496 week 2
· The expectation is that you present a thorough analysis and presentation in response to each question. You are required to support the positions put forth in each response. The course material or outside resources must be used to provide the support.
· Read the grading rubric for the learning activity. Use the grading rubric while completing the learning activity to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.
· Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person.
· Contractions are not used in business writing, so do not use them.
· Paraphrase and do not use direct quotation marks. Paraphrase means you do not use more than four consecutive words from a source document, but put a passage from a source document into your own words and attribute the passage to the source document. Not using direct quotation marks means that there should be no passages with quotation marks and instead the source material is paraphrased as stated above. Note that a reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
· You may not use books as source material.
· Provide the page or paragraph number (required) when using in-text citations. If using the eBook, use Business Ethics followed by the Chapter/Section title and paragraph number.
Learning Activity #1
Honest Tea
Read the background information regarding Honest Tea CEO Seth Goldman on pages 131-133 and answer the following questions:
1. Make the case that Seth Goldman founded Honest Tea as an expression of his utilitarian ethics.
What kinds of people are affected by the Honest Tea organization? Which groups might benefit from Honest Tea and how? Which groups might not benefit? Explain your answer.
Would this be a hedonistic or idealistic utilitarianism? Explain your answer.
Would it be possible to construe Honest Tea within a framework of monetized utilitarianism? Explain your answer.
2. Make the case that Seth Goldman founded Honest Tea as an expression of his ethical altruism.
Altruists serve the welfare of others. How does Honest Tea serve people’s welfare?
Does Goldman sound more like a personal or an impersonal altruist? Explain your answer.
3. Make the case that Seth Goldman founded Honest Tea as an expression of his ethical egoism.
What are some of the benefits Goldman could derive from Honest Tea?
In the real world, does it make any difference whether Goldman does enlightened egoism or cause egoism? Explain your answer.
Cite your sources.
Making an Ethical Decision
“Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.”
Valdemar W. Setzer, Brazilian anthropologist
Overview:
The focus this week is on the skill of making an ethical decision, which begins with a discussion of ethical theories and ends with the application process used in making a decision. Students should be able to understand how the various theories are used to make and evaluate a decision.
Theme 1: The Importance of Ethical Theory to Making Ethical Decisions in Business
The study of concepts such as justice, good and evil behavior, moral right and wrong, values and mores have been the fodder of theologists, philosophers and legal scholars for centuries. Understanding some of the major theories will help to answers ethical dilemmas that occur in the workplace today.
Theme 2: Determining Ethical Behavior is the Hardest Part of Studying Ethics
Determining an ethical answer to an ethical dilemma is difficult for an individual or corporation. Doing so requires a process or mechanism to identify the ethical issue or question and then gain an understanding of ethical theories and/or moral guidelines (e.g. personal or corporate code of ethics) to arrive at functional choices from which a decision can be made. This week, the best way to make an ethical decision and the major categories that ethical dilemmas in business occur are examined.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI