BUSINESS ETHICS
Discussion
Please address one of the following two questions:
Steven F Goldstone, Chairman and CEO of RJR Nabisco (one of the largest US cigarette manufacturers) said in a 1998 magazine interview, “I have no moral view of this business…I few it as a legal business. You shouldn’t be drawing a moral judgment about a business our country says is perfectly legal and is taxed like crazy by it.” Think about his comment in terms of ethical awareness. What might change if you think of your business in terms of ethics and not just legal terms? What about the class action lawsuits that were settled for billions and set aside for future claims even while cigarettes are still sold avidly? What about applying these principles to the legalization and sale of marijuana in several US States?
or
Should a person be permitted to place a value on human life? Should a company? Should the government? If not, how are decisions to be made to compensate individuals for family members lost?
Answer preview
Conducting business has become an integral part of society as commerce facilitates convenient transactions between buyers and sellers. In a world that is leaning increasingly towards capitalism, an enterprise is a trait that is met with immense acclaim. However, the modern business landscape is defined by the infusion of moral and ethical values that corporate entities ought to respect. The debate has gone beyond the traditional CSR responsibilities, working conditions, and employee benefits that entities satisfy, and it has turned to the nature of…
(550 words)