UNIERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

BUSINESS ETHICS
TUTORIAL 1 & 2

1. Define the term Ethics and explain an ethical issue that may arise in your
everyday activity as a student, employee or manager?

2. Define the term Business Ethics and give one example of a good ethical practice
vs a bad ethical practice in business.

3. Define the term Moral Standards and give one example of a high moral standard
vs a low moral standard.

4. Identify and describe 2 financial disaster results deriving from unethical practices
of organizations.

5. Why study business ethics?

6. Describe at least 5 elements in the business environment/market that impacts

ethical practices.

7. With the use of examples, describe the symbiotic relationship between:

a. ethics and the law. Which should play a greater role?
b. ethics and CSR
c. ethics and economics

8. Should businesses be allowed to operate without the interference of society?

9. What role should businesses play in society? Should society hold business
accountable?

10. Moral Values are irrelevant in business? Comment

11. What are the characteristics of ethical problems?

12. Describe the process of the individual ethical decision making behavior?

Mini Case 1 (Trevino)

You’re the plant manager in one of ABC Company’s five plants. You’ve worked for the
company for 15 years, working your way up from the factory floor after the company sent
you to college. Your boss just told you in complete confidence that the company will have to
lay off 200 workers. Luckily, your job won’t be affected. But a rumor is circulating in the
plant, and one of your workers (an old friend who now works for you) asks the question.
“Well, Pat, what’s the word? Is the plant closing? Am I going to lose my job? The closing
on our new house is scheduled for next week. I need to know.” What will you say?
Mini Case 2 (Trevino)

You’re the VP of a medium-sized organization that uses chemicals in its production

processes. In good faith, you’ve hired a highly competent scientist to ensure that your
company complies with all environmental laws and safety regulations. This individual
informs you that a chemical the company now uses in some quantity is not yet on the
approved Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) list. However, it has been found to be safe
and is scheduled to be placed on the list in about three months. You can’t produce your
product without this chemical, yet regulations say that you’re not supposed to use the
chemical until it’s officially approved. Waiting for approval would require shutting down the
plant for three months, putting hundreds of people out of work, and threatening the
company’s very survival. What should you do?

SCENARIOS

1. Fast food dilemma:

You are an employee at a fast-food restaurant in charge of the grill. It’s busy today, and a lot
of orders are coming in fast. In the process of cooking, you drop a hamburger patty on the
floor. Your manager is passing by and says “Just pick it up and serve it.” What would you
do?

2. Easy A?

You have a research paper due in a few days for your Business Ethics class. If you don’t do
well in this class, your financial aid will be compromised—you can not afford school
otherwise. A friend tells you about a website that creates custom papers for a small fee. You
are guaranteed an “A” on the essay, and guaranteed you won’t be caught. What would you
do?

3. Too much alcohol:

Your friend will celebrate his 18th birthday next week. However, while at a party, he asked
you to buy him a beer. What do you do?
4. Loyalty or honesty?

Your friend tells you in the strictest confidence that she is cheating on her boyfriend. A few
months later, her boyfriend asks you straight out: “Is___ cheating on me?” What would you
do?

5. Insurance fraud?

Your apartment was burglarized, and many things were stolen, including a television in your
living room. That television, however, had been broken down, irreparably, and was worthless
—you just haven’t had the time or money to replace it. Luckily you have renter’s insurance to
cover your losses. Do you include the television in your insurance claim? What would you
do?

6. Traffic stop

While speeding on the highway, a police pulls you over for committing a traffic breach that
carries a $10,000 ticket. The police says to you that it can go “left” or he can go and “write”.
What do you do?

Source:  https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-epcc-introethics-1/chapter/real-life-ethical-
scenarios/