competition

Monopoly Competition: Justice, Utility, and Rights

ON THE EDGE: Drug Company Monopolies and Profits

4.3 Oligopolistic Competition

Explicit Agreements

Tacit Agreements

Bribery

4.4 Oligopolies and Public Policy

ON THE EDGE: Fixing the Computer Memory Market

The Antitrust View

ON THE EDGE: Oracle And Peoplesoft

The Regulation View

Cases For Discussion Playing Monopoly: Microsoft [ABC Video CDROM] Archer Daniels Midland and the Friendly Competitors

Web Resources

Part Three Business and Its External Exchanges: Ecology and Consumers

CHAPTER 5 Ethics and the Environment

Introduction

5.1 The Dimensions Of Pollution and Resource Depletion

ON THE EDGE: The Aroma of Tacoma

Water Pollution

Depletion of Species and Habitats

Depletion of Fossil Fuels

Depletion of Minerals

ON THE EDGE: The Auto Companies in China

5.2 The Ethics of Pollution Control

Ecological Ethics

Environmental Rights and Absolute Bans

Utilitarianism and Partial Controls

Private Costs and Social Costs

Remedies: The Duties of the Firm

Justice

Costs and Benefits

Social Ecology, Ecofeminism, and the Demands of Caring

5.3 The Ethics of Conserving Depletable Resources

Rights of Future Generations

Justice to Future Generations

ON THE EDGE: Exporting Poison

Economic Growth?

Cases for Discussion

The Ok Tedi Copper Mine

Gas or Grouse? [ABC Video CDROM]

Web Resources

CHAPTER 6 The Ethics of Consumer Production and Marketing

Introduction

6.1 Markets and Consumer Protection

6.2 The Contract View of Business’ Duties to Consumers

The Duty to Comply

The Duty of Disclosure

The Duty Not to Misrepresent

The Duty Not to Coerce

Problems with the Contractual Theory

ON THE EDGE: The Tobacco Companies and Product Safety

6.3 The Due Care Theory

The Duty to Exercise Due Care

Problems with “Due Care”

6.4 The Social Costs View of the Manufacturer’s Duties

ON THE EDGE: Advertising Death?

Problems with the Social Costs View

6.5 Advertising Ethics

A Definition

Social Effects of Advertising

Advertising and the Creation of Consumer Desires

Advertising and Its Effects on Consumer Beliefs

ON THE EDGE: New Balance and the "Made in USA" label

6.6 Consumer Privacy

Cases for Discussion Becton Dickinson and Needle Sticks

The Ford/Firestone Debacle [ABC Video CDROM]

Web Resources

Part Four Business and Its Internal Constituencies: Employee Issues

CHAPTER 7 The Ethics of Job Discrimination

Introduction

7.1 Job Discrimination: Its Nature

Forms of Discrimination: Intentional and Institutional Aspects

ON THE EDGE: Johnson Controls' Fetal Protection Policy

7.2 Discrimination: Its Extent

Average Income Comparisons

Lowest Income Group Comparisons

Desirable Occupation Comparisons

7.3 Discrimination: Utility, Rights, and Justice

Utility

Rights

Justice

Discriminatory Practices

on the edge: Wall Street: It's A Man's World

Sexual Harassment

Beyond Race and Sex: Other Groups

ON THE EDGE: Peter Oiler and Winn Dixie Stores

7.4 Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action as Compensation

Affirmative Action as an Instrument for Achieving Social Goals

Implementing Affirmative Action and Managing Diversity

Comparable Pay for Jobs of Comparable Worth

Conclusions

Cases for Discussion

Should Kroger Pay Now for What Ralphs' Employee Did Then? [ABC Video CDROM]

Wal-Mart Women

Web Resources

CHAPTER 8 The Individual in the Organization

Introduction

8.1 The Rational Organization

8.2 The Employee’s Obligations to the Firm

Conflicts of Interest

Employee Theft and Computers

Insider Trading

8.3 The Firm’s Duties to the Employee

Wages

Working Conditions: Health and Safety

Working Conditions: Job Satisfaction

8.4 The Political Organization

8.5 Employee Rights

Freedom of Conscience

The Right to Participate and Participatory Management

The Right to Due Process versus Employment at Will

ON THE EDGE: Employment at Will at Howmet Corporation?

Employee Rights and Plant Closings

ON THE EDGE: Swingline Moves

Unions and the Right to Organize

8.6 Organizational Politics

The Ethics of Political Tactics

8.7 The Caring Organization

Cases for Discussion Gap's Labor Problems [ABC Video CDROM]

Who Should Pay?

Web Resources