MGMT 575 Business Ethics

MGMT 575 – Business Ethics Questions for Midterm #1 Chapters 1-4, & 6-8

Here is the list of questions you will be responsible for on Midterm #1. The chapters for coverage are 1-4, and 5-8. The exam will include four of the questions on this list and you will answer three of those four.

1) Identify and explain the major factors in the social environment that create an atmosphere in which business criticism takes place and prospers. How are the factors related to one another?

2) Give an example of the four levels of power discussed in chapter 1. Also, give an example of each of the spheres of business power.

3) Differentiate corporate social responsibility from corporate social responsiveness. Give an example of each. How does corporate social performance relate to these terms?

4) Differentiate between primary and secondary social and nonsocial stakeholders in a business situation. Give examples of each.

5) Define the terms core stakeholders, strategic stakeholders, and environmental stakeholders. What factors affect into which groups stakeholders are categorized.

6) Explain how government failures such as Enron could happen. How might they be avoided?

7) What are the major criticisms of boards of directors? Which single criticism do you find to be the most important? Why?

8) In what ways have companies taken the initiative in becoming more responsive to owners/stakeholders? Where would you like to see more improvement? Discuss.

9) Which of the major stages in the issues management process do you think is the most important? Why?

10) Give a definition of ethical business behavior, explain the components involved in making ethical decisions, and give an example from your personal experience of the difficulties involved in making these determinations. 11) To demonstrate that you understand the three models of management ethics – moral, immoral, and amoral – give an example from your personal experience, of each type. Do you agree that amorality is a serious problem? Explain.

12) Which is most important in ethics principles – consequences/results or duty? Discuss

13) Assume that you are in your first real managerial position. Identify five ways in which you might provide ethical leadership. Rank them in terms of importance, and explain your rankings.

14) What do you think about the idea of codes of conduct? Give three reasons why an organization ought to have a code of conduct, and give three reasons for why an organization should not have a code of conduct. On balance, how do you regard codes of conduct?

15) Identify and prioritize the best practices for improving the organization’s ethical climate. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?