Abstract This paper examines how there are numerous trends that can be evaluated that impact organizational behavior. It looks at how these trends can affect the organization's behaviors as whole or at the employee level. In particular, it shows how the behavior within an organization can be affected by the following trends; influence of ethics on decision-making, the impact of technology on work-related stress, and the impact of globalization on business practices. Other trends include the impact of politics and power within organizations and emphasis on teamwork.
From the Paper "Ethical decisions are not just left to the managers of an organization; many organizations offer ethical training classes to help all its employees make ethically sound decisions. According to Bateman, T. & Snell, S. (2004), there are two ethic programs that organization follow, compliance-based and integrity-based programs. Compliance-based programs are organizational mechanisms that are typically designed by and organization's corporate counsel to prevent, detect, and punish legal violations. Integrity-based programs are organizational mechanisms that are designed to instill in its employees a personal responsibility for ethical behavior. It would be in the best interest of an organization to use both programs, as an organization must have a way to detect unethical behavior and know that the majority of its employees have a personal responsibility for ethical behavior."
Tags: ethics, technology, stress, decision-making, politics, power
Abstract This paper discusses from an ethical perspective issues of accounting fraud, whistle blowing, sexual harassment, workplace privacy and duties to employees. The author explores the ethical responsibility of businesses to their stockholders, vendors and stakeholders. The paper examines ethical dilemmas.
From the Paper "There are many aspects of business ethics, including the company's obligation to its employees and to its stockholder workers, duties to their employer and the organization's duties to workers customers, vendors, stockholders and stakeholders. Business ethics is difficult to define or describe. Business ethics includes concepts including honesty, trustworthiness, respect for others, accepting responsibility for the actions of the company and its employees and respect for the rights of others. According to Diane Dixon, writing in "Executive Excellence", one recent study on why ... percent of all managers ..."
Tags: ethics, right and wrong, business ethics, whistle blowing, sexual harassment, workplace privacy, duties to employees, stockholders, vendors, stakeholders, ethical dilemmas, accounting fraud.
Abstract The paper identifies and evaluates the key components of ethical accounting practices in the modern world, where there is a strong tendency to succumb to external influences in favor of personal gain. The paper explains that it is no longer that GAAP is the supreme code for accounting practices, rather there must be strong moral and ethical foundations that should be created at the academic level.
From the Paper "In today's society, the accounting profession has experienced numerous challenges in an attempt to act in ethical ways with regards to accounting principles and business records. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) serve as a key reminder that businesses must act responsibly in their accounting activities at all stages, regardless of the potential that exists for personal gain and success. The following discussion will evaluate the importance of GAAP and accounting ethics in the context of modern organizations, where the temptation to act in a selfish manner is greater than ever. GAAP were designed to encourage a truthful representation of financial statements, based upon all business transactions conducted within specific periods (Shafer, Ketchand, & Morris, 2004)."
Compares and contrasts ethical, legal, and regulatory issues involved in operating a business-to-business e-commerce website to that of operating a business-to-consumer e-commerce website.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 3 sources, 2006, $ 26.95
Abstract This document discusses the legal, ethical, and regulatory dimensions of operating a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce website and of operating a business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce website. The consensus is that while many of the infrastructural solutions for these two orientations of e-commerce are the same, some very important differences, such as the regulatory requirements across industries, are dramatically different.
From the Paper "Business-to-business (B2B) websites differ in various ways from business-to-consumer (B2C) websites from a legal, ethical, and regulatory perspective. One of the most obvious differences between the two are the fact that many B2B sites have some sort of contractual obligation to complete an order in a given time period and according to certain specifications (Luftman, 2003). In the B2C environment this same contractual undertone does not exist although e-commerce sites of the B2C variety try to limit variance in how they treat customers and fulfillment concerns as this is a quality issue."
Abstract This paper discusses the philosophy of good life given by the great thinker Aristotle. It looks at Aristotle's view that there are certain external and internal goods available to man, and it is through the attainment of internal goods that man is able to live a life that can be identified as a "good life".
From the Paper "Aristotle was the prized student of Socrates and his works though are not widely available are still considered to be of great significant to the world of euphemism. The philosophical thought is incomplete without the works of Aristotle as his contribution is huge and some of his views are studies even today by the students of philosophy. Aristotle's theory of a good life is based one certain actions and virtues which fall in the realm of ethics. It was the view of Aristotle that good life means a man should act while in possession of certain external goods. By this it means that one should possess all moral and intellectual virtues in order to qualify as someone with a good life. The moral virtues to him were prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. All these virtues are based on reason and it was the Aristotelian view that reason and logic should be given precedence over passion. Intellectual virtues are based on pure theoretical contemplation and they cannot be considered very practical as they seem to arise from Aristotle's views on logic and a Stoic philosophy which meant that man must first not act purely on impulse or passion but should think carefully before acting."
Abstract This paper details Hammurabi's Code and how it covers many of the ills Mesopotamian society faced in the 17th Century BC. It gives several examples of his laws and quotes them and then analyzes and explains them. It details the historical and social situation in Mesopotamia at the time.
From the Paper "When interpreting Hammurabi's Code, one must do so with the full conviction that these laws were created as a response to actions that were taking place in everyday Mesopotamian society. While Hammurabi's Code was not the first set of laws, his organization and interpretation of previous laws covers many of the ills Mesopotamian society faced in the 17th Century BC. For example, Hammurabi's law number 53 says "If any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the corn which he has caused to be ruined" (King). From that it can be assumed that there was a problem in Mesopotamian society with abandoned or poorly maintained irrigation ducts. However, to truly gain an understanding of Mesopotamia in the 17th Century BC, one should take a closer look at the penalties rather than the laws themselves."
Tags: Hammurabi, code, Mesopotamia, laws, penalties, 17th, Century, BC, Babylon
Abstract An essay describing the relationship of Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points to justice. It discusses his plans for future relations with several European countries after the war including: Italy and Germany. It states Wilson's utopia-like plan of restructure and examines what he suggests in order to achieve this utopia. In conclusion, the president's speech portrays his devotion to people, justice and equality and he presented this theme in all of the points.
From the Paper "In discussing how Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points define justice, I feel they strongly do to a strong degree. Justice is defined as "righteousness" or what is ?morally right and fair.? I will concentrate on a theme I feel was one of Wilson's strongest qualities: he was a man of equality. At the close of his famous speech, Wilson states ?It is the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities, and their right to live on equal terms of liberty and safely with one another, whether they be strong or weak.? Although some aspects of Wilson's program may seem unfathomable, I believe they are, nevertheless, in the best intention of the people. Justice is equality in my mind."
Tags: fourteen, justice, points, Wilson, Woodrow, equality, utopia, war, Europe, Germany, America, president
Abstract Using Enron's collapse as a background, this paper endeavors to arrive at the restoration of integrity within American business organizations. It scrutinizes the reasons for Enron's downfall in the light of the auditing business, looks at their law firm's role in the collapse and Enron's lack of 401(k) diversification. The paper concludes with proposals for restoring integrity within the American business arena.
From the Paper "The fallout from Enron's collapse will influence our business systems and economy for years, maybe even decades. More importantly, the collapse will shape the American business community's psyche in ways we have only begun to imagine. Before its collapse, Enron's value rivaled Maylasia's GDP: when an entity that large implodes, there are bound to be side effects and repercussions through almost every facet of the economy. The hardest hit sectors, of course, will be institutional investing and accounting and auditing practices: a thorough examination of how company 401(k) retirement funds are managed will be necessary to determine why so many aging working Americans suddenly lost almost every penny of their 401(k)s ? their hope and their family's hope for their retirement years, just around the corner ? when Enron collapsed. Accounting companies who combine their services with consulting services ? not just Arthur Anderson: every accounting firm does it at least to a certain extent, Anderson just happened to get caught ? will need to be checked and after years of congressional grumbling, this time it may actually happen."
Abstract This paper examines the issues involved in assisted suicide.The writer describes the difference between physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. The writer explains that physician-assisted suicide is carried out with the consent of a competent and terminally ill patient. Euthanasia, on the other hand, is basically mercy killing. The writer discusses personal opinions and views concerning the "die with dignity" issues.
From the Paper "When we think of assisted suicide, most of us immediately think of Dr. Jack Kevokian, the retired pathologist who was sentenced to two terms of imprisonment in 1999 for helping a man suffering from a terminal disease to die (Humphrey 2002). Assisted suicide is a very passionate issue of debate in this country. There are numerous ethical and moral considerations aside from the legal aspects of the practice. The topic is as controversial as abortion and capital punishment. Most everyone has a deep-rooted belief one way or the other, they are either for or against, few ride the middle ground. It has been my observation that those in favor of pro-life are more likely to favor capital punishment and oppose assisted suicide, and those in favor of abortion and assisted suicide are more likely to oppose the death penalty. It is indeed a passionate issue and will continue to be debated for years to come."
Abstract This paper briefly examines the concept of "whistle blowing" and its ramifications in company stability. The ethical side of this practice is discussed and specific cases and articles about this law are mentioned. The paper concludes with the examination of what can be done to protect innocent parties.
From the Paper "Whistle blowing has become a major force to be reckoned with in the corporate world. According to Black's Law Dictionary, whistle blowing refers to an employee who reports, and may also refuse to engage in, illegal or wrongful activities of an employer or fellow employees. Whistle blowing is the exposure of fraud and abuse by an employee. Employees are speaking out about their ethical concerns in the workplace more and more. No matter what the ethical demands of a situation are the ability to become a whistleblower can easily cause serious consequences to either the company or employer involved not to mention the serious life long effects on the individual revealing the evidence. As a result of these consequences to the whistleblower the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 was created to protect the individual."
Abstract The writer provides critical reviews of published literature on the topic of corporate accountability and includes discussions on several aspects of accountability. The topics discussed are corporate ethics, managerial performance and using the performance reviews for accountability purposes as well as individual worker ethics and accountability. The paper shows how accountability at all levels of business can be a key factor in success or failure.
From the Paper "Within the last decades several studies have been conducted regarding the importance of ethics in business at the corporate and executive level. One such study was published by Harvard University's Graduate School of Business, written by Lynn Sharp Pain and explored the need for managing an organization's integrity(Paine, 1994). Paine believes that managers often think ethics are a question of personal scruples that is confidential between them and their conscious."
Abstract This paper defines this theory by Maslow and examines its importance to American businesses today. Maslow's theory of hierarchy of needs discusses the hierarchy and satisfaction of various human needs and how people pursue these needs. This theory is used by human resource managers to motivate their employees.
From the Paper "These theories are fully applicable in today's work setting. As far as the matter of the applicability of these theories to hospital employees is concerned, one should first identify as to whether a hospital employee fits the profile of an average business employee? Does he respond to the same motivator patterns as identified by Maslow? Does he possess the same hierarchy of needs as possessed by an average business employee?"
Abstract This paper expresses strong opinions against abortion, equating it with murder. The writer first provides a definition of what abortion is and some background facts and figures about this phenomenon. It then presents the reader with the thesis statement that abortion does equal murder and provides facts to support this statement. The writer also describes personal examples of women who had gone through abortions and their stories.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Abortion Facts
Meaning of Abortion
Thesis Statement: Abortion is Murder.
Definition of Birth
Reasons why Abortion is Murder
Views and Feelings of Women on Abortion
A Statistically Oriented Example
Conclusion
From the Paper "Abortion has been a topic of discussion for long enough to have some people feel that it has been a lifetime. However, that is not true; it goes way longer. Abortion in its own various, special forms has been carried out for as far as the human history can remember; though it is almost certainly true that many of us do not recognize the fact. I have heard from my teachers at school and read in many books that there was a time when new born, not even a day's old, offsprings who were either disabled, mutated or, in some civilizations, were girls, were buried alive, or left in the wild to "live out their destinies". The family or the tribe in which such a "demon" took birth thought it heretical and sarcastically sacrilegious when such a child was born in their community. And now, in these unspeakable days of "technology" and "modernism", as dubbed by many, we know, humorously speaking, sometimes even before the baby is conceived that we do not require it. It is sad, but that is really true. "
Abstract This paper analyzes the topic of surrogate mothers, discussing the many considerations to be taken into account when deciding to be a surrogate mother or selecting a surrogate mother. The paper provides information about laws concerning surrogate mothers, from various countries. Also illustrated are the sensitive issues for the surrogate mother to deal with after birth of the baby.
From the Paper "Surrogate mothers have many battles to face giving their babies to the set of parents that want to receive them. "Between 50 and 100 babies a year are born to surrogate mothers in Britain" (Henderson 2). Italy is against using surrogate mothers for childless couples (Australian 1). Should couples that have had children be allowed to use surrogate mothers? What are the problems of selecting a surrogate mother? What are the steps to having a baby from a surrogate mother? If the surrogate mother has more than one baby, what happens? Are the proposed parents mandated to take more than one baby? What about expenses? Surrogate mothers offer hope to couples that have not been able to have a baby with the natural childbirth and to couples who have married for the second time who desire to have a baby, but there are many decisions that should be made first."
Abstract The paper begins with a brief definition of insider trading and then goes on to explore the meaning of this practice in more detail. It uses examples of insider trading that have become media events, to create a clear picture of the practice. The paper looks at the 1980's explosion of insider trading and at the development of legislation against insider trading. The case of Vincent Chiarella is examined as one of the first public cases of insider trading. The recent case of Martha Stewart and the Imclone company is discussed to illustrate the concept of insider trading. The re-evaluation of the rules of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is explored and the changes in it's make-up are mentioned. The paper concludes by studying the damaging effects of insider trading.
From the Paper "She has spent years telling America how to throw the best holiday parties and how to cook meals that even the pickiest of eaters will love. Her books, tips and advice are world-renowned when it comes to homemaking. Her name, Martha Stewart has become synonymous with elegance. In more recent months her name has also become partners with the term "insider trading". Martha Stewart is the latest celebrity or well known figure to move to the forefront of publicity regarding insider trading. Because she is one who is usually regarded as the housewife's mentor the accusations that surround her have shocked the nation."
