1. What are some of the most common forms of unethical behavior in our workforce today? How could leadership in organizations help to minimize this ethical misconduct? Explain and support your positions with relevant course content and outside sources.
2. As our businesses have developed over the last 100 plus years, have our modern day businesses evolved to be more ethical today? What are some of the factors that helped you come to your conclusion? Take a position and support your thoughts.
3. Would you describe the financial meltdown in our 2007-2008 financial markets as a failure of "people" or of our "capital market processes"? Why? Support your thoughts with ethical theory and examples. Use our library for added research if needed.
4. Tell me about why diversity and discrimination are two important ethical factors that leaders should focus on while attempting to manage their workforce? Provide one example of how mismanaging these issues have had an impact on an organization. How would you explain the importance of these to your employees?
5. Are corporate outreach and company sponsored volunteer programs a good idea for organizations to implement? Why? From an ethical leadership perspective, why would you choose OR not choose to implement these programs? Use course theory and specific examples to support your conclusion.
Leadership is instrumental in minimizing this misconduct. Ethical leadership, as a concept, emphasizes that leaders must not only be ethical themselves but also actively promote ethical behavior in others. A key strategy is to lead by example. Leaders who demonstrate integrity, transparency, and fairness in their own actions set the tone for the entire organization. When employees see a leader taking responsibility for mistakes and upholding ethical standards, they are more likely to do the same. Another crucial step is establishing a clear and comprehensive code of ethics and a robust reporting system. This system should allow employees to report misconduct anonymously and without fear of retaliation, fostering a culture of psychological safety. According to a study by the Ethics & Compliance Initiative, companies with strong ethics programs and a speak-up culture have significantly lower rates of misconduct.
2. The Evolution of Business Ethics
Modern businesses have indeed evolved to be more ethical today than they were 100 years ago, though the journey is far from complete.
Several factors support this conclusion:
Increased Public Scrutiny and Media: The rise of social media and global communication has given consumers, activists, and whistleblowers unprecedented power. Unethical corporate behavior can now go viral in minutes, leading to rapid and severe reputational damage. This constant scrutiny holds companies accountable in a way that wasn't possible a century ago.
Regulatory Frameworks: A hundred years ago, businesses operated with minimal government oversight. Today, there are extensive laws and regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for financial reporting or the Civil Rights Act for employment practices. These regulations create a baseline of legal and ethical conduct that companies must follow.
Stakeholder Theory: The traditional business model, focused on maximizing shareholder profit above all else, has given way to stakeholder theory. This ethical framework argues that companies have a duty to all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and the community. This broader view of responsibility has driven companies to consider social and environmental impacts in a way their predecessors did not.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Modern companies increasingly engage in CSR, environmental sustainability, and ethical supply chain management. This is no longer seen as a nice-to-have but a core component of a company's identity and brand. While some of this is driven by consumer demand, it reflects a shift in what is considered a successful and responsible business.
Sample Answer
1. Unethical Behavior in the Workforce and Leadership's Role
Some of the most common forms of unethical behavior in the modern workforce include sexual harassment, discrimination, fraud, and conflicts of interest. These actions aren't just isolated incidents; they're often symptoms of a weak ethical culture. Sexual harassment and discrimination, for example, create hostile work environments and can lead to legal action, while fraud, such as embezzlement or time theft, directly harms the company's financial health. Conflicts of interest, where personal gain is prioritized over the company's best interest, can erode trust and damage business relationships.