Business Ethics The Case of the Dirty, Rotten Windows

Rating : Rate It:
 
Embed :   
Post a comment
    Post Comment on Twitter
Comments:  



  Notes
 
 
Slide 1 : The Case of the Dirty, Rotten Windows Business Ethics
Slide 2 : Clancy Martin, PhD Assistant Professor of Philosophy Wayne Vaught, PhD Associate Professor of Philosophy and Medicine Professors Martin and Vaught teach courses in ethics for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bloch School of Business (Martin) and the School of Medicine (Vaught) at UMKC. They worked together to create the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics at UMKC and appear monthly on the Walt Bodine Show (for UMKC’s local NPR station) as the Ethics Professors. Presenters
Slide 3 : Central Characters Ken: Director of Facilities Chris: Administrative Assistant, Facilities Gwen: Chief Financial Officer You: Financial Officer Midwestern University
Slide 4 : Midwestern University is an old, large, land-grant institution. The director of facilities is preparing to hire contractors to replace deteriorating wooden windows and flooring in several older academic buildings. The Chief Financial Officer is good friends with a local general contractor (W. R. Best Construction) and has asked the Director of Facilities to throw business toward the contractor for large projects. Dirty Rotten Windows: Scene 1
Slide 5 : W.R. Best has been contracting with Midwestern University for several years. To ensure that W.R. Best receives the job, the director of facilities has on several occasions asked Chris fax a list of specs to W.R. Best. In the “open bidding” process, W.R. Best submits their bid with specs that ensure they receive the bid. Dirty Rotten Windows: Scene 1
Slide 6 : Honesty/Transparency Is the director of facilities engaging in dishonest business practices? Loyalty W.R. Best long relationship with Midwestern They have consistently performed well Conflicts of Interest Is the relationship between Gwen and W.R. Best inappropriate? Should she avoid making endorsements of contractors? Is there ever a justification for nepotism? Ethical Considerations
Slide 7 : Morality and Ethics Morality stems from latin: mores means character, custom, habit frequently used in reference to shared beliefs about the norms of right and wrong. Ethics stems from greek: ethos means character frequently used in reference to the systematic study of moral values and beliefs.
Slide 8 : Sources of Moral Reasoning Religion Reflects the basic tenants of religious faith. Culture/Community Reflects commonly shared moral values Codes of Professional Conduct Reflects guidelines for professional conduct. Moral Theory Basic Ethical Theories and Principles
Slide 9 : Basic Ethical Theories Utilitarianism Greatest good for Greatest Number Deontology Good defined in terms of moral duties Virtue theory Emphasis on moral character Ethics of Care Emphasis on preserving relationships
Slide 10 : Consequentialist/Utilitarianism Bentham/Mill Emphasis is on the consequences of an action Primacy given to maximizing pleasure/minimizing pain Greatest good for the greatest number Act v. Rule Utilitarianism
Slide 11 : Immanuel Kant Emphasis on Moral Duty/Obligation Good Will: Only thing good without qualification Categorical Imperative: Rational Direction of the Good Will Deontology
Slide 12 : Principle of Universal Legislation An individual must ask if a general rule can be derived such that every person similarly situation would be compelled to do the act in question. Treat others as ends, not as means only. Categorical Imperative
Slide 13 : Kant and Mill Contrasted Mill good defined in terms of pleasures and pains seeks to maximize greatest good for greatest number Utilitarian Calculus Kant good defined in terms of one’s moral duties seeks to follow universal moral principles Categorical Imperative
Slide 14 : Aristotle Emphasis on Moral Character Teleological Orientation Golden Mean Virtue Theory
Slide 15 : Virtue Theory Aristotle Teleological in Orientation To understand good, one must understand purpose Golden Mean Alasdair MacIntyre A virtue is an acquired human quality the possession and exercise of which tends to enable us to achieve those goods which are internal to practices and the lack of which effectively prevents us from achieving any such good.
Slide 16 : Understanding Virtues Aristotelian Virtue Golden Mean For Aristotle, a virtues are character traits that represent a median point between two vices, which are the extremes of the virtue in question. Virtue of Courage Courage is a virtue as it represents behavior at a median between the vices of cowardliness and foolhardiness.
Slide 17 : Examples of Courage Firefighters and Police Officers Success in such fields as law enforcement and firefighting require courage. Cowardly behavior: Abandoning post. Foolhardy behavior: Rash behavior- running into a burning building without proper equipment or assessment of situation. Places others at risk. Courageous behavior: Facing danger while following protocol, following safety regulations.
Slide 18 : Honesty Integrity Courage Impartiality Virtues in Business
Slide 19 : Ethical Considerations Honesty/Transparency Is the director of facilities engaging in dishonest business practices? Loyalty W.R. Best long relationship with Midwestern They have consistently performed well Conflicts of Interest Is the relationship between Gwen and W.R. Best inappropriate? Should she avoid making endorsements of contractors? Is there ever a justification for nepotism?
Slide 20 : Ensure Objectivity in Bidding Process. Openness/Transparency Integrity Personal Responsibility Authenticity Effective Resolution
Slide 21 : You and Chris (Administrative Assistant in Facilities) are good friends. As the financial officer in charge of accounts for Facilities, you notice that W.R. Best often receives the bid for large projects. In a conversation with Chris, she tells you about faxing specs to W.R. Best before the bidding process. Dirty Rotten Window: Scene 2
Slide 22 : Having attended an ethics lecture at a national meeting for financial officers, you come to the conclusion that such practices are morally dubious. You contact the director of Facilities to relay your concerns. You suggest that they refrain from such practices in the future. Dirty Rotten Windows: Scene 1
Slide 23 : This is the way we have conducted business with W.R. Best for some time. We have never had a problem with this before. I trust W.R. Best to do a good job and his prices are fair. He is friends with the CFO. This isn’t any of your concern. Director of Facilities Responds:
Slide 24 : After some consideration, you feel uncomfortable with the practice and feel you should do something further. You make an appointment to speak with the CFO. The CFO says that this is an issue best handled by the Director of Facilities. You need to see yourself as a team player. You Reflect
Slide 25 : You are having drinks with a friend outside the university after work. You explain the conflict you are having over the bidding process. Your friend things this is a good story, and has a friend who is a reporter. You Vent
Slide 26 : One afternoon, a reporter contacts you and asks about the practice of open bidding for contractors at Midwestern University. The reporter asks if you know of contractors receiving privileged information to ensure that they receive the job. What do you do? Media Reports
Slide 27 : Several Years have passed since the issue with the reporter. You have since received a promotion. You learn that there will be several lay-offs due to financial constraints but have been instructed not to disclose the information. Scence 3
Slide 28 : Your good friend Chris holds one of the positions that will be lost. You could tell Chris the news to give her advance warning so that she could begin searching for another position. What would you do? To tell or Not to tell

 


Related 

 
Free Powerpoint Templates
Add as Friend SlidesOnline     4 Years ago.
922 Views, 0 favourite
Professors Martin and Vaught teach courses in ethics for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bloc    more
More By User

Flag as inappropriate





Browse | Powerpoint Templates | Tags | Contact | About Us | Privacy | FAQ | Blog

© Slideworld