Assignment: Global Ethics

Some multiple choice and some short answer 3-5 sentences each

1.Standard Products, a company based in Newark, N.J., has begun its global operations. It understands that one aspect of business ethics is the way in which a business organization treats customers and other external stakeholders. What are some ethical aspects of the way a business organization treats external stakeholders? Do all cultures have the same ethical standard regarding the way business organizations treat external stakeholders? If the company held a cultural relativist view of ethics, how would Standard Products approach the way it dealt with these stakeholders?

2.Standard Products, a company based in Hoboken, N.J., has begun its global operations. Unlike the United States, some of the countries in which it now operates are high in power distance. Explain "power distance" among employees. How does high power distance impact management in those countries? How do employees in cultures with low power distance differ from employees in cultures with high power distance?

3.Which aspect of the institutional environment of countries includes the extent to which a country's capital markets effectively attract new business?
Select one:
a. The cultural institution
b. The political/legal institution
c. The physical infrastructure institution
d. The economic development institution

4.Explain the meaning of "fair trade" agricultural products.

5.When a business engages in ethical decision-making, what is the first step?
Select one:
a. Examine the facts
b. Create alternatives
c. Identify the Problem
d. Implement a course of action

6. Which of the following statements defines the procedural justice approach to business ethics?
Select one:
a. Some things are always right or always wrong, regardless of the consequences.
b. People affected by managerial decisions do not consent to the decision-making process.
c. Rewards and punishments should be distributed based on an individual's performance.
d. Both benefits and costs should be equitably distributed, and rules should be impartially applied.
7. What would the distributive justice of ethical decision-making say in the case of a floor manager giving a production bonus that some workers received but others did not?
8. As opposed to a business code of ethics, what should a business code of conduct provide to employees, managers and all other individuals within a business? Provide an example of an item that would be contained in a business code of conduct.
9. In the context of business ethics, what is the most important thing a company must do to create an ethical environment for employees and managers? What problems might a company face if it fails to do so? Provide an example of such a problem.
10. Some cultures in which a global firm does business, and in which ethical decisions must be made, prefer clearly-stated rules governing ethical behavior. This situation involves which dimension of culture?
Select one:
a. Gender focus
b. Power distance
c. Uncertainty avoidance
d. Collectivism and individualism
11. Standard Products, a publicly traded corporation based in Hoboken, N.J., is in the process of building a manufacturing plant in Nicaragua. The culture in Nicaragua is one in which employees expect to be rewarded for little more than showing up to work, though this cultural aspect has been changing over the past years. Standard Products holds a view of business ethics in which hard-working, diligent and productive employees should be rewarded as a matter of fundamental fairness. In examining the facts, Standard Products has learned from multiple conversations with employees of other companies that they view being treated fairly by employers as more important than tradition. Standard Products decides to create a performance bonus plan for its Nicaraguan factory. What are the final two steps in the ethical decision-making process? How will these steps determine whether the bonus plan is successful? How will Standard Products determine whether the bonus plan is ethical?
12. Standard Products, a publicly traded corporation based in Hoboken, N.J., that does business globally, has been under pressure from a small shareholder group to engage in more sustainable business practices. In particular, Standard Products is being asked to reduce its carbon footprint in its American factories that run on coal. The shareholder group argues that sustainability is an ethical issue. Using the steps of ethical decision-making, how should Standard Products decide if it will adopt sustainable practices? It is not necessary to arrive at a decision but rather to explain what steps would be involved in making a decision.
13. Standard Products, a publicly traded corporation based in Hoboken, N.J., has recently completed building a manufacturing plant in a Far East country. The country has a long tradition of giving gifts to suppliers. However, Standard Products has a strict policy against giving any gifts to suppliers. Standard Products has learned that its major suppliers expect gifts to be provided, and without them, the suppliers will not sell the materials that Standard Products needs to manufacture its finished goods at a competitive price. If Standard Products adopts a utilitarian view of business ethics, what decision will it make regarding giving gifts to these suppliers? In your response, include an explanation of the utilitarian view of business ethics.
14. Burgers-N-Fries is a national fast-food chain in the U.S. that is planning to move into the Far East market, specifically Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. As part of its corporate ethics policy, Burgers-N-Fries has a strict prohibition against its purchasing managers accepting any gifts-even as much as a pen-from a supplier to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Should Burgers-N-Fries apply the no-gift policy to the purchasing managers it will be hiring in the Far East market? Explain your answer in the context of ethics, culture and the differences in the ways employees treat their organization in different cultures.