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CHAPTER 2. BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. ETHICS. IS THE STUDY OF HOW PEOPLE OUGHT TO ACT. NOT HOW THEY ACT. WORLDCOM. HEALTHSOUTH. ImClone. WORLDCOM. HEALTHSOUTH. ImClone. LAW AND ETHICS MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE. SOMETIMES IT IS ETHICAL TO COMMIT AN ILLEGAL ACT AND
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CHAPTER 2 BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
ETHICS IS THE STUDY OF HOW PEOPLE OUGHT TO ACT
NOT HOW THEY ACT
LAW AND ETHICS MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE
SOMETIMES IT IS ETHICAL TO COMMIT AN ILLEGAL ACT AND SOME LEGAL ACTS ARE UNETHICAL
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF LAWS JUST AND UNJUST AN UNJUST LAW IS NOT LAW AT ALL (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., quoting St. Augustine)
WHY BOTHER WITH ETHICS? Society as a whole benefits People feel better when they behave ethically Unethical behavior can be costly
ETHICAL CHECK LIST What are the facts? What are the critical issues? Who are the stakeholders? What are the alternatives? Is it legal? How would it look in the light of the day?
ETHICAL CHECK LIST, CONT’D. What are the consequences? Does it violate important values? Does it violate the Golden Rule? Is it just? Has the process been fair?
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES • To other • To customers • employees • To stakeholders • To the company • To society
THE BEST BEHAVIOR The best way to infuse ethics throughout an organization is for top management to behave ethically themselves.
Ethical behavior offers significant advantages: society as a whole benefits; executives who behave ethically have happier, more fulfilled lives; and unethical behavior can destroy a company!
CHESTER’S RULES FOR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T
IF IT SMELLS BAD, IT PROBABLY IS
IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS
NEVER DO ANYTHING YOU WOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO TELL YOUR MOTHER ABOUT