Consider the various ethical systems described early in the chapter.

Identify concrete
examples from your own past decisions or the decisions of others you have seen or
read about.

The five ethical systems are universalism, egoism, utilitarianism, relativism, and virtue
ethics. Each of these refers to the principles, rules, and values people use in deciding
what is right or wrong. An example of one of these(using universalism) would be when I
would play family with my friends at recess back in elementary school. The “leaders” of
the group would make sure that everyone who had joined our game was treated just the
same as everyone else, and got to choose who they wanted to be without any bias.

Choose one or more topics from Exhibit 5.3 and discuss their current status and the
ethical issues surrounding them.

Social media right now has become such a large platform and means of
communication. However, ethical issues surrounding them contain whether or not it is
ethical to have your children on social media. Not only this but whether employees
should have repercussions to what they post to the public eye. It has still been a
controversial question on what ethical obligations a working person has and an
employer has. Is there a certain level of privacy? Or, are the employees liable for the
repercussions?

What would you do in each of the scenarios described in Exhibit 5.4?

1. I would make the payment. While I know 20,000 dollars is a lot, in my personal
opinion I believe it would be more beneficial to pay rather than lose an important
opportunity. If the business didn’t take the opportunity, their competition would,
which would put them out of “the competitive race”
2. I would not complete the order. Due to the fact that this incesticide is toxic, and is
banned in the U.S., I know that it wouldn’t be safe for humans to be around.
What kind of morals and ethics would my business have if we allowed our
product to endanger our customers? I would cancel the order because I don’t
want innocent lives on my conscience.
3. I will not approve the ad plan. While yes, that original advertisement would get
great sales in the market, if deceiving could end up hurting the business more in
the long run. There are certain bills put in place that people can sue you if they
believe that there has been false advertising. For the betterment of the company
I would deny the ad plan.
Identify and discuss illegal, unethical, and socially responsible business actions in the
current news.

Starbucks was sued this year because they deceptively advertised having 100%
renewable resources in their products. However, this was untrue. This is highly
unethical because not only are they lying to their customers, but they also don’t have
the eco-friendly products to help preserve our earth. This is illegal to deceptively
advertise something that isn't true.

Does your school have a code of ethics? If so, what does it say? Is it effective? Why or
why not?

Yes DRHS has a code of ethics. This code of ethics speaks about what is expected of
the employees and students. It is to ensure honesty, integrity, and professionalism. This
is effective because it sets a standard for everyone to follow. While setting this standard,
it also sets consequences if you don't follow the code of ethics.

You have a job you like at which you work 40 to 45 hours per week. How much
off-the-job volunteer work would you do? What kinds of volunteer work? How will you
react if your boss makes it clear he or she wants you to cut back on outside activities
and devote more hours to your job?

I would say that I would do maybe 1-2 hours of volunteer work a week. Volunteer work
that I would do would contain cleaning up the offices, fundraising, or any simple thing
that we might need. However, if my boss tells me I need to cut back on outside activities
for the job I would be very upset. I’m already devoting so much time into my job and it is
unethical for her to tell me to offset the balance I have within my life.

What are the arguments for and against the concept of corporate social responsibility?
Where do you stand and why? Give your opinions, specifically, with respect to the text
examples

Arguments in favor of corporate social responsibility (CSR) include the idea that
businesses have a moral obligation to contribute to society beyond just profit-making,
can improve brand reputation and customer loyalty by engaging in socially responsible
practices, and can attract top talent by demonstrating a commitment to ethical values;
while arguments against CSR often center around the notion that a company's primary
focus should be maximizing shareholder value, concerns about the effectiveness of
corporate social initiatives, and potential for "greenwashing" where companies use CSR
as a marketing ploy without genuine commitment to social change.

What do you think of the concept of a transcendent education as described in the

chapter? What can be done to implement such a vision for education?

A "transcendent education," as described in the chapter, is a powerful concept that aims

to go beyond traditional learning by fostering deep personal growth, a sense of social
responsibility, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world, essentially
encouraging students to not just learn facts but to transform their lives and perspectives
through education; this vision is highly valuable, but implementing it requires a
significant shift in teaching practices, curriculum design, and a focus on cultivating
meaningful student-teacher relationships.

What is the current status of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act? What do executives think of it
now? What impact has it had?

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) remains in effect, mandating strict financial reporting
and corporate governance standards for publicly traded companies. Executives have
mixed feelings; while some appreciate its role in boosting investor confidence, others
find the compliance burdensome and costly. The act has significantly improved the
accuracy of financial reporting and strengthened internal controls. However, it has also
raised administrative challenges, especially for smaller firms. Overall, SOX has left a
lasting impact on corporate governance practices in the U.S.

A company in England slaughtered 70,000 baby ostrich chicks each year for their meat.
It told a teen magazine that it would stop if it received enough complaints. Analyze this
policy, practice, and public statement using the concepts discussed in the chapter.

The company's practice of slaughtering 70,000 ostrich chicks annually raises significant
ethical concerns regarding animal welfare, as many may view it as inhumane. Its public
statement about stopping this practice based on receiving enough complaints indicates
a reactive approach to corporate responsibility, rather than a proactive one. By seeking
feedback, the company attempts to engage stakeholders, but this could be perceived as
deflecting responsibility. Additionally, the statement may serve as a public relations
strategy, aiming to mitigate backlash while continuing its operations. Ultimately, this
situation highlights the influence of consumer sentiment on corporate practices in an
increasingly ethically conscious market.

A Nike ad in the U.S. magazine Seventeen showed a picture of a girl, aged perhaps 8
or 9. The ad read,
If you let me play . . .
I will like myself more.
I will have more self-confidence.

I will suffer less depression.

I will be 60 percent less likely to get breast cancer.
I will be more likely to leave a man who beats me.
I will be less likely to get pregnant before I want to.
I will learn what it means to be strong.
If you let me play sports.
Assess this ad in terms of chapter concepts surrounding ethics and social responsibility.
What questions would you ask in doing this analysis?

The Nike ad targets young girls, promoting empowerment through sports while raising
questions about its authenticity and potential exploitation of social issues. It makes bold
claims regarding self-confidence, mental health, and risk reduction, which need credible
evidence to support them. The ad's portrayal of girls in sports challenges cultural norms
but may also oversimplify complex issues surrounding gender and athletics. Nike's role
as a socially responsible brand is highlighted, but it raises questions about the balance
between advocacy and commercial gain. Finally, the ad's representation of diversity and
inclusion should be examined to ensure it resonates with all girls, regardless of their
backgrounds.

Should companies be held accountable for actions of decades past, then legal but since
made illegal, as their harmful effects became known? Why or why not?

No companies should not be completely held accountable for their actions. These
companies may not have known how harmful their effects really were. If they are just
now figuring it out, then the business who had those harmful effects must be finding out
with the others now. It seems pretty unreasonable to expect someone who didn’t know
what was going to happen to take accountability for something that wasn’t directly their
fault.

Discuss courage as a requirement for ethical behavior. What personal examples can
you offer, either as an actor or as an observer? What examples are in the news?

Courage is essential for ethical behavior because it often requires standing up for one's
beliefs in the face of opposition or potential consequences. Personally, I once witnessed
a colleague report unethical practices at work, risking their job for the sake of integrity.
On a broader scale, whistleblowers like Edward Snowden demonstrated immense
courage by exposing government surveillance, sparking vital discussions about privacy
and ethics. Recently, activists fighting against social injustices show similar bravery,
often facing backlash for their convictions. These examples illustrate that courage is not
just about heroic actions but also about making difficult choices aligned with one's moral
values.