College of Business Administration

Seminar in Business Ethics and Social Institutions

Discussion Questions for August 12, 2004:

1) How can the fundamental attribution theory account for commonly held perceptions in society of unethical behavior? For example, when people commit unethical behavior we believe we would have "never" acted in the same manner. Does it help to be aware of these biases? If so, how?

2) What role did the Johnson & Johnson Credo play in shaping the corporate response to the "Tylenol" crisis?

3) What elements should be covered in a Code of Conduct?

4) Which set of standards, your company’s “code of conduct” or your own personal ethical values, do you consider to “rule” your actions in the workplace? Why?

5) What are some ways in which code of conducts can be made to be living documents that have real-life meaning (e.g. rights and responsibilities) at the workplace?

6) It is recommended that there are two components included when writing a Code of Conduct, the aspirational section and the rules or principles. According to the toolkit, why are both of these components necessary?

7) Was an enforcement mechanism included in the code of conduct that your group created? If so, what kind? If not, why?

8) One myth regarding Business Ethics is that as long as the organization is not in trouble with the law, they are acting ethical. Please give an example of an instance at work when someone was acting legal but unethical.

9) What other mechanisms, beyond a “code of conduct,” would help prevent unethical situations from occurring?

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