Transcript Ethics

Advanced Technical Writing
Lecture 15
Presentation on Ethics in Business and Society
13/7/2008
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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Ethics:
What’s the
Fuss?
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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What Is Ethics?
A few years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart
asked business people, "What does ethics mean to
you?" Among their replies were the following:
"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right
or wrong."
"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs."
"Being ethical is doing what the law requires."
"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our
society accepts."
"I don't know what the word means
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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What Is Ethics?
In order to understand what ethics is, and
what it might look like, it's important to
distinguish the difference between ethics
and values .
Ethics is about the way we treat one another and is
an action concept that dictates how we choose to
live our lives. The ultimate true test of our character
is when we are willing to do the right thing even
when it is not in our best interest to do so.
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
4
VALUES
Refers to our core beliefs or desires , the
things we value the most. Our values
shape our attitudes and determines how
we will behave in certain situations.
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
5
Ethical Values Vs. Non-Ethical
Values
Ethical Values directly relate to our beliefs
concerning our moral duty as opposed to
what is correct, effective, or desirable.
These are the values that drive our
principles.
Non-Ethical Values are concerned with
things that we like or find personally
satisfying and/or important, with no regard
to the moral content.
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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When evaluating one’s goals
and objectives, a vital question
must be asked: What is your
highest aspiration?
A. Wealth
B. Fame
C. Knowledge
D. Popularity
E. Integrity
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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If integrity is second to any
of the alternatives, then it is
subject to sacrifice in
situations where a choice
must be made. Such
situations will inevitably
occur in every person’s life.
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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Why talk about ethics?
Why talk about ethics? In the aftermath of
major corporate failures and questionable
accounting practices, American Accounting
Association President G. Peter Wilson said that
in the classroom, educators need to
increasingly emphasize the value of integrity,
what has long been a mainstay of accountants’
reputation
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Dr. Basil Hamed
9
Wellllll….
How about…
Being a little late to work occasionally?
Surfing the Web when you run out of things to do?
Downloading some music to your computer?
Installing software that isn’t approved by the company?
Forgetting to handle a couple of tasks you were given?
Getting stuck on a problem but not asking for help?
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Dr. Basil Hamed
10
There are lots of things that might seem “OK” with a casual
glance but which can actually be “Not OK” for the employer.
The secret to not getting on the wrong side of your boss is to
have a proactive attitude to your job. Even a job that isn’t
everything you want.
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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How do you handle a problem?
Be thoughtful about your activities and you probably won’t
have a problem, but if you should make a mistake…
Be HONEST; let your supervisor know in a timely way so
he/she isn’t taken by surprise.
ANALYZE the problem; why did it happen, what will
prevent it from happening again?
CORRECT the problem as quickly and completely as
possible. Don’t sweep it under the rug.
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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In a recent Wall Street Journal
article, Psychology professor
Steven Davis says that cheating by
high school students has increased
from about 20 percent in the 1940’s
to 75 percent today.
“Students say cheating in high school is
for grades, cheating in college is for a
career.”
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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If students lack ethics in high school and
college, then there should be little surprise
that they lack ethics in their careers. Greed
and over-reaching ambition often end in
disastrous personal consequences.
Convicted inside trader, Dennis Levine, in
a Fortune magazine article wrote:
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Many institutions of higher education have
instituted
policies
regarding
ethics
education. For example, the Faculty
Handbook of the Mays Business School at
Texas A&M University includes the
following statement:
“Therefore, faculty and staff have a
responsibility for creating an academic
environment that promotes honest academic
inquiry and teaches students ethical behavior
in the process.”
Islamic University
Dr. Basil Hamed
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Educational Institutions
have established ethics
codes for their students,
e.g. the U.S. Air Force
Academy:
"We Will Not Lie, Steal Or Cheat, Nor
Tolerate Among Us Anyone Who Does"
-- Which do you think is the harder part:
Line 1 or Line 2? Why?
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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What do profs think?
In a survey of college faculty, 187 professors responded
to several statements about teaching ethics:
1. The importance of ethics and personal integrity
should be stressed in the courses I teach.
4.75
2. The basis for ethics and personal
integrity should be discussed (e.g.
benefit to society as a whole, moral and
religious foundations of society, etc.) 4.11
Note: Scores are based on a scale from
1: Strongly Agree to 5: Strongly Disagree
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Can ethics be
taught? Teddy
Roosevelt
said, “To
educate a
person in
mind and not
in morals is to
educate a
menace to
society.”
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the
liberties of a nation be secure when we have
removed a conviction that these liberties are
the gift of God?”
“Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that
God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Islamic University
Th
omas
Dr. Basil Hamed
Jefferson
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In an issue of Management Accounting,
James Brackner stated: The universities are
responding with an increased emphasis on
ethical training for decision making. For the
most part, however, they ignore the teaching
of values. For moral or ethical education to
have meaning there must be agreement on
the values that are considered “right.”
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Be sure you are
right, then go
ahead.
Davy Crockett
1786-1836
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Michael Josephson, in Chapter 1 of
Ethical Issues in the Practice of
Accounting, describes the “Ten Universal
Values: “Honesty, integrity, promise
keeping, fidelity, fairness, caring, respect
for others, responsible citizenship, pursuit
of excellence, and accountability.”
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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“Until about 50 years ago, it was commonly
accepted that universities were to provide
students not only with knowledge and skills,
but also moral guidance based on the
essentials of the our tradition.”
Business Prof Geoffrey Lantos
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Can you make
a difference?
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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The reputation of a thousand years may be
determined by the conduct of one hour.
Japanese proverb
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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Be ready to represent your formal
report next meeting
Good Luck
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Dr. Basil Hamed
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