Making it Stick | Case / Opinion | Team Representative

Team Representative

You have been asked to join a team as a representative of your department.  

The team has been tasked with the development of an ethics training program to support the company’s new code of ethics.  

What would your recommendations be?



Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

Ethics & Technology | Case / Opinion | Telecommuting

Telecommuting

If you had a chance to work from home and telecommute, would you take it?  

If the opportunity meant that you had to allow your company to monitor every call on your phone and every keystroke on your computer, would you still take it?  

Explain why or why not.


Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

Blowing the Whistle | Case / Opinion | Guilt by Omission

Guilt by Omission

You work for a large retail clothing company that spends a large amount of its advertising budget emphasizing that its clothes are “Made in America.” 

You discover that only 15 percent of its garments are actually “made” in America. 

The other 85 percent are actually either cut from patterns overseas and assembled here in the United States, or cut and assembled overseas and imported as completed garments. 

Your hometown depends on this clothing company as the largest local employer. 

Several of your friends and family work at the local garment assembly factory. 

Should you go public with this information? Give your explanation.



Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

Blowing the Whistle | Case / Opinion | Meatpacking Company

Meatpacking Company - Stealing

You work for a meatpacking company.  

You have discovered credible evidence that your company’s delivery drivers have been stealing cuts of meat and replacing them with ice to ensure that the delivery meets the stated weight on the delivery invoice.  

The company has 12 drivers and, as far as you can tell, they are all in on this scheme.  

Your company has a well-advertised whistle-blower hotline.  

What do you do?   





Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

Corporate Governance | Case/Opinion | An appropriate response

An appropriate response.

Please prepare your arguments about this case for and against terminating his employment as a first step in restoring the reputation of your airline.

You sit on the Board of Directors of a major airline that just experienced a horrendous customer service event. 

A severe snowstorm stranded several of your planes and caused a ripple effect throughout your flight schedule, stranding thousands of passengers at airports across the country and keeping dozens of passengers as virtual hostages on planes for several hours as they waited for departure slots at their airport. 

The press has covered this fiasco at length and is already calling for a passenger bill of rights that will be based primarily on all the things your airline didn’t do to take care of its’ passengers in this situation. 

Your CEO is the founder of the airline, and he has been featured in many of your commercials raving about the high level of customer service you deliver. 

The board is meeting to review his continued employment with the company.



Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

Corporate Governance | Case/Opinion | Comply and Explain OR Comply or Else?

Do you think corporate governance should be enforced through the “comply and explain” model or the “comply or else” model? Explain your answer.

Student responses will vary. 


The “comply and explain” model gives corporations the benefit of the doubt and allows them to explain why they are not complying. 


The “comply or else” model is a much stricter model in which corporations are, essentially threatened to comply or face stiff financial penalties for not being in compliance.


Please state your opinion .....



Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

CSR | Case / Opinion | Closing down a factory

Closing down a factory

Please prepare arguments for and against the following behavior:

Your company is managing to maintain a good profit margin on the computer parts you manufacture in a very tough economy. Recently, an opportunity has come along to move your production capacity overseas. The move will reduce manufacturing costs significantly as a result of tax incentives and lower labor costs, resulting in an anticipated 15 percent increase in profits for the company. However, the costs associated with shutting down your United States–based operations would mean that you wouldn’t see those increased profits for a minimum of three years. Your U.S. factory is the largest employer in the surrounding town, and shutting it down will result in the loss of over 800 jobs. The loss of those jobs is expected to devastate the economy of the local community.







Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e