College of Business Administration

Seminar in Business Ethics and Social Institutions

Discussion Questions for September 24, 1996:

Following are the questions for this next Tuesday's class. Additionally, please remember to bring any relevant ethics materials--codes of conduct, personnel policies, etc.--from your respective organizations.

QUESTIONS FOR NASH'S GOOD INTENTIONS ASIDE

1. According to Nash, what is business ethics? Do you feel it is a necessary requirement for business today? Is it an issue at your company?

2. Nash begins the book with a provocative quote:

Reader, suppose you are a businessman. Now suppose you are of ruthless and greedy character. But I repeat myself.

What about ethics, and more particularly consistency in one's ethical life, is implied by the quote?

3. Are all of the following values necessary to comprise ethical business conduct: honesty, fairness, respect for others, service, promise-keeping, prudence and trustworthiness?
If so why? If not, which can be removed?

4. Nash emphasizes the importance of trust in social relationships. How can organizations ensure trustworthiness on the part of their managers? Should they do so? Why or why not?

5. On page 28, Nash begins her discussion of three traditional responses to ethical responsibility in business. Which of these do you feel is sufficient? All? One? or None?

6. Do you feel the decisions made by the top executives at Johnson & Johnson during the Tylenol Crisis stemmed from economic or ethical elements of the company's " Credo" ?

7. What is the survival ethic? Is it useful in business, or destructive?

8. Explain Nash's self-interest model of business ethics. page 61 What are the drawbacks of this model?

9. Nash argues that by fixating on a commitment to service, " a manager begins to see business as a series of enabling relationships rather than a set of efficiency measures" (p.93) What are the difference(s)---if any between these two perspectives?

1. Apply the Eight Steps to Sound Ethical Decision Making in Business that Dr. Dunn introduced to us last class (see Discussion Questions for September 10 on our class web site [rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/] for the list). Be prepared to discuss your answers.

2. Are layoffs ethical?

3. What parts of Nash's analysis apply to this case?

Return to Professor Dunn's home page.