Ethics

1. If you were to go to the slide in the Ethics Overview PPT you would find the ethical rule of “The Golden Rule” which comes from Judeo-Christian Ethics.  It is commonly referred to.  I have students from across the world indicate that their cultures have a similar formulation of this idea.  The idea is that one should always act in a way the if the situation were reversed, that is the way you would want to be treated.  Thus we have this expression, “do unto others as you would have done to you.”  It is a kind of reciprocity:  treat others as you would wish to be treated.

So for a question on this ethical principle, we might want to ask, is this a good rule?  Is it helpful in the professional world?  Is it realistic?  What are the limitations?  And finally, as you respond to these questions in your post, think of a time when you experienced this rule in action – how you treated another, or how another treated you.

2. For many years, companies were thought to be solely economic or financial organizations that made a product or delivered a service in a way that would maximize profit.  In the US, around 1970, attitudes began to shift to create a greater expectation from the firm.  Since then, and increasing dramatically over the years, including today’s environment, people demand that companies have a “social responsibility.”  From the readings this week you will see how corporate social responsibility is becoming an integral part of expectations, including how a company is views.  So instead of thinking only about the “bottom line” – meaning maximum financial return, various stakeholders such as employees and customers, demand the dedicated practice of engaging in social responsibility.

Thus, we have a few questions:  How do you define Corporate Social Responsibility?  What is the leadership aspect of corporate social responsibility?  Provide an example or two of what corporate social responsibility “looks like” in actual practice by an organization and its leaders.