The document discusses ethical decision making for businesses. It outlines several factors to consider: protecting a company's reputation, building trust with customers, following applicable laws and regulations, complying with company policies, aligning with management practices, considering ethical values and stakeholders, and personal values. Ethical decisions should not violate these factors or coerce, deceive or exploit people. The document provides guidance on navigating external and self-imposed pressures, as well as ignorance, when making ethical business decisions.
5. Ethical Decisions
• Protect the company’s reputation
• Build customer confidence and trust
• Grow and retain customers
6. Ethical Decisions
• Protect the company’s reputation
• Build customer confidence and trust
• Grow and retain customers
• Attract and retain top talent
31. Is It Legal?
• Determine the relevant law
• Reveal the court interpretation of it
32. Is It Legal?
• Determine the relevant law
• Reveal the court interpretation of it
• Determine how the law deals with it
33. Is It Legal?
• Determine the relevant law
• Reveal the court interpretation of it
• Determine how the law deals with it
• Determine the chances of going
to court
34. Is It Legal?
U.S. laws have been passed to ensure:
• Uninhibited competition
• A free marketplace
• Protection of workers
• Consumers’ rights
35. Is It Legal?
Specific laws deal with:
• Foreign corrupt practices of
U.S. multinationals
36. Is It Legal?
Specific laws deal with:
• Foreign corrupt practices of
U.S. multinationals
• Contract dealings with the
U.S. government
37. Is It Legal?
Specific laws deal with:
• U.S. antitrust and unfair competitive
practices laws
38. Is It Legal?
Specific laws deal with:
• U.S. antitrust and unfair competitive
practices laws
• Local government laws
and regulations
39. Is It Legal?
It’s your responsibility to know laws
and regulations that relate to your
company and job.
53. Management Practices
• How have issues been handled in
the past?
• What actions took place?
• How would you feel describing this
action to your peers or boss?
55. Management Practices
• Is the decision in accord with the
company’s strategic principles?
• Would you have to falsify or omit the
action on any internal reports?
56. Management Practices
• Is the decision in accord with the
company’s strategic principles?
• Would you have to falsify or omit the
action on any internal reports?
• How would you feel if it would be
published in the company newspaper?
62. Ethical Values
• Who benefits and who is harmed?
• How are the benefits and negative
burdens distributed?
63. Ethical Values
• Who benefits and who is harmed?
• How are the benefits and negative
burdens distributed?
• Are anyone’s rights negatively affected?
64. Ethical Values
• Does this alternative coerce,
deceive or exploit people to advance
your interests?
65. Ethical Values
• Does this alternative coerce,
deceive or exploit people to advance
your interests?
• How would this be described in
the media?
66. Ethical Values
• Does this alternative coerce,
deceive or exploit people to advance
your interests?
• How would this be described in
the media?
• Does it help or hinder the corporate
image or goodwill?
67. Stakeholders
• Employees
• Stockholders
• Customers
• Vendors
• General Public
72. Personal Values
• Does this decision conflict with what
you think is right and wrong?
• Are you betraying the interests of
those you’re paid to represent?
73. Personal Values
• Does this decision conflict with what
you think is right and wrong?
• Are you betraying the interests of
those you’re paid to represent?
• Would you feel comfortable telling
your family this?
74. Personal Values
Look at the value system you have
constructed for yourself as a guide for
your decisions.