Welcome to MT140 Introduction to Management Unit 8 Seminar Ethics and Social Responsibility

Agenda General Questions and Announcements Introduction Discuss process of making ethical decisions. Discuss corporate social responsibility. Recognize the components of a diversified workforce. Define and discuss sexual harassment. Recap. Conclusion of Seminar.

Introduction Successful managers are aware of the ethical climate of the organization and strive to be an ethical leader within the organization. Corporate social responsibility involves consideration of the impact of an organization’s actions on legal, economic, ethical, and societal good-will factors. Managing diversity in the workplace is a critical issue, influenced by the increasing variety of differences characteristic of the modern worker.

Ethics “The aim of ethics is to identify both the rules that should govern people’s behavior and the ‘goods’ that are worth seeking.” “Ethical decisions are guided by the underlying values of the individual.” (page 52)

Ethics Values – principles of conduct: --Caring, being honest, keeping promises. --Pursuing excellence, showing loyalty, being fair. --Acting with integrity, respecting others, being a responsible citizen.

Ethics How would you define ‘ethical issues’? How would you define ‘business ethics’? Examples?

Challenging Dilemmas for Manager and Employees Today Brands CEO pay Commercialism in schools Religion at work Sweatshops Wages

Society Demands on Ethical Climate Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) --More independent board of directors, not just company insiders. --Adhere strictly to accounting rules. --Have senior managers personally sign off on financial results.

Danger Signs Excessive emphasis on short-term revenues over longer-term considerations. Failure to establish a written code of ethics. Desire for ‘quick fix’ solutions to ethical problems. Unwillingness to take an ethical stand that may impose financial costs.

Danger Signs Consideration of ethics solely as a legal issue or a public relations tool. Lack of clear procedures for handling ethical problems. Responsiveness to the demands of shareholders at the expense of other constituencies.

Making Ethical Decisions Moral awareness – realizing the issue has ethical implications. Moral judgment – knowing what actions are morally defensible. Moral character – the strength and persistence to act in accordance with your ethics despite the challenges.

Discuss the process of making ethical decisions

Corporate Social Responsibility CSR -- Obligation toward society assumed by business. Economic responsibilities – include producing goods and services that society wants at a price that perpetuates the business and satisfies its obligations to investors.

Corporate Social Responsibility Legal responsibilities – to obey local, state, federal, and relevant international laws. Ethical responsibilities – meeting other social expectations, not written as law. Philanthropic responsibilities – additional behaviors and activities that society finds desirable and that the values of the business support.

What is diversity? Gender Age Religious affiliation Disability status Military experience Sexual orientation Education level

Managing Diversity Involves recruiting, training, promoting, and utilizing to full advantage individuals with different backgrounds, beliefs, capabilities, and cultures. Understanding and deeply valuing employee differences to build a more effective and profitable organization. Valuing the connections that arise and develop between diverse employees.

Components of a Diversified Workforce

What constitutes sexual harassment? Who is involved? Is it only verbal? What other means of sexual harassment might be used?

What is sexual harassment? Sexual Harassment is… Conduct of a sexual nature that has negative consequences for employment Two categories -Quid pro quo: submission to or rejection of sexual conduct is used as a basis for employment decision. -Hostile environment: when unwelcome sexual conduct “has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with job performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.”

Components of a Sexual Harassment Policy 1.Develop a comprehensive organization-wide policy on sexual harassment and present it to all current and new employees. 2.Hold training sessions with supervisors to explain Title VII requirements, their role in providing an environment free of sexual harassment, and proper investigative procedures when charges occur.

Components of a Sexual Harassment Policy, cont’d. 3.Establish a formal complaint procedure in which employees can discuss problems without fear of retaliation. 4.Act immediately when employees complain of sexual harassment. 5.When an investigation supports employee charges, discipline the offender at once. 6.Follow up on all cases to ensure a satisfactory resolution of the problem.

Recap In this seminar, we have discussed: -The process of making ethical decisions. -Corporate social responsibility. -The components of a diversified workforce. -Sexual harassment in the workplac e.

Questions?

Thank You for Attending!