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Managing Business Ethics
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Managing Business Ethics
Making Ethical Decisions



January 2020 | 448 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Managing Business Ethics: Making Ethical Decisions teaches students how to navigate ethical issues they will encounter using the weight-of-reasons approach applied throughout the book. This decision-making framework’s goal is not to faithfully apply particular philosophical perspectives on what is right, but rather to solve ethical problems. The authors underscore the need for employees at all levels to carefully consider the ethical implications of their actions using this approach and it can be applied at the individual, organizational, and stakeholder levels. Chapters provide a case to walk through application of the framework and mini-cases allow students to practice applying this framework on their own. A wide range of real-world case studies are presented, featuring companies such as Facebook, Google, Wells Fargo, Volkswagen, and Amazon. 

This practical, down-to-earth text also delves into topics not covered extensively by other books such as slow and fast thinking, the inherent conflict between the individual and organization, conformity, and the difficulties of speaking truth to power. Students are offered ample opportunity to engage in thoughtful reflection, discussion, and application as they grapple with ethical issues big and small.


Included with this title:

The password-protected Instructor Resource Site (formally known as SAGE Edge)
offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides. Learn more.
 

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
PART I: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING—THE INDIVIDUAL
 
Chapter 1. A Commonsense Approach to Business Ethics
Introduction: Ethics Is Tough!

 
What Ethics Is About

 
Ethical Decisions and Ethical Dilemmas

 
Someone May Be Hurt

 
Intuition Versus Reasoning

 
A Commonsense Method of Making Ethical Choices: The Weight-of-Reasons Framework

 
Understanding the Framework

 
Medical Products: The Complicated Business of Addressing Risks

 
Applying the Framework

 
Some Pointers in Using the Framework

 
Use the Framework Organically

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 2. Using Ethical Reasoning
Introduction: Approaches to Ethics

 
Utilitarianism

 
Deontology: Rights and Duties

 
Combining Utilitarianism and Deontology

 
Virtue Theory

 
Other Ethical Perspectives

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 3. Thinking, Fast and Slow: Ethical Intuitions and Reasoning
Introduction

 
Fast Versus Slow Thinking in Ethics

 
Self-Interest

 
Ethical Intuitions

 
Combining Fast and Slow Thinking: The Weight-of-Reasons Framework

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
PART II: THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT FOR ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING
 
Chapter 4. Managing Social Influences on Ethical Decision-Making
Introduction

 
The Problem of Conformity

 
Obedience to Authority

 
Conformity Due to Groupthink

 
Challenging Unethical Behavior in Organizations: Voice, Whistle-Blowing, and Exiting

 
Applying the Weight-of-Reasons Framework to Close the Circle

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 5. From Short-Term Fixes to Long-Term Solutions
Introduction

 
Building Learning Into Decision Processes

 
Systems Thinking

 
Both/And Thinking

 
Moral Imagination

 
Team Decision-Making

 
Ethical Decision-Making and Uncertainty: The Incremental Approach

 
Ethical Learning Spirals

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 6. Building Ethical Organizations
Introduction

 
Ethics Programs

 
Compliance-Based and Values-Based Ethics Programs

 
Diversity Programs

 
Ethics Programs and the Weight of Reasons

 
Ethical Organizations

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
PART III: THE SOCIETAL CONTEXT FOR ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING
 
Chapter 7. Legal Compliance and Beyond
Introduction

 
Legal Considerations and the Interests of Stakeholders

 
Existing Laws That Protect the Rights and Interests of Stakeholders

 
Ethics Means Going Beyond Compliance

 
Approaches to Going Beyond Compliance

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 8. The Role of Stakeholders in Ethical Decision-Making
Introduction

 
Stakeholders, Ethics, and Priorities

 
Shareholder Theory

 
Stakeholder Theory

 
Does It Pay to Be “Good”?

 
Managing Stakeholder Relationships

 
Stakeholders and the Weight-of-Reasons Framework

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 9. Ethics, Strategy, and Grand Challenges
Introduction

 
Addressing Grand Challenges Through Ethical Decision-Making

 
Ethical Innovations to Address Grand Challenges: Three Approaches

 
Summary and Conclusion

 
Key Terms and Concepts

 
Cases Related to the Reading

 
Case Applications

 
Notes

 
 
PART IV: CASES
 
Chapter 10. Cases
Introduction

 
Bayer: The Acquisition of Monsanto

 
BP: The Big Oil Spill: What Went Wrong

 
Dow–DuPont: The Bhopal Disaster

 
Facebook: Privacy and the Public Interest

 
Ford: Safety Recalls

 
General Mills: Nutrition

 
Google: Doing No Harm

 
Google: Problems With Sexual Harassment

 
Intel: Mobileye

 
Mallinckrodt: The Opioid Crisis

 
Merck and J&J: Problems With Consumer Safety

 
Microsoft: Addressing Bribery

 
VW: Dieselgate

 
Walmart: Sustainability

 
Wells Fargo: Can It Come Back?

 
Whole Foods: Conscious Capitalism

 
Further Readings

 
Notes

 
 
Glossary
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
edge.sagepub.com/marcusethics

Online resources included with this text

The online resources for your text are available via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site, which offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.
Student Study Site
edge.sagepub.com/marcusethics

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.

For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

I liked the organization of the text. The integration of business situations coupled with ethical decision-making, I believe, will help undergraduate students develop their ethical decision-making skills.

Dr Mike Guerra
Business Admin Economics Prog, Lincoln University
November 6, 2020
Key features
KEY FEATURES:
  • An ethical decision-making framework uses the weight-of-reasons approach, helping students understand the importance of thinking through both short-term and long-term effects. 
  • The text offers a deeper understanding of the barriers to good ethical decisions, exploring how people make decisions and how their surroundings influence those decisions.
  • In-text examples and end-of-chapter case applications provide ample opportunity for students to see and apply the ethical decision making framework. 
  • Real-World Cases on timely topics are included like Sexual Harassment at Google, pharmaceutical companies and the Opioid Epidemic, and Whole Food's Conscious Capitalism.  

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