Ethical and Social Responsibilities of Business

ADM-477: Business Law

I can provide book link if needed.

Getting Started

Trusty Temp Agency has been your source of steady employment over the last six months. The company has a great reputation for giving back to the community. It also hires nontraditional workers who often struggle to find jobs due to their age or disability. You enjoy your job assignments and the people with whom you work.

One day, you are assigned to a team whose job is to purchase Uncle Bob’s Famous Cough Syrup from several local pharmacies. You’re told to be discreet and not to ask or answer any questions about the purchases. You suspect there’s something wrong with the medicine, because Uncle Bob’s was in the news recently for quality control issues with one of its allergy medicines. Your suspicions are confirmed when you see a document entitled “Problem Medicines” on your team lead’s clipboard.

Reflection Questions

• Trusty Temp Agency has worked hard to cultivate its reputation as a socially responsible business. Is it acting ethically by participating in the secret product recall?
• What is your view of Trusty Temp Agency’s social responsibility? Do you think its community efforts are sincere or self-serving?
• Should you participate in the secret recall? What are your instincts telling you about this situation?

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Compare the four major theories of the social responsibility of business.
• Compare the five major theories of ethics.

Background Information

Perhaps the most recognizable rule of ethical behavior is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The main caveat of the Golden Rule is that not everyone shares your principles or values, so it may be very difficult at times to treat people accordingly. Another issue with ethical decision making is the ethical dilemma. Some disputes may require solutions that are unattractive and/or they may not have a clear right or wrong answer. There are significant market risks in disclosing a risk that turns out to be false, and in not disclosing a risk that turns out to be true. To help you address an ethical dilemma, use the following three-step decision-making process:

1. Consider the ramifications of your decision.
   1. Who will be affected?
   2. Who will be harmed or helped by your decision?
   3. How will you or your family be personally affected?
   4. What are the implications to a company’s brand and its future marketing if a product is deemed unsafe or risky after being on the market for many years without any known problems?
2. Thoroughly consider the options available.
   1. What are the pros and cons of each option?
   2. Do the options align with your personal values or ethics principles?
   3. What options do the best or least harm?
3. Make a decision.
   1. Determine how you will proceed with your decision.
   2. Outline your approach and your rationale so that you can easily explain your decision to others.
   3. Be flexible. Sometimes decisions require adjustments. Sometimes decisions have to be abandoned altogether. Have a backup plan in case you need to make changes.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. In terms of the five major theories of ethics OR the four major theories of the social responsibilities of business, prepare a 10- to 15-minute presentation comparing theories. Your presentation should include a rationale for a theory that you most enthusiastically support.
3. Using the presentation notes feature in your presentation software (or a separate document if necessary), develop presentation notes describing what you would say during your presentation.
   1. Follow APA formatting.
   2. Correct use of citations and references is required.
4. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.