Business ethics ethical decision making and cases /

Synopsis

Due to a series of highly publicized scandals involving prominent organizations and figures (including Enron, WorldCom, and Martha Stewart), more business instructors are intent on teaching their students sound ethical principals. Business Ethics fulfills the need for a practical, applied text at the core of the ethics course or used as a supplement in other undergraduate and graduate courses. This accessible, up-to-date text covers the complex environment in which managers confront ethical decision making. Through this managerial framework, the authors cover the overall concepts, processes, and best practices associated with successful business ethics programs—helping students to see how ethics can be integrated into key strategic business decisions. Pedagogical tools help students to prepare for real-world ethical dilemmas instead of focusing on intellectual reasoning or a philosophical discussion of ideas. At the beginning of each chapter, Chapter Objectives give students concrete expectations for what they will learn, and An Ethical Dilemma describes a hypothetical incident and then asks students to consider how it may be resolved. A Real-Life Situation, or fictional mini-case, at the end of each chapter helps students to practice what they have learned and experience the process of ethical decision making. Check Your EQ quizzes allow students to assess their overall understanding of the key points in each chapter (answers appear upside-down at the end of this feature). In addition, instructors can use Behavior Simulation Role-Playing Cases from the Instructor's Resource Manual that encourage students to practice making complex, realistic, and timely ethical decisions while working in teams. New! Nine new cases reinforce the text's applied approach to ethics and cover a range of organizations and topics, such as "Martha Stewart's Insider Trading Scandal," "Enron: The Case of the Tilted 'E,'" "Tyco International, Ltd.," and "WorldCom." The Sixth Edition features a total of 18 cases—three more than in the last edition. New! Chapter 10, Business Ethics in a Global Economy, includes information on best practices, ethics audits, and disaster recovery planning to increase students' awareness of cross-national ethical issues and develop their strategic skills for planning and working through disasters. New! New and updated topics appear throughout the text, including a discussion of organizational and stakeholder issues and how to manage the necessary conflicts between stakeholder priorities; clarification of the notion of a universal code of ethics; increased coverage of highly ethical organizations such as Nordstrom and L.L. Bean; and more examples of ethical issues at lower management and entry-level positions. New! The Sixth Edition features a new two-color design, increasing the text's visual appeal and accessibility by more effectively highlighting major topics.