LESSON 1 ACTIVITY
Business Ethics WebQuest and Rubric
Introduction
Business ethics focuses on what constitutes right or wrong behavior in the world of business and on
how moral and ethical principles are applied by businesspersons and companies to situations that
arise in daily activities in the workplace. These principles are based on our value systems, which
ultimately determine the choices we make as a result of a decision making process. Note that
business ethics is not a separate kind of ethics. The ethical standards that guide our behavior in our
personal lives apply equally well to our activities as individual businesspersons and corporations as a
whole.
Task
This WebQuest focuses on business ethics as it relates to corporate and organizational codes of ethics
and/ or values. Businesses are not required to adopt a code of ethics for its management and
employees, but today’s corporate environment has brought virtue, morals, and doing the right thing
in general to the forefront of the global economy. In this WebQuest, students will research current
information about codes of ethics used by today’s corporations. As a result of this WebQuest,
students will better understand the role of ethics in the corporate setting, and learn how to effectively
implement their own codes of ethics.
Resources
1. The Ethics Resource Center- www.ethics.org
The Ethics Resource Center (ERC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization
whose vision is a world where individuals and organizations act with integrity. The mission
of the Ethics Resource Center is to strengthen ethical leadership worldwide by
providing leading-edge expertise and services through research, education and partnerships.
3. The American Marketing Association- www.marketingpower.com
The American Marketing Association’s website, MarketingPower.com, supplies marketing
professionals and AMA members with the information, products and services required to
succeed in their jobs and careers.
Process
1. Choose a teammate.
2. Research The Ethics Resource Center (See Resources Section). Click on “Search” and type in
“corporate codes of ethics” in the search box.
3. Choose a Fortune 500 company from the list of the Top 100 provided in the resources link
(See Resources Section). Research your Fortune 500 company’s code of ethics. Find the
company’s corporate website, and search for its code of ethics and/ or corporate values
section. Read the information in this section.
4. Go to the American Marketing Association’s website. (See Resources Section) Search for the
organization’s Code of Ethics and read the Preamble, the General Norms, and the Ethical
Values sections.
5. Using Microsoft Word, type a research report discussing the correlation between the Fortune
500 company’s code of ethics and/ or corporate values and the American
Marketing Association’s Code of Ethics. In the introduction of the report, discuss your research
findings from The Ethics Resource Center in regard to codes of ethics used in corporations. In the
body of the report, list each of the Fortune 500 company’s corporate ethics and values along with the
American Marketing Association’s Ethical Values. Also, discuss and define each of the American
Marketing Association’s Ethical Values and whether the Fortune 500 company addresses each of
these, and how it does so according to its own Code of Ethics. Each AMA Ethical Value should be
used as a heading in your report. Each section should consist of at least one paragraph.
6. Put your names on the rubric provided, and staple it to the front of your research report and
turn in to the class folder.
Conclusion
In line with the international trend, Americans are holding the management of large public
corporations to greater ethical accountability. The scrutiny covers a broad spectrum of stakeholders
so that a company’s effect on its employees, customers, vendors, franchisees, the environment and
the communities in which it operates is emerging as an important benchmark of corporate
performance. At the same time, corporate directors and senior managers are paying greater attention
to the importance of intangible corporate assets like a highly motivated workforce, trustworthy
suppliers, a loyal customer base and, most important, a reputation for fair dealing. Ultimately, the
emphasis on corporate ethics can provide a more productive workforce and an increased profit
margin.
Evaluation
Name _________________________________________________ Date ___________
WEBQUEST
1
2
3
SCORING
RUBRIC Criteria
Does the report
respond to the topic?
Does the report
discuss specific
information from
The Ethics Resource
Center as it relates to
corporate Codes of
Ethics?
Does the report
demonstrate
understanding of the
Fortune 500
company’s Code of
Ethics and the
American Marketing
Association Code of
Ethics?
Is the work
organized? Does it
have each AMA
Ethical Value as a
heading within the
report with
information in
paragraph form?
Does the report
sufficiently discuss
the specific
correlations between
the Codes of Ethics
of the Fortune 500
company and the
American Marketing
Association?
4
The report is incorrect,
incomplete, or off
topic.
The report does not
discuss the required
content.
The report addresses
the topic, but does not
follow through.
The report discusses
some specific content,
but does not convey
basic concepts.
The report addresses
the topic but does not
fully cover it.
The report mentions
specific points of
content but fails to
elaborate (define
and/or give examples).
The report addresses
the topic and covers it
in logical sequence.
The report meets the
teacher objectives for
the assignment.
The report lacks the
required content.
The report lacks
content
knowledge/does not
convey basic concepts.
The report mentions
specific points of
content but fails to
elaborate (define
and/or give examples).
The report meets the
teacher objectives for
the assignment.
The report lacks
organization and is
incomprehensible.
The report has no
headings and contains
disconnected
sentences or
paragraphs.
The report is
organized but lacks
examples and
elaboration in regard
to the criterion
required.
The report has
adequately presented
content and meets
teacher expectations.
The report lists the
Codes of Ethics for
the Fortune 500
company and the
American Marketing
Association, but does
not address
correlations for AMA
Ethical Values
The report lists the
Codes of Ethics for
the Fortune 500
company and the
American Marketing
Association, and
discusses specific
correlations for some
AMA Ethical Values.
The report lists the
Codes of Ethics for
the Fortune 500
company and the
American Marketing
Association, and
observes and discusses
specific correlations
for most AMA Ethical
Values.
The report lists the
Codes of Ethics for
the Fortune 500
company and the
American Marketing
Association, and
observes and discusses
specific correlations
for all AMA Ethical
Values.