Chapter
Ethics Activity
From IntroductionToBusiness OP 8D04gAa
Concepts
- How do monetary and fiscal policies affect macroeconomic goals and industries?
"monetary policy or fiscal policy to achieve its macroeconomic goals? Summarize your findings. Choose one of the following industries, and discuss how the government’s actions will affect that industr
- What do changes in wireless headphone prices reveal about demand and supply?
"6. As a manufacturer of wireless headphones, you are questioning your pricing policies. You note that over the past five years, the CPI increased an average of 3 percent per year but that the price o
- How can Volkswagen regain consumer confidence after its diesel emissions scandal?
"Ethics Activity Historically, diesel cars have not been big sellers in the U.S. auto market, mainly because their engines couldn’t pass the strict emissions standards set up by the Environmental Prot
- How can monetary or fiscal policy help achieve macroeconomic goals and affect industries?
"monetary policy or fiscal policy to achieve its macroeconomic goals? Summarize your findings. Choose one of the following industries, and discuss how the government’s actions will affect that industr
- What do changing headphone prices reveal about demand, supply, and market factors?
"6. As a manufacturer of wireless headphones, you are questioning your pricing policies. You note that over the past five years, the CPI increased an average of 3 percent per year but that the price o
- How can Volkswagen restore compliance and consumer confidence after its emissions scandal?
"Ethics Activity Historically, diesel cars have not been big sellers in the U.S. auto market, mainly because their engines couldn’t pass the strict emissions standards set up by the Environmental Prot
- What ethical and social responsibility issues confront Microsoft, Pfizer, Nike, the American Cancer Society, and R.J. Reynolds?
"4. Identify the potential ethical and social responsibility issues confronting the following organizations: Microsoft, Pfizer, Nike, American Cancer Society, and R.J. Reynolds. Make recommendations o
- Is providing a job the employer’s only social responsibility to employees?
"5. Team Activity Divide the class into teams. Debate whether the only social responsibility of the employer to the employee is to provide a job. Include a discussion of the employee’s responsibility
- How should The Honest Company respond to ethical challenges and rebuild its corporate social responsibility?
"Ethics Activity Let’s Be Honest The Honest Company is a consumer-goods business that sells nontoxic, eco-friendly items for baby and personal care, household cleaning, and a healthy lifestyle. Cofoun
- How should Honest Company rebuild trust and strengthen its corporate social responsibility?
"Ethics Activity Let’s Be Honest The Honest Company is a consumer-goods business that sells nontoxic, eco-friendly items for baby and personal care, household cleaning, and a healthy lifestyle. Cofoun
- What trends are shaping competition in the global marketplace?
"drawing upon the knowledge of a global workforce. 3.9 Trends in Global Competition 9. What are the trends in the global marketplace? Global business activity will continue to escalate due to several
- How can students analyze barriers and strategies in international trade?
"Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills 1. How can a country’s customs create barriers to trade? Ask foreign students to describe such barriers in their country. American students should give examp
- How can a team evaluate a country’s infrastructure for international trade?
"7. Team Activity Divide the class into teams. Each team should choose a country and research its infrastructure to determine how it will help or hinder trade. Include a variety of countries, ranging
- Should executives pay an advisory fee to speed up foreign business permits?
"Ethics Activity The executives of a clothing manufacturer want to outsource some of their manufacturing to more cost- efficient locations in Indonesia. After visiting several possible sites, they cho
- What factors are driving trends in the global marketplace?
"drawing upon the knowledge of a global workforce. 3.9 Trends in Global Competition 9. What are the trends in the global marketplace? Global business activity will continue to escalate due to several
- How can students analyze barriers, trade agreements, and international competition?
"Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills 1. How can a country’s customs create barriers to trade? Ask foreign students to describe such barriers in their country. American students should give examp
- Is an advisory fee to speed up permits a bribe or an acceptable business cost?
"Ethics Activity The executives of a clothing manufacturer want to outsource some of their manufacturing to more cost- efficient locations in Indonesia. After visiting several possible sites, they cho
- How can groups evaluate the resources and partnerships needed to start a delivery service?
"coffee/food delivery service and decide this might be a good business opportunity for you and some friends. Split the class into small groups. Start by outlining the management, technical, and financ
- What ethical obligations does Quiznos have to its franchisees?
"Ethics Activity After seeing a Quiznos franchise recruitment infomercial to recruit franchisees, you are tempted to apply to open your own Quiznos sub shop. However, your research on the company turn
- Which legal business structure would be best for a new company?
"Working the Net 1. Consult Entrepreneur at http://www.entrepreneur.com . Search for “business legal structures” to read articles about S corporations and LLCs. If you were starting a company, which w
- How can groups evaluate the resources needed to launch a delivery service?
"coffee/food delivery service and decide this might be a good business opportunity for you and some friends. Split the class into small groups. Start by outlining the management, technical, and financ
- How can you develop a business plan for travel services aimed at college and high school students?
"◦ Travel services for college and high school students Prepare a detailed outline for the business plan, including the objectives for the business and the types of information you would need to devel
- Is it ethical for a business owner to apply for a minority-owned supplier program when the business does not qualify?
"Ethics Activity As the owner of a small factory that makes plastic sheeting, you are constantly seeking ways to increase profits. As the new year begins, one of your goals is to find additional funds
- How can online research help entrepreneurs develop, evaluate, finance, and value a small business?
"Working the Net 1. Visit Sample Business Plans at http://www.bplans.com to review examples of all types of business plans. Select an idea for a company in a field that interests you and, using inform
- Is it ethical for a business owner to apply for a minority-owned supplier program when the employees are minorities?
"Ethics Activity As the owner of a small factory that makes plastic sheeting, you are constantly seeking ways to increase profits. As the new year begins, one of your goals is to find additional funds
- How can web research help evaluate business plans, business ideas, and export potential?
"Working the Net 1. Visit Sample Business Plans at http://www.bplans.com to review examples of all types of business plans. Select an idea for a company in a field that interests you and, using inform
- What resources can help entrepreneurs evaluate small-business support and the value of a business for sale?
"4. Explore the SBA website at http://www.sba.gov . What resources are available to you locally? What classes does the Learning Center offer? What about financing assistance? Do you think the website
- How can managers prepare for tomorrow’s workplace?
"information technology, such as dashboard software, managers can make quicker, better-informed decisions. As more companies “go global,” the need for multinational cultural management skills is growi
- How can you assess and improve your management skills?
"1. Would you be a good manager? Do a self-assessment that includes your current technical, human relations, and conceptual skills. What skills do you already possess, and which do you need to add? Wh
- How can managers improve their time management skills?
"2. Successful managers map out what they want to do with their time (planning), determine the activities and tasks they need to accomplish in that time frame (organizing), and make sure they stay on
- Are leadership and management equally important?
"3. Often researchers cast leadership in an inspirational role in a company and management in more of an administrative role. That tendency seems to put leadership and management in a hierarchy. Do yo
- How can managers increase their computer competency?
"4. Today’s managers must be comfortable using all kinds of technology. Do an inventory of your computer skills, and identify any gaps. After listing your areas of weakness, make a plan to increase yo
- Are top executives paid too much?
"Ethics Activity Are top executives paid too much? A study of CEO compensation revealed that CEO bonuses rose considerably—from 20 percent to 30 percent—even at companies whose revenues or profits dro
- What skills and habits help managers prepare for tomorrow’s workplace?
"information technology, such as dashboard software, managers can make quicker, better-informed decisions. As more companies “go global,” the need for multinational cultural management skills is growi
- How are leadership, management, and technology connected in modern organizations?
"3. Often researchers cast leadership in an inspirational role in a company and management in more of an administrative role. That tendency seems to put leadership and management in a hierarchy. Do yo
- Why is executive compensation considered an ethical issue?
"Ethics Activity Are top executives paid too much? A study of CEO compensation revealed that CEO bonuses rose considerably—from 20 percent to 30 percent—even at companies whose revenues or profits dro
- Should all employees be allowed to work remotely?
"(Resources, Systems) 5. It used to be that only high-level executives and CEOs were able to work out of the office. Mobile computing, however, is trickling down the organizational chart. In your opin
- How can teams manage underperforming members?
"(Technology, Systems) 6. Team Activity Have you ever worked on a team with an underperforming member, such as a slacker, a complainer, or a critic? Assemble a team of three to five students and brain
- Is it ethical to require laid-off workers to train their overseas replacements?
"(Interpersonal, Systems) Ethics Activity Training IT Replacements Recently the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) announced it would lay off more than 80 IT workers and outsource their
- Is it ethical to outsource technology jobs and require displaced workers to train replacements?
"(Interpersonal, Systems) Ethics Activity Training IT Replacements Recently the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) announced it would lay off more than 80 IT workers and outsource their
- How can overseas assignments and employee benefits support career development?
"1. Would an overseas job assignment be good for your career development? If you think so, what country would you prefer to live and work in for two or three years, and what type of job would you like
- What labor market and union trends should human resource professionals examine?
"3. Assume you have been asked to speak at a local meeting of human resource and labor relations professionals. The topic is whether union membership will increase or decline in the next 50 years. Tak
- How should employers and students analyze union elections, strikes, and labor settlements?
"5. Assume you are a director of labor relations for a firm faced with a union certification election in 30 days. Draft a letter to be sent to your employees in which you urge them to vote “no union”;
- How can teams debate the role of employees and unions in the workplace?
"7. Team Activity Select two teams of five. One team will take the position that employees are simply a business expense to be managed. The second team will argue that employees are an asset to be dev
- How can workplace skills and labor relations questions support career development?
"1. Would an overseas job assignment be good for your career development? If you think so, what country would you prefer to live and work in for two or three years, and what type of job would you like
- What labor market information can be found in Department of Labor publications?
"4. Go to the government documents section in your college or university library, and inspect publications of the Department of Labor (DOL), including Employment and Earnings, Compensation and Working
- How can labor relations professionals respond to union elections and labor disputes?
"5. Assume you are a director of labor relations for a firm faced with a union certification election in 30 days. Draft a letter to be sent to your employees in which you urge them to vote “no union”;
- How should employees and employers be viewed in debates about unions and competitive advantage?
"7. Team Activity Select two teams of five. One team will take the position that employees are simply a business expense to be managed. The second team will argue that employees are an asset to be dev
- How can different motivational theories explain what drives people to work hard?
"rewards (money, bonuses, etc.)? Interview some friends and classmates to find out what motivates them. Discuss your differences in perspective. (Interpersonal, Information) 2. Think of a task or proj
- Is using volunteer work to earn a promotion smart career planning or manipulation?
"Ethics Activity You join a large bank that encourages and promotes employee volunteerism, allowing employees one day a month, or up to 12 days a year, to volunteer for a cause of their choosing. Shor
- Where can managers find ideas for motivating employees and comparing stock ownership plans?
"Working the Net 1. Looking for 1,001 ways to motivate or reward your employees? Bob Nelson can help. Visit his Nelson Motivation site at http://www.nelson-motivation.com to get some ideas you can put
- Is choosing volunteer work that benefits your boss smart or manipulative?
"Ethics Activity You join a large bank that encourages and promotes employee volunteerism, allowing employees one day a month, or up to 12 days a year, to volunteer for a cause of their choosing. Shor
- How can a team evaluate and present the best location for a manufacturing facility?
"Working in teams, assign tasks, and use the internet and your school library to research possible site locations, both domestic and international. Choose a location you feel would best meet the compa
- How can a Gantt chart help plan and schedule a major assignment?
"7. Your teacher has just announced a huge assignment, due in three weeks. Develop a Gantt chart to plan and schedule more effectively. ◦ Break the assignment down into smaller tasks: pick a topic; co
- How should supervisors respond when cost concerns conflict with workplace safety?
"Ethics Activity A recent spate of mine disasters that caused numerous fatalities refocused national attention on the question: is management doing enough to protect employees on the job? Recent serio
- How can teams evaluate and choose the best location for a manufacturing facility?
"Working in teams, assign tasks, and use the internet and your school library to research possible site locations, both domestic and international. Choose a location you feel would best meet the compa
- How can a Gantt chart help you plan and schedule a major assignment?
"7. Your teacher has just announced a huge assignment, due in three weeks. Develop a Gantt chart to plan and schedule more effectively. ◦ Break the assignment down into smaller tasks: pick a topic; co
- How should supervisors respond when workplace safety violations put employees at risk?
"Ethics Activity A recent spate of mine disasters that caused numerous fatalities refocused national attention on the question: is management doing enough to protect employees on the job? Recent serio
- Is it ethical for research institutions to endorse skin-care products?
"Ethics Activity As cosmetics companies roll out line after line of products to satisfy consumers’ quest for youth, the shelves are getting crowded. How can a company stand out? Products such as the C
- Is multi-level marketing ethical, and does a money-back guarantee distinguish it from a pyramid scheme?
"Similarly, Rodan+Fields was established as a cosmetics company by two medical doctors. They began their company by starting out as a multi-level marketing company. The practice of multi-level marketi
- Is it ethical for research institutions to endorse skin-care products?
"As cosmetics companies roll out line after line of products to satisfy consumers’ quest for youth, the shelves are getting crowded. How can a company stand out? Products such as the Cosmedicine and R
- What promotional research and campaign activities can help evaluate technology, personal selling, advertising, and promotional products?
"6. Go to the blogging search sites listed in the text and find personal blogs, both positive and negative, for a brand. Also report on a consumer good manufacturer’s blogging site. Was it appealing?
- How should advertising professionals respond when promoting potentially harmful products to children?
"Ethics Activity After working really hard to distinguish yourself, you’ve finally been promoted to senior account executive at a major advertising agency and placed in charge of the agency’s newest a
- How can blogging, technology, personal selling, advertising campaigns, and promotional products support promotion?
"6. Go to the blogging search sites listed in the text and find personal blogs, both positive and negative, for a brand. Also report on a consumer good manufacturer’s blogging site. Was it appealing?
- How should advertising professionals respond to ethical concerns about promoting unhealthy cereal to children?
"Ethics Activity After working really hard to distinguish yourself, you’ve finally been promoted to senior account executive at a major advertising agency and placed in charge of the agency’s newest a
- Should a company use employee-monitoring software to protect its networks while respecting employee privacy?
"Ethics Activity As the owner of a small but growing business, you are concerned about employees misusing company computers for personal matters. Not only does this cost the company in terms of employ
- Should companies use employee-monitoring software to protect networks while respecting privacy?
"Ethics Activity As the owner of a small but growing business, you are concerned about employees misusing company computers for personal matters. Not only does this cost the company in terms of employ
- How can you use personal financial statements to evaluate your financial condition?
"personal care, recreation and entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses After you complete your personal financial statements, use them to see how well you are managing your finances. Consider the fo
- Should you change auditors because they are applying the Sarbanes-Oxley Act too stringently?
"(Information) Ethics Activity As the controller of a medium-sized financial services company, you take pride in the accounting and internal control systems you have developed for the company. You and
- How can accounting firm websites and online guides help users understand financial information?
"Working the Net 1. Visit the website of one of the following major U.S. public accounting firms: Deloitte ( http://www.deloitte.com ), Ernst & Young ( http://www.ey.com ), KPMG ( http://www.kpmg.com
- How can you evaluate your personal financial condition?
"personal care, recreation and entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses After you complete your personal financial statements, use them to see how well you are managing your finances. Consider the fo
- Should you change auditors because of their strict interpretation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act?
"(Information) Ethics Activity As the controller of a medium-sized financial services company, you take pride in the accounting and internal control systems you have developed for the company. You and
- How can you research accounting firms and understand annual reports?
"Working the Net 1. Visit the website of one of the following major U.S. public accounting firms: Deloitte ( http://www.deloitte.com ), Ernst & Young ( http://www.ey.com ), KPMG ( http://www.kpmg.com
- Should a loan officer seek out subprime borrowers when high fees may be unjustified?
"Ethics Activity You are a loan officer with a financial company that specializes in auto loans. The senior vice president in charge of your area sets new loan quotas for your group and suggests that
- What online resources can help explore banking careers, financial institutions, and current banking issues?
"Working the Net 1. Banking on a great career? Go to http://www.careerbank.com to explore what positions are available in banking, finance, and accounting. Make a presentation on the type of job you m
- Should you seek out subprime auto loans when their fees may not be justified?
"Ethics Activity You are a loan officer with a financial company that specializes in auto loans. The senior vice president in charge of your area sets new loan quotas for your group and suggests that
- What banking, finance, or accounting career might you choose?
"Working the Net 1. Banking on a great career? Go to http://www.careerbank.com to explore what positions are available in banking, finance, and accounting. Make a presentation on the type of job you m
- How are organizations working to prevent international monetary transfers from reaching terrorists?
"2. Visit the International Money Laundering Network Services Association ( http://www.imolin.org ) for the latest information on what organizations are doing to ensure international monetary transfer
- Why should financial institution career forecasts matter to you?
"3. Find out everything you want to know about financial institutions and banking careers from the latest edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Visit the OOH’s webs
- What are the merits of digital banking branches and what can banking scandals reveal about sales pressure?
"4. Using an internet search engine, research information on digital banking branches used around the country by companies such as Citibank. Make a presentation describing the merits of this trend to
- How should firms evaluate long-term financing and dividend strategies?
"discusses the types of long-term financing available to the firm, their pros and cons, and the key factors to consider in choosing a financing strategy. (Information) 3. Team Activity Does paying div
- What lessons can IPO success stories and failures teach about securities markets?
"4. Research the trends in the IPO marketplace from 2009 to 2017. Then select two IPO success stories and two failures. Prepare a report for the class on their performance. What lessons about the secu
- What makes trading on confidential acquisition information insider trading?
"5. While having dinner at a Manhattan restaurant, you overhear two investment bankers at the next table. They are discussing the takeover of Bellamco Industries by Gildmart Corp., a deal that has not
- Is joining an investment club a good way to learn about investing?
"6. Team Activity Is joining an investment club a good way to learn about investing in the stock market? Divide the class into groups of five to eight students to develop a strategy to form their own
- What types of long-term financing are available to a firm?
"discusses the types of long-term financing available to the firm, their pros and cons, and the key factors to consider in choosing a financing strategy."
- Do dividends enhance the value of a company?
"3. Team Activity Does paying dividends enhance the value of a company? Some financial experts caution companies to look long and hard before beginning to pay dividends. They believe that committing y
- Is buying stock after overhearing an unannounced takeover insider trading?
"5. While having dinner at a Manhattan restaurant, you overhear two investment bankers at the next table. They are discussing the takeover of Bellamco Industries by Gildmart Corp., a deal that has not
- Is it legal and ethical for executives to sell stock after learning about a data breach?
"Ethics Activity In late July 2017, senior management at Equifax, a U.S. credit-reporting company, discovered that hackers had stolen the personal data of more than 145 million U.S. customers, includi