Transcript Canadian Business and Society

Canadian Business and Society:
Ethics & Responsibilities
Chapter
One
The Relationship Between
Business and Society
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
1
January 8 - 2007






Chapter 1
Introduction to the Course and Me
Icebreaker
Lecture
Quiz
Lecture
Conclusions
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
2
Chapter Outline







Complexity of Business and Society: Objectives
Integrity in Business: Key Terminology
Canadian Business System: Key Terminology
Factors Influencing the Morality of Canadian
Business
The People Who Run Canadian Business
Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Business
Academic Integrity
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
3
Business and Society – What is it?





Chapter 1
A course on business ethics? Well that won’t take too
long…
You’re taking a course on business ethics? So, what do
you do after the first thirty seconds?
Business ethics? I didn’t think there were any
Business ethics, it has been claimed, is an oxymoron –
bringing together of two apparently contradictory concepts
such as ‘cheerful pessimist’ or a ‘deafening silence’.
To say that business ethics is an oxymoron suggests that
there are not, or cannot be, ethics in business: that
business is in some way unethical (i.e. that business is
inherently bad) or that it is, at best, amoral (i.e. outside of
our moral considerations).
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
4
The Complexity of Business
and Society: Objectives




Increase awareness of the Canadian
business system
Identify business’s response to its role in
society
Learn how business corporations have
responded to environmental challenges
Focus on the perspective of the manager or
owner of a corporation
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
5
Integrity in Business:
Key Terminology






Ethics of business?
Stakeholder?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)?
Corporate sustainability?
Triple-E (economic, ethical, and
environmental)?
Corporate citizenship?
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
6
Canadian Business System:
Key Terminology






Economic system
Capitalism
Free enterprise system
Laissez-faire capitalism
Responsible enterprise system
Stakeholder capitalism
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
7
Factors Influencing the
Morality of Canadian Business







Diversity of business interests
Foreign ownership and influence
Resource-based economy
Importance of trade
The influence of small business
“Bigness” in the business system
Government pressure
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
8
The People Who Run
Canadian Business

Owners



Boards of Directors



Direct ownership (e.g., shareholders); or
Indirect ownership (e.g., mutual fund holders)
Elected by shareholders
Must fulfill legal and fiduciary obligations
Managers


Chapter 1
Hired by boards of directors
Oversee operations of corporation
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
9
Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward
Business
Standard of living
 Decentralized decision making
 Allocation of resources
 Self-interest

Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
10
Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward
Business
Inequities in society
 Business cycle
 Unemployment
 Innovation

Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
11
Scandals


Revelations of corporate mis-practice should not be
interpreted to mean that thinking about the role of
business in society and/or ethics in business
situations is entirely redundant.
Everyday business activities require the
maintenance of basic ethical standards:
 honesty,
 trustworthiness and

Chapter 1
co-operation.
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
12
Academic Integrity

What percent of students cheat?



53 percent of students admit to cheating in written
assignments (Maclean’s, 2007)
56 percent of business students admit to cheating
(Maclean’s, 2007)
Will the lack of academic integrity have an
influence on business integrity?
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.
13