<p>Study Questions - Chapter 8, The Individual in the Organization Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases Manuel G. Velasquez</p><p>1. What defines the rational organization? Of what do its layers consist? What obligations do the employees in this model have towards the firm? What obligations does the firm have to its employees? </p><p>2. What are conflicts of interest? What types of conflicts of interest are there? Under what circumstances are gifts ethical? </p><p>3. Is insider trading moral or immoral? What are the arguments on both sides of the issue? </p><p>4. Why should employers care about their employees' level of job satisfaction? Why are modern employees increasingly unsatisfied with their jobs? What can be done to improve their degree of satisfaction? </p><p>5. What is the "political organization"? How is it structured and defined? What are the main ethical problems that arise in this model? </p><p>6. What are the similarities and differences between the power wielded by managers and the power wielded by governmental officials? </p><p>7. Should employees have freedom of conscience? When should they engage in whistle blowing tactics? Why might external whistle blowing occur in any given organization? </p><p>8. What is participatory management? Should U.S. firms adopt more participatory practices?</p><p>9. What is the distinction between the right to due process and employment at will? </p><p>10. How should companies conduct themselves when they are forced to close a plant? Why should they respect the rights of their former workers? </p><p>11. Why do employees have the right to unionize and to strike? What explains the lack of power of modern unions? What are the effects of the dwindling numbers of union employees in the U.S.? </p><p>12. What are the most common types of political tactics? When are they justified? </p><p>13. What characterizes the caring organization? Why should companies consider adopting this model? </p>