INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPORTS
Class Preparation Reports
Class Preparation Report 1: This assignment is based on the Opening Decision Point for Chapter 3 (p. 64). Respond to the 4th, 5th, and/or 6th question (p. 65).
Class Preparation Report 2: This assignment is based on the Opening Decision Point for Chapter 5 (p. 148). Respond to the 7th and/or 8th question (p. 148).
Class Preparation Report 3:This assignment is based on the Decision Point for Chapter 7 on p.278. Write a report on a scenario of your choice.
Class Preparation Report 4: This assignment is based on questions at the end of the Chapter (p. 345). Respond to question 5, 6, or 8.
Class Preparation Report 5:This assignment is based on the Reading at the end of Chapter 10 (10-4 on p. 468). The Report should address the following: what are the defining features of “moral courage” as discussed in the reading? why does the author think Time magazine found it timely to honor these women’s moral courage?
Ethical Issue Report 1
Each group should evaluate the situations described in articles to be pasted on the website and scheduled for discussion on Oct 15. Based on these evaluations, the group should write a report to the CEO of a company (not necessarily one of the companies included in the articles) on the topic, what can the articles teach or illustrate about ethical (or unethical) decisions? Assume the CEO wants to build an ethical organization. In 3-5 pages, the report should cover the following:
a)How could one distinguish an ethical from an unethical decision? In addition to a brief response, the group may illustrate by way of an exhibit or attachment, how the group evaluated at least one situation as an example of how the group went about its work. This exhibit should address the following: who was the principal decision maker (who made the decision, ethical or otherwise), what was the ethical decision and how was it made, who are the stakeholders that has been considered, what were the interests of these stakeholders, and what were the consequences to the individual and the company. In the latter, it will be necessary to find out what happened beyond what is reported in the article.)
b)State and explain the more important theme(s) that is(are) common across all situations in the articles. In other words, what are the ethical implications common across the various ethical decisions described in these articles, e.g. the rights of (stakeholder) were not respected?
c)State and explain the ethical implication(s) that is(are) not common across all situations, i.e. one that may be unique to a specific situation,
d)How were these ethical challenges brought to the attention of management?
e) Given our understanding of corporate culture, how could these unethical decisions have been made? How can these have been avoided?
A good report will organize the responses to (a), (b), and (c) in such a way as to divide the situations discussed in the articles into those that share which themes (there are more than one) and how raised, discuss organizational realities that can create or lead to unethical decision, and will be written as one essay. Reports are expected to show application of concepts covered in the text, e.g. the ethical decision-making process discussed in Ch 2, discussions of the impact of corporate culture on ethical decision-making based on Ch 4, etc.
Ethical Issue Report 2
Groups should choose one of the companies in the lists below (or any company that has been in the press) and develop a critical analysis of the ethical issues involved in the case. There are several lists below: one lists companies which have had to deal with legal cases, another activist-lead consumer boycotts, and the third contains a list of companies and specific ethical issues they have had to face. By the week of the Midterm exam, each group should submit a name of a company they would like to work on.
In 4-6 pages, the Ethical Issue Report 2 should cover the following:
- a short description of case or situation
- identification of the ethical issues involved (what was the alleged ethical wrong done, and why is/was it wrong?)
- A statement, in the group’s own opinion, of whether it was wrong or not, and more importantly, why?
- Thoughts on what could have been done to avoid the problem – do we need more laws & government regulation? What internal controls might have prevented this situation?
- Was the problem more a matter of individuals gone wrong, or was it more systemic and organizational?
The group will need to do some research to get at the facts, but beyond that groups should rely on their own thinking. A good report will cover all of the points raised above, discuss these clearly in a comprehensive and concise manner, and where appropriate, demonstrate application of concepts covered in the course.
In addition to the paper, each group should prepare 4 power point slides: one containing bullets for (1), a second for (2) and (3), a third for (4), and the fourth to guide a presentation of the group’s thinking on (5).
LISTS
Note: while this list provides names of companies who have had to face ethical situations, do not assume that all the companies responded in an unethical manner.
List of Companies with Legal Cases:
TycoImcloneGlobal Crossing
WorldComAdelphiaNYSE and Richard Grasso
Merrill Lynch Health South
Al Dunlap and Sunbeam
List of Companies facing Activist-lead Consumer Boycotts
Wal-MartNikeMcDonalds
GAPBody ShopDe Beers
L’OrealNestleShell
List of Companies with Specific Ethical Issues
Johnson and Johnson and its handling of the tainted Tylenol situation
Nestle’s and the marketing of infant formula in Africa
Union Carbide and the Bhopal incident
Shell and allegations it supported terrorists in Nigeria
Chiquita and charges it paid bribes to a revolutionary group in Columbia
Merck and the Vioxx drug