business ethics unit II essay and DQ Question

MBA 6301, Business Ethics 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit II Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Differentiate among the concepts of social responsibility, integrity, and business ethics.

2. Analyze the influence of corporate culture, including leadership, power, and motivation, on business ethics in the workplace.

3. Analyze the role that culture plays in global business ethics.

Reading Assignment In order to access the following resource(s), click the link(s) below: Constantinescu, M., & Kaptein, M. (2015, June). Mutually enhancing responsibility: A theoretical exploration

of the interaction mechanisms between individual and corporate moral responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 129(2), 325-339. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libraryresources.c olumbiasouthern.edu/docview/1686761700?accountid=33337

Glavas, A., & Mish, J. (2015, March). Resources and capabilities of triple bottom line firms: Going over old or

breaking new ground? Journal of Business Ethics, 127(3), 623-642.Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libraryresources.c olumbiasouthern.edu/docview/1663343730?accountid=33337

Luhman, J. T., & Nazario, A. F. (2015). Alienation, police stories, and percival. Journal of Business Ethics,

130(3), 665-681. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libraryresources.c olumbiasouthern.edu/docview/1705643954?accountid=33337

Monge, R. (2015). Institutionally driven moral conflicts and managerial action: Dirty hands or permissible

complicity? Journal of Business Ethics, 129(1), 161-175. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libraryresources.c olumbiasouthern.edu/docview/1683720189?accountid=33337

Unit Lesson Thinking about the famous cartoon series Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner by Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies reinforces another set of ethical situations. Wile E. Coyote (referred to as Coyote) and the Road Runner (fast-running bird) were involved in a series of situations in which Coyote attempts to capture and eat the Road Runner. Revolving around the setting of the American southwest desert area, the only audio used is a periodic “beep-beep” uttered by the Road Runner. Instead of using conventional methods, Coyote used complex contraptions and innovative methods that always seemed to backfire, resulting with Coyote sustaining an injury (see suggested reading sample of Road Runner cartoons). Throughout the series, the Road Runner is never harmed, and the Coyote is more humiliated than harmed through his failures. Although the show presents this scene in a comical venue, the idea of blowing up, running over, smashing, or attempting to kill brings forth unethical connotations. Additionally, the intended viewers of these cartoons are children, which brings forth questions of the cartoons’ impact on young children

UNIT II STUDY GUIDE Road Runner in Road Runner Cartoons— Ethics in Cultural Integration and Marketing

MBA 6301, Business Ethics 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

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with respect to advocating violence. This incident relates to the controversial act of advertising to children, which continues to plague companies and the marketing field in general. “It is estimated that advertisers spend more than $12 billion per year to reach the youth market” (American Psychological Foundation, 2015, para. 3) through advertising. Task forces continuously review the effect that these advertisements have on children, which raises the question of how much impact a cartoon series like Road Runner has on children. The literature clearly states that children’s cognitive development for understanding what they view on television is significantly less than that of adults. The question arises as to whether or not children can understand the actions of the Coyote to destroy the Road Runner as fictional, meaning that they should not replicate these actions in the real world. This show also brings forth the question of whether there is real harm to the child and those around him or her. One might draw analogies to the increased amount of school shootings that our nation is enduring. Another question related to the antics of the Coyote and the Road Runner is whether these are, in a broader sense, an integral part of their culture. Is it a natural tendency of the Coyote to attack birds, specifically a road runner species? This brings into focus the need for a discussion around the effect that an individual culture has within an organization. We all can probably agree that different cultures have different habits, mannerisms, and practices that will lead to different decisions and behaviors on a personal level, as well as within the business setting. The broad question here is about how an organization works with these differences in cultures but still maintains good business ethics within the organization. Once an organization has evolved to this point, it needs to establish what it believes by clarifying what sound and ethical practices look like. Educating, training, and motivating employees to follow these ethical guidelines is a crucial next step. Continuously communicating, as well as providing incentives to motivate employees, will solidify the process. The underlying purpose of these steps is to create a culture within the organization where it expects and practices ethical behavior habitually. In most circles, an organization should create a culture of ethical behavior. Ethical behavior is one of the most complex processes within an organization, as well as one of the most integral in maintaining an ethical business environment. Click here to view an interactive presentation that covers the key concepts covered in Unit II. Click here to access the Unit II Presentation transcript.

Reference American Psychological Association (2015). Report of the APA task force on advertising and children.

Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/advertising-children.aspx

Suggested Reading The videos below give details on how to handle tough situations as a leader. There is also a video that illustrates some of the memorable moments from the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. Copy and paste the web addresses below into your browser to access the videos: Huber, H. (2014, May 18). Best of Coyote and Roadrunner (2) – cartoon (English) [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd_41tM6H2Y Leonhard, G. [Tedx Talks]. (2014, December 6). Digital ethics and the future of humans in a connected world

[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZn0IfOb61U The New York Times. (2013, December 9). Exxon Valdez oil spill: In the wake of disaster: Retro Report

[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaRdUHrUnBs Click here for a PDF transcript of the above video.