Which government plan is designed to increase the number of minority employees within an organization?

Presentation on theme: "Being Ethical and Socially Responsible"— Presentation transcript:

1 Being Ethical and Socially Responsible

2 Learning Objectives Understand what is meant by business ethics.
Identify the types of ethical concerns that arise in the business world. Discuss the factors that affect the level of ethical behavior in organizations. Explain how ethical decision making can be encouraged. Describe how our current views on the social responsibility of business have evolved. (cont.)

3 Learning Objectives (cont.)
Explain the two views on the social responsibility of business and understand the arguments for and against increased social responsibility. Discuss the factors that led to the consumer movement and list some of its results. Analyze how present employment practices are being used to counteract past abuses. Describe the major types of pollution, their causes, and their cures. Identify the steps a business must take to implement a program of social responsibility.

4 Ethics …the study of right and wrong and of the majority of the choices individuals make.

5 …the application of moral standards to business situations.
Business Ethics …the application of moral standards to business situations.

6 Companies Today Monitor Employees’...
Phone calls Internet usage Computer activities Movements in the building

7 A Business Has Ethical Issues and Business Relationships with...
Customers Investors Employees Creditors Competitors

8 Ethical Issues Fairness and honesty Organizational relationships
Businesspeople are expected to refrain from knowingly deceiving, misrepresenting, or intimidating others. Organizational relationships A businessperson should put the welfare of others and that of the organization above his or her personal welfare. Conflict of interest Issues arise when a businessperson takes advantage of a situation for personal gain rather than for the employer’s interest. Communications Business communications that are false, misleading, or deceptive are both illegal and unethical.

9 Figure 2.1: Factors That Affect the Level of Ethical Behavior in an Organization
Source: Based on O. C. Ferrell and Larry Gresham, “A Contingency Framework for Understanding Ethical Decision Making in Marketing,” Journal of Marketing, Summer 1985, p. 89.

10 Factors Affecting Ethical Behavior
Individual factors Individual knowledge of an issue Personal values Personal goals Social factors Cultural norms Coworkers Significant others Use of the Internet Opportunity Presence of opportunity Ethical codes Enforcement

11 Encouraging Ethical Behavior
External to a specific organization Governmental legislation and regulations Trade association guidelines Within an organization Code of ethics Organizational environment Management direction Employee training Ethics officer

12 Whistle-Blowing …informing the press or government officials about unethical practices within one’s organization.

13 Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 …provides sweeping new legal protection for employees who report corporate misconduct. Deals with Corporate Responsibility Conflicts of Interest Corporate Accountability

14 Code of Ethics …a guide to acceptable and ethical behavior as defined by an organization; it outlines uniform policies, standards, and punishments for violations.

15 How Managers Provide Direction
Fostering communication Actively modeling ethics Encouraging ethical decision making Training employees to make ethical decisions

16 Ethics Officer …coordinates ethical conduct (and) gives employees someone to consult if they are not sure of the right thing to do.

17 Table 2.1: Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions
1. Listen and learn. Recognize the problem or opportunity; be sure you understand others. 2. Identify the ethical issues. Examine how others are affected by the situation; understand the viewpoint of those involved in the decision or its consequences. 3. Create and analyze options. Put aside strong feelings; come up with alternatives; assess which options offer the best results. 4. Identify the best option from your point of view. Consider the option and test it against criteria such as respect, understanding, caring, fairness, honesty, and openness. 5. Explain your decision and resolve any differences that arise. May involve arbitration or additional proposals.

18 Social Responsibility
…the recognition that business activities have an impact on society and the consideration of that impact in business decision making. Social responsibility costs money but is also good business. How socially responsible a firm acts may affect the decisions of customers to do or continue to do business with the firm.

19 The Six Pillars of Character
Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship Source: Josephson Institute of Ethics, “Resources: Making Ethical Decisions─The Six Pillars of Character,”

20 Sample Forms of Social Responsibility
Ongoing organization support (Young Eagles) Specific situation support (Tsunami relief, Fallen Heroes Fund) Employee support of local community projects (GE, 3M) Product/service contribution (Patient Assistance Program) Education programs (Bayer, Merck)

21 Evolution of Social Responsibility in Business
Caveat emptor ─ “let the buyer beware” Government involvement Franklin D. Roosevelt Monopoly laws Social service Employees’ demand for better working conditions Consumers’ desire for safe, reliable products Advocacy groups

22 Table 2.2: Early Government Regulations That Affected American Business

23 Two Views of Social Responsibility
Economic Model Society will benefit most when business is left alone to produce/market profitable products that society needs. Socioeconomic Model Business should emphasize not only profits but also the impact of decisions on society.

24 Arguments for Increased Social Responsibility
Business is part of society and cannot ignore social issues. By helping resolve social issues, business can create a more stable environment for long-term profitability. Socially responsible decision making by firms can prevent increased government intervention, which could force businesses to do what they fail to do voluntarily.

25 Arguments Against Increased Social Responsibility
Managers are responsible to stockholders, so want return on owners’ investment. Corporate time, money, and talent used to maximize profits, not solve society’s problems. Social problems affect society, so business should not be expect to solve these problems. Social issues are responsibility of elected officials who are accountable to voters.

26 Table 2.3: A Comparison of Models of Social Responsibility
Source: Adapted from Keith Davis, William C. Frederick, and Robert L. Blomstron, Business and Society: Concepts and Policy Issues (New York: McGraw-Hill,1980), p. 9. Used by permission of McGraw-Hill Book Company.

27 Recession and Responsibility
Source: Booz & Co. survey of 828 chief executive officers and managers. Margin of error: 3+/- percentage points.

28 …all activities undertaken to protect the rights of consumers.
Consumerism …all activities undertaken to protect the rights of consumers.

29 Six Basic Rights of Consumers
Consumer Bill of Rights Right to Safety Right to Be Informed Right to Choose Right to Be Heard Additional Rights Right to Consumer Education Right to Service

30 Major Consumerism Forces
Individual Consumer Advocates Consumer Organizations Consumer Education Programs Consumer Laws

31 Table 2.4: Major Federal Legislation Protecting Consumers Since 1960
Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act (1960) Warning labels on toxic household chemicals Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments (1962) Drug testing and labeling for both generic and trade names Cigarette Labeling Act (1965) Warning labels on packages and ads Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (1966) Labels on products sold across states must include net weight, ingredients, and manufacturer’s name/address Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1966) Standards for safer cars Wholesome Meat Act (1967) Meat inspection within states

32 Table 2.4: Major Federal Legislation Protecting Consumers Since 1960 (cont.)
Flammable Fabrics Act (1967) Flammability standards for children’s sleepwear Truth in Lending Act (1968) Finance charge disclosure in both dollars and annual percentage rates Child Protection and Toy Act (1969) Toys with mechanical or electrical defects banned from interstate commerce Credit Card Liability Act (1970) Card holder liability limited to $50 per card; unsolicited cards stopped Fair Credit Reporting Act (1971) Consumers can get credit reports and correct errors Consumer Product Safety Commission Act (1972) Established Consumer Product Safety Commission

33 Table 2.4: Major Federal Legislation Protecting Consumers Since 1960 (cont.)
Trade Regulation Rule (1972) Cooling off period for door-to-door sales Fair Credit Billing Act (1974) Consumer can challenge billing errors Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974) Equal credit opportunities for males/females and single/married people Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Act Minimum standards for written consumer warranties for products over $15 Amendments to Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1976, 1994) Discrimination prohibited when granting credit Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (1977) Abusive collection practices by third parties outlawed

34 Table 2.4: Major Federal Legislation Protecting Consumers Since 1960 (cont.)
Drug Price Competition and Patent Restoration Act (1984) Abbreviated procedure for registering generic drugs Orphan Drug Act (1985) Tax incentives encourage drugs for rare diseases Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (1990) FDA review of food labeling and packaging Telephone Consumer Protection Act (1991) Automated dialing and prerecorded-voice calling prohibited Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act (1997) Credit issuers are responsible for accurate credit data Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (2000) Parents control what info is collected from kids; commercial web sites must protect child info Do Not Call Implementation Act (2003) Directed the FCC and FTC to apply consistent rules on telemarketing

35 Minority …a racial, religious, political, national, or other group regarded as different from the larger group of which it is a part and that is often singled out for unfavorable treatment.

36 Figure 2.3: Comparative Income Levels
This chart shows the median household incomes of white, black, Hispanic, and Asian workers in 2007. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplements, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007, issued August 2008, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, p. 6, accessed May 1, 2009.

37 Figure 2.4: Relative Earnings of Male and Female Workers
The ratio of women’s to men’s annual full-time earnings was 78 percent in 2007, and new all-time high, up from 74 percent first reached in 1996. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplements, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007, issued August 2008, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, p. 11, accessed May 1, 2009.

38 Affirmative Action Program
…a plan designed to increase the number of minority employees at all levels within an organization.

39 Problems with Affirmative Action Programs
Quotas ─ reverse discrimination Not many businesspeople in favor

40 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
…a government agency with power to investigate complaints of employment discrimination and power to sue firms that practice it.

41 National Alliance of Business
Hard-Core Unemployed …workers with little education or vocational training and a long history of unemployment. National Alliance of Business “…a joint business-government program to train the hard-core unemployed.”

42 Pollution …the contamination of water, air, or land through the actions of people in an industrialized society.

43 Table 2.5: Summary of Major Environment Laws
National Environmental Policy Act (1970) Established EPA to enforce federal environmental laws Clean Air Amendment (1970) Automotive, aircraft, and factory emission standards Water Quality Improvement Act (1970) Strengthened water regulations; provided for large fines Resource Recovery Act (1970) Enlarged solid-waste disposal program; EPA enforcement Water Pollution Control Act Amendment (1972) Standards for cleaning navigable streams/lakes; elimination of harmful waste disposal by 1985 Noise Control Act (1972) Standards for major sources of noise; EPA advises FAA on standards for planes Clean Air Act Amendment (1977) New deadlines for cleaning up polluted areas; review of air quality standards

44 Forms of Pollution Water Pollution Air Pollution Suspended Particles
Sulfur Dioxide Nitrogen Dioxide Land Pollution Noise Pollution

45 Air Pollution City Comparisons
“Air Pollution: City Comparisons,” Air Pollution Problems Facing Cities,

46 Who Should Pay for a Clean Environment?
Government Business Consumer

47 Who Should Pay? Factors to Consider
Governments and businesses spend billions annually to reduce pollution. Much of the money required is supposed to come from already-depressed industries. A few firms have discovered it is cheaper to pay a fine than to install equipment for pollution control. Many business leaders say tax money should be used because business is not the only source of pollution. Environmentalists say the cost is an expense of doing business. Consumers will probably pay a large part of the costs —either as taxes or in the form of higher prices.

48 Developing a Program of Social Responsibility
Secure the commitment of top executives Plan the program Appoint a top-level executive as director to implement the plan Prepare a social audit ─ a comprehensive report of what the organization has done and is doing with regard to social issues that affect it

49 Funding the Program Pass cost on to consumer in form of higher prices
Force company to absorb cost of program and treat it as a business expense Have federal government pay for all or part through tax reductions or other incentives

50 Chapter Quiz Ethical issues often arise out of a business’s relationship with investors. customers. employees. creditors. all of these.

51 Chapter Quiz (cont.) The factor that refers to the amount of latitude within an organization that allows an employee to behave unethically is called the code of ethics. company policies and procedures. the individual. opportunity. social pressure.

52 Chapter Quiz (cont.) Peat Marwick, one of the largest accounting firms in the world, has extensive international operations. Operating internationally makes ethical decision making especially difficult because bribes and payoffs are acceptable business activities in the United States. Americans are more ethical than foreigners. many foreigners do not speak English. the U.S. government cannot prosecute American companies for unethical or illegal acts committed on foreign soil. standards of ethical behavior vary from country to country.

53 Chapter Quiz (cont.) Proponents of the socioeconomic model use which of the following arguments to support their position? Business managers are responsible primarily to stockholders. Business has the technical, financial, and managerial resources needed to tackle today’s complex social issues. Corporate time, money, and talent should be used to maximize profits, not to solve society’s problems. Social problems affect society in general, so business probably should not be expected to solve such problems. Social issues are the sole responsibility of government officials elected to represent the people.

54 Chapter Quiz (cont.) A friend of yours, a loan officer at a local bank, tells you that her annual salary is $15,000 less than that of her male counterparts. She says further that her education and banking experience are equivalent or superior to those of most of these men. She should file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. National Organization for Women. Oprah Winfrey Show. National Alliance of Business.

Which of the following is one way the Sarbanes Oxley Act protects employees who report organizational misconduct?

What is it called when one informs the press or government officials about unethical practices within one's organization?

Which model of social responsibility places emphasis not only on profits but also on the impact of decisions in society quizlet?

What is the process of creating Making delivering and promoting products that are environmentally safe called?