College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
Discussion questions from Rachels, Ch 1-6 and from French/Granrose, Ch 1-2
1) The psychological egoist holds that "What is good for me is ethical." Do you agree? Why or why not? Give examples in your personal or professional life to support your position. (F/G-p.47)
2) Is there any contradiction in doing things you don't believe in? Why or why not? Give an example of moral conflict in the workplace which you have had to resolve. (F/G-p.47)
3) Does sexual harassment still exist today as a method of coercive power? Give examples to support your position. What, if anything, is ethically wrong with sexual harassment? (F/G-p.20)
4) Does The Golden Rule really succeed in establishing Ethical Egoism as a viable theory of morality, (R-p.83) or does it embody the concept of coercive power? (F/G-p.23)
5) Tin Rule says, "Suck up to those above you, and intimidate those below." Is this guideline adequate to resolve moral conflicts? (F/G-p.23)
6) Are we really capable of being unselfish? Why or why not? What is the distinction between altruism and self-interest? If a person donates time and resources to a charitable organization, is he or she acting in the interest of altruism or is he or she serving his or her own self-interests? Is there a difference? Are the two mutually exclusive? (R-p.62)
7) "Different cultures have different moral codes." When doing business in another culture, would you conform to their moral codes, even if that meant that you would be breaking the moral codes of your own society? Give an example to defend your position. (R-p.17)
Questions taken from text for Case Study 1-3 in French/Granrose (p.35)
1) From the material on the six stages of moral reasoning described in the introduction to the text (p.6), classify A.L. Willians.
2) In your view of what a sales organization is really like, is there anything wrong with the way Willians does business, given the words of the last sentence in the case? Why or why not?
3) Is "societal well-being," the last phrase in the definition of ethics, affected by the way Willians manages his firms? If so, how?
LAO-TZU True self-interest teaches selflessness
Heaven and earth endure because they are not simply selfish but exist in behalf of all creation
The wise leader, knowing this, keeps egocentricity in check and by doing so becomes even more effective
Enlightened leadership is service, not selfishness. The leader grows more and lasts longer by placing the well-being of all above the well-being of self alonePARADOX: By being selfless, the leader enhances self
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