College of
Business
Administration
1. The following ethical code is found in numerous defense contractors code: “Contractors will act with propriety and avoid all appearance of impropriety”. Does having a statement such as this in your code of ethics make you more or less likely to exhibit impropriety?
2. Is it true that either you are an ethical person or not? Does a code help or matter in determining how you act, or just in the repercussions to your actions?
3. As a leader, how would you go about ensuring that employees not only ‘do the right thing’, but that they are the ‘right’ kind of people?
4. Is it necessary to disallow companies from pursuing business with a government client because an employee of theirs has a family member on the client side? Why or why isn’t it a good idea?
5. Defense contractors work closely with numerous Governmental agencies. Oftentimes, friendships already exist or are created. Is it ethical to impose such strict limitations on “the little things” that friends or co-workers outside of the government can do?
6. Defense Contractor Code of Ethics State the following:
? Never give or offer any money, gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan, or any other thing to a US Government employeeHowever, the code also states… “Employees may accept advertising gifts, token gifts of appreciation, or meals and tickets if they are of reasonable value and if declining to accept them would embarrass the offeror. Accept business meals only if they are of reasonable cost.” Can this be easily misconstrued? Isn’t there a gray area that allows the individual to interpret what is allowable? Is it ethical to accuse someone if they interpret differently?
? Do not accept gifts or gratuities from Government employees
? Never accept gifts in exchange for anything from anyone with a company that might do business with the firm.7. Are Duke Cunningham’s actions any more or less ethical than Mitchell Wade’s? Do we hold our political leaders to a higher standard? Why? Should we?
8. Many companies that have an exemplary code of ethics have been involved in ethical standards. What accounts for this?
9. What influences motivate you to be ethical? Unethical?
10. Are codes of conduct being distributed appropriately in organizations? Are organizations lacking in ethics training and enforcement?
11. Could the contracts that were awarded to MZM Inc. have been awarded to a more qualified contractor? (does paying bribes for work indicate that MZM was inferior to their competition)
12. With regards to the MZM contract awards, what are the quality control issues?
13. With regards to the MZM contract awards, were American lives compromised?
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