1. Archie B. Carroll Ann K. Buchholtz
Business & Society Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management Eighth Edition
Archie B. Carroll
Ann K. Buchholtz
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2. Chapter 9 Business Ethics and Technology
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Learning Outcomes
Identify the role that technology plays in our business lives.
Gain an understanding of the technological environment and the characteristics of technology that influence business ethics and stakeholders.
Identify the benefits and side effects of technology in business.
Gain an appreciation of society’s intoxication with technology and the consequences of this intoxication.
Learn to differentiate between information technology and biotechnology and their ethical implications for management.
Identify the ethical issues involved in biotechnology and present arguments on both sides of the issues.
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Chapter Outline
Technology and the Technological Environment
Characteristics of Technology
Technology and Ethics
Information Technology
Biotechnology
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
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5. Technology and the Technological Environment
The totality of the means employed to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort.
A scientific method used to achieve a practical purpose.
Technological environment
The total set of technology-based advancements or progress taking place in society.
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6. Characteristics of Technology
What are the characteristics of technology?
What are the benefits of technology?
What are the drawbacks and difficulties?
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Technology and Ethics
Two Key Issues
Technological determinism
What can be developed will be developed.
Ethical lag
Occurs when the speed of technological change far exceeds that of ethical development.
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8. Symptoms of Society’s Technology Intoxication
We favor the quick fix.
We fear and worship technology.
We blur the distinction between what is real and fake.
We accept violence as normal.
We love technology as a toy.
We live our lives distanced and distracted.
Find the right balance!
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Electronic Commerce
Electronic commerce
Also called e-commerce, e-business, or Web-based marketing.
The Internet has reshaped the way business is conducted.
What are the key issues in e-commerce ethics?
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10. Invasion of Privacy via E-Commerce (continued)
Cookies
Identification tags that Web sites drop on our personal computer hard drives so they can recognize repeat visitors the next time we visit their Web sites.
Spam
Unsolicited commercial . It is sent through "open-relays" to millions of persons.
Identity Theft
Tampering with one’s financial accounts.
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11. Government’s Involvement
The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999
Made it possible for consumers to get all financial services from one company.
Convenient, but empowered these companies to develop detailed portraits of their customers
Other legislation
FTC Act
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
The government has been criticized for not doing enough to protect consumers.
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12. Business Initiatives with Privacy Protection
Ethical leadership
Privacy policies
Chief privacy officers
Data security
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13. Technology and the Workplace
What are the questionable business practices that have arisen with the popularity of the Internet?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using computer technology in the workplace?
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Surveillance
Surveillance raises questions about privacy violations.
Computers
Monitoring website connections
Storing and reviewing employee computer files
Blocking access to inappropriate websites
Telephone
Monitoring time spent, numbers called
Taping phone conversations
Video
Video surveillance against theft
Surveillance to monitor employee performance
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Biometrics
Biometrics
The use of body measurements, such as eye scans, fingerprints, or palm prints for determining and confirming identity.
An explosion of applications in the commercial use of biometrics.
Not much focus on the legal ethical risks yet.
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Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Involves using biology to discover, develop, manufacture, market, and sell products and services.
Bioethics
A field that deals with the ethical issues embedded in the commercial use of biotechnology.
Proceduralism is a primary tool for bioethicists. It is using protocols to ensure that classical safeguards are not violated.
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17. Genetic testing and profiling
Genetic Engineering
Stem cell research
Cloning
Genetic testing and profiling
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18. Genetically Modified Foods
Also referred to as genetically engineered foods (GEFs).
Fear over health and environmental effects.
Major U.S. crops that are genetically modified:
Sugar beets (95%)
Soybeans (91%)
Cotton (88%)
Corn (85%)
Most Americans consume genetically modified foods every day.
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Labeling of GMFs
One of the most frequently discussed issues with GMFs is labeling.
FDA does not mandate GMF labeling in the U.S.
The Non-GMO Project believes that people have the right to make informed choices about whether they consume GMF products.
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Key Terms
Bioethics
Biometrics
Biotechnology
Chief Privacy Officer
Cloning
Cookies
Electronic commerce
Embryonic stems cells
Ethical lag
Genetic engineering
Genetic profiling
Genetic testing
Genetically engineered foods (GEFs)
Genetically modified foods (GMFs)
Information technology
Phishing
Spam
Surveillance
Technological determinism
Technological environment
Technology
Therapeutic cloning
© 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning