Business Ethics

Senior Contributing Authors

Stephen M. Byars, USC Marshall School of Business
Kurt Stanberry, University of Houston–Downtown


Contributing Authors

David Shapiro, Pennsylvania State University
Barbara Boerner, Brevard College
Robert Brancatelli, Fordham University
Wade Chumney, California State University, Northridge
Laura Dendinger, Wayne State College
Bill Nantz, Houston Community College
Mark Poepsel, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Chapter 1 Why Ethics Matter
• Introduction
• 1.1 Being a Professional of Integrity
• 1.2 Ethics and Profitability
• 1.3 Multiple versus Single Ethical Standards
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 2 Ethics from Antiquity to the Present
• Introduction
• 2.1 The Concept of Ethical Business in Ancient Athens
• 2.2 Ethical Advice for Nobles and Civil Servants in Ancient China
• 2.3 Comparing the Virtue Ethics of East and West
• 2.4 Utilitarianism: The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number
• 2.5 Deontology: Ethics as Duty
• 2.6 A Theory of Justice
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 3 Defining and Prioritizing Stakeholders
• Introduction
• 3.1 Adopting a Stakeholder Orientation
• 3.2 Weighing Stakeholder Claims
• 3.3 Ethical Decision-Making and Prioritizing Stakeholders
• 3.4 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 4 Three Special Stakeholders: Society, the Environment, and Government
• Introduction
• 4.1 Corporate Law and Corporate Responsibility
• 4.2 Sustainability: Business and the Environment
• 4.3 Government and the Private Sector
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 5 The Impact of Culture and Time on Business Ethics
• Introduction
• 5.1 The Relationship between Business Ethics and Culture
• 5.2 Business Ethics over Time
• 5.3 The Influence of Geography and Religion
• 5.4 Are the Values Central to Business Ethics Universal?
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 6 What Employers Owe Employees
• Introduction
• 6.1 The Workplace Environment and Working Conditions
• 6.2 What Constitutes a Fair Wage?
• 6.3 An Organized Workforce
• 6.4 Privacy in the Workplace
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 7 What Employees Owe Employers
• Introduction
• 7.1 Loyalty to the Company
• 7.2 Loyalty to the Brand and to Customers
• 7.3 Contributing to a Positive Work Atmosphere
• 7.4 Financial Integrity
• 7.5 Criticism of the Company and Whistleblowing
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 8 Recognizing and Respecting the Rights of All
• Introduction
• 8.1 Diversity and Inclusion in the Workforce
• 8.2 Accommodating Different Abilities and Faiths
• 8.3 Sexual Identification and Orientation
• 8.4 Income Inequalities
• 8.5 Animal Rights and the Implications for Business
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 9 Professions under the Microscope
• Introduction
• 9.1 Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Culture
• 9.2 The Influence of Advertising
• 9.3 The Insurance Industry
• 9.4 Ethical Issues in the Provision of Health Care
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 10 Changing Work Environments and Future Trends
• Introduction
• 10.1 More Telecommuting or Less?
• 10.2 Workplace Campuses
• 10.3 Alternatives to Traditional Patterns of Work
• 10.4 Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and the Workplace of the Future
• Key Terms
• Summary
• Assessment Questions
• Endnotes

Chapter 11 Epilogue: Why Ethics Still Matter
• Introduction
• 11.1 Business Ethics in an Evolving Environment
• 11.2 Committing to an Ethical View
• 11.3 Becoming an Ethical Professional
• 11.4 Making a Difference in the Business World
• Endnotes