Ethics and Social Responsibilities

Question 1

Individual morals

Answer 1

Managers often make ethical decisions based on the morals they acquired while growing up.

Question 2

National and ethnic cultures

Answer 2

traditions of a country or an ethnic group influence how managers view society and business practices.

Question 3

Government legislation and regulation

Answer 3

influences ethical decisions by discouraging managers from doing things that would go against a regulations or legislation.

Question 4

The legal system

Answer 4

influences ethical decisions by discouraging managers from actions that might go against the law.

Question 5

Religion

Answer 5

religious upbringing and contact with religious organizations provides a a basis for assessing and analyzing ethical decsions

Question 6

Colleagues or peers

Answer 6

the moral standards set by others may become the basis on which managers consider ethical issues

Question 7

Educations

Answer 7

the educational process that a manager is exposed to may become a reference point for ethical matters. example taking a class in ethics or philosophy

Question 8

Media

Answer 8

the possibility of exposure influences decisions if others found out how would you defend your decision.

Question 9

Corporate mission, vision and values statements

Answer 9

These statements are values that are held by the organization and reflected in the corporate culture. Socially oriented objectives emphasize values or moral considerations.

Question 10

Union contracts

Answer 10

often specify the type of action that can or cannot be taken by managers. such as giving special treatment to an employee that is liked instead decisions are based on seniority.

Question 11

Competitive behaviour

Answer 11

the behavior of others in the same industry affects mangers. mirroring behavior between competitors.

Question 12

Activist or advocacy groups (NGOs)

Answer 12

groups in society can have an impact on business decisions.

Question 13

Business or industry organizations

Answer 13

businesses and organizations encourage members to act ethically. example The Better Business Bureau’s (BBB)

Question 14

Professional associations

Answer 14

Businesses employ professionals such as lawyers, architects. engineers and doctors who abide by an ethical code or guideline that has been developed by the professional associations. If the code or regulations is broken it may result in expulsion from the profession.

Question 15

Challenges of Ethics

Answer 15

• Right is subjective to your own personal morality which makes it a complex subject.
• self-perception of ones own morality
• ethical dilemmas are unavoidable.
• implicit prejudice or bias’s from unconscious beliefs (stereotyping)