Creating a Code of Ethics
One of you went to high school with Marcella Rhoades. Rhoades and a few friends have created a dot.com to rival Amazon in the world of software sales. They have invented a new software platform that increases computer speed by up to 50 percent. Rhoades, Inc. went from sales of $500/year to $50 million/year in two years. They are doing business in Malaysia, Spain, Mexico, and Romania, as well as the US.
Unfortunately, Rhoads and the four other co-owners, have not had time to formally organize the company, beyond making themselves officers and board members, as required in the incorporation papers of the state of Washington. They have 25 full-time employees, and expect to have over 200 employees on two continents by July, 2015. They currently have a sales division (two of the owners and 15 full-time staff) and production (two of the owners, 5 full-time staff, and 50 part-time staff). R&D is the chief responsibility of Rhoades, with all other owners. They have supervisors among the full-time staff, but no other management hierarchy. Marcella has contacted you, knowing you’re not only very bright, but know business ethics. They hire an external accounting firm, who dedicates five staff solely to Rhoades, to keep the finances in order.
Include the following, remembering that you will have to explain everything. They are computer geniuses who know nothing about the world of business ethics:
How should the company be organized? Suggest committees, employees, etc.
What should they know about ethical decision making and problem solving? Should the company have a policy? A procedure? Explain stakeholders, Markkula, or any other components of business ethics, as necessary.
What training should new employees receive regarding ethics?
What laws do they need to understand?
What about whistleblowing?
What about oversees bribes?
What else will you tell them? (use the chapter titles from your book to guide you) (textbook used: Business Ethics 11th Edition)
You may borrow from existing codes of ethics from other companies, as long as you give credit.