(un)ETHICS
The Foundation
of Business Think
Logic – Reason - Intuition
Written and Presented by
Steven Douglas, MIS, BFA
7 Steps to Success on LinkedIn
Goal Setting (Brian Tracy)
Marketing through International
Tradeshows
Before we begin….
O How do you define
“Ethics”?
O How do you define
“Morals”?
How (Un) Are You?
Top 10 Dilemmas
(source unknown)
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
10. If something at a yard sale is far
more valuable than the posted
price, do you have to let the seller
know?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
9. Is it considered stealing to take
pens from a bank, hotel or business
where the company name is printed
on the pens?
What about extra napkins from a
fast-food restaurant?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
8. If a charity sends you free address
labels and you don’t make a
contribution, is it OK to use them?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
7. Is it unfair to move to better
(open) seats at a sporting event or a
concert?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
6. Your boss gave you credit for a
project on which a colleague did
most of the work.
Should you accept the praise?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
5. Is it OK to fantasize about
someone else when you’re with your
partner?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
4. Are you obligated to lend money
to friends and family?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
3. If someone tells an offensive
joke, is it your responsibility to
speak up about it?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
2. Is it ever OK to sneak a peak at
your child’s email?
How (Un) Are You? Ethics or Morals?
1. Your boss asks you to cover for
him on his expense report by
saying you were at a meal when
you weren’t.
Should you do it?
The Foundation of Business Think
O Logic (from the Greek logikē) refers to both
the study of modes of reasoning (which are
valid and which are fallacious) and the use
of valid reasoning. It examines general
forms that arguments may take.
O Is your thought or argument
right or wrong?
Good or bad?
The Foundation of Business Think
O Reason, is the human capacity for
making sense of things, for
establishing and verifying facts, and
changing or justifying practices,
institutions, and beliefs based on new
or existing information. The concept of
reason is sometimes referred to as
rationality.
O Is your thought or argument rational?
Does it make sense?
The Foundation of Business Think
O Intuition is the ability to acquire
knowledge without Logic or Reason,
'to look inside' or 'to contemplate'.“
Intuition provides us with beliefs
that we cannot justify in every case.
O My “gut” tells me…
To summarize…
O Your decisions and actions are based on
What you think is right or wrong (logic)
What you think is rational
(reason)
What you feel in your gut
(intuition).
Business Ethics
O American multinational company
O Second-largest chemical manufacturer in
the world by revenue
O Dow manufactures plastics, chemicals, and
agricultural products.
O Offices in 160 countries, employing 54,000
people worldwide.
O Annual R&D spending exceeds $1 billion.
What are their Ethics?
Dow's policy is to be lawful,
highly- principled and
socially responsible in all of
its business practices.
O Dow expects employees to
learn and comply with all
company policies and laws
applicable to their job
responsibilities…
Dow's Code of Business
Conduct summarizes many of the
ethical principles and policies
created to deal with issues such
as bribery, political
contributions, equal
employment opportunity,
environment, health and
safety
“Ethical behavior is everyone's
responsibility. Our goal is to create an
atmosphere where our people feel
comfortable that they have the
knowledge and support to protect our
company's values."
David Wilkins, Director of Ethics and Compliance for
CODE OF ETHICS
(Shepherd University Procurement)
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Give first consideration to the objectives and policies of my institution.
Strive to obtain the maximum value for each dollar of expenditure.
Decline personal gifts or gratuities.
Grant all competitive suppliers equal consideration insofar as state or federal statute and
institutional policy permit.
Conduct business with potential and current suppliers in an atmosphere of good faith,
devoid of intentional misrepresentation.
Demand honesty in sales representation whether offered through the medium of a verbal
or written statement, an advertisement, or a sample of the product.
Receive consent of originator of proprietary ideas and designs before using them for
competitive purchasing purposes.
Make every reasonable effort to negotiate an equitable and mutually agreeable
settlement of any controversy with a supplier; and/or be willing to submit any major
controversies to arbitration or other third party review, insofar as the established policies
of my institution permit.
Accord a prompt and courteous reception insofar as conditions permit to all who call on
legitimate business missions.
Cooperate with trade, industrial and professional associations, and with governmental
and private agencies for the purposes of promoting and developing sound business
methods.
Foster fair, ethical and legal trade practices.
So, what are “Business” Ethics?
1. Using your logic, reason and intuition to make
business decisions?
or
2. Being lawful, principled and socially
responsible according to your employer?
or
3. Following the practices, policies, laws and
values of your employer?
or
4. All of the above?
Who’s right? You or your employer?
O Remember what Dow Chemical says… “Protect our
Company’s Values”
O If your “Morals” (personal ethics) do not agree with
your employer’s “Business Ethics” you need to
decide whether or not you want to stay employed
with your company.
You cant have it both ways…
BREAK?
International Business:
Business conducted by two
entities from at least two
different countries.
“Ethics is not about
what is moral
or even legal.”
Where else can you find Ethics
in International Business?
O Do Transnational Organized
Criminal Organizations have
Ethics? aka the Mafia
O Do Terrorist Organizations like the
Islamic State of Iraq have Ethics?
The Russian Mob has the
Mafia Court which is based on
Russia’s Judicial Code of Ethics (Is
Enforceable Justice Moral?)
Main Obstacles in
International Business
• Every culture and nation has its own values, history, customs
and traditions, they have developed their own moral values and
understanding of ethical principles
• There is no international ethical code of conduct accepted
and followed by all countries
• Efforts to create an ethical cooperation framework to enhance
ethical behavior in international business have taken place
without resolve
• It is hard to outline those moral values and ethical principles,
which would be understandable, acceptable and important for
representatives of all the continents simultaneously within
different types of international cooperation projects.
- Sourced from The World
Trade Organization
O Resorting to dishonesty, trickery or deception
O Distortion of facts to mislead or confuse
O Manipulating people emotionally by exploiting
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their vulnerabilities
Greed to amass excessive profit
Creation of false documents to show increased
profits
Invasion of privacy used as leverage, for
obtaining personal or professional gain
Sexual discrimination
Human Trafficking and Slavery
Are these logically, reasonably and
intuitively (un)ethical?
Or (un)moral?
?
7 Steps to Success on LinkedIn
Goal Setting (Brian Tracy)
Marketing through
International Tradeshows
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