SECTION 2A – BUSINESS AND ETHICS: HOW DO THEY WORK
TOGETHER?
READ ING 2.1 – WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT BUSINESS ETHICS?
A. The Application of Moral Standards to Business Dilemmas
B. Moral Standards are Canons of Behavior that are Neither Legislated nor Changed by Legislation
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. Use PowerPoint Slides 45 – 47 for examples of categories for classification and the types of issues
that are occurring in the workplace. Notice how those who offered these examples to me
2. These examples illustrate the desire to avoid pain (bad relatives!) or avoid cost – these examples are
3. Students should discuss that business ethics issues are often made to seem more complex in an
effort to rationalize through the complexity or through an overarching rationalization that “Business is
READING 2.2 – THE ETHICS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Peter Drucker
Use PowerPoint Slide 48 – Drucker elaborates on his ethics position here.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. Dr. Drucker believes that ethics are ethics, whether in business or as an individual. The problem is
that people don’t change simply because they become vice president. They simply continue doing all
2. Dr. Drucker’s test for ethics is “above all do no harm” (primum non nocere). He also believes that
READING 2.3 – IS BUSINESS BLUFFING ETHICAL?
Albert Z. Carr
This piece generally finds students with strong feelings, both ways, about Mr. Carr’s theories and
approach to ethics. Encourage them, once again, to begin thinking about their values and whether they
would be comfortable with Mr. Carr’s approach. Use PowerPoint Slides 49 – 50 to discuss some
questions based on the Carr article.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. Have the students discuss the implications of lying during business negotiations in order to answer
this question and offer their views on Carr’s premise that we are all bluffing in business and so lying is
acceptable. For example, what if you relied on a seller’s representation that his price was the lowest
Also have the students discuss the implications of not knowing what is just a bluff and therefore part
Have the students note that even Friedman believes fraud must not be part of business in order for
2. Review with the students the difficulties in having individuals decide what is acceptable vs.
3. Carr characterizes the statement as “self-serving calculation in disguise”. He explains that the goal is
Compare & Contrast
Carr, with his analysis of espionage relies on the measure of “Everybody does it.” Use PowerPoint Slide
50 again and discuss with the students the NFL issue involving the Patriots and their conduct. “I think all
Drucker feels that there are absolutes in business ethics and that businesses have choices despite the
pressures. Carr feels that people must succumb to pressures in business or they will never survive.
Novak also rises above the either/or conundrum that Carr uses (either we bluff or we will not be
Dr. Drucker demands a higher standard as well – we should not hurt anyone. Carr feels that sometimes
we have to hurt people if we are to stay in business. Carr advocates a sort of detached approach to
