Essentials of Business Ethics Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance

by Collins, Denis

• ISBN13: 9780470442562
• ISBN10: 0470442565
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-05-04
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The essential guide to creating an organization ofhigh integrity and superior performanceWith the high-profile corporate scandals that have taken place in recent years, corporate ethics are more important to a business than ever before. The failure of ethical leadership in an organization is very destructive-it demoralizes the workforce, breeds public distrust, and ultimately results in organizational decay.Based on more than two decades of consulting, teaching, and research, Denis Collins's Essentials of Business Ethics is designed with appreciation for your demanding professional obligations, with easy-to-find, at-your-fingertips information. Its nuts-and-bolts presentation provides you with practical "how-to" examples and best practices on every area of managing ethics inside your organization in a handy, concise format.This brief yet powerful guide presents executives and leaders with timely discussion on:Human nature and unethical behavior in organizationsDetermining the ethics of job candidatesThe differences between a Code of Ethics and a Code of ConductThe best practices for managing diversityUsing Management-by-Objectives to establish work goals that encourage ethical behaviorPerformance appraisals that reward ethical behaviorsAligning community outreach with the company's mission and assetsHandling the environmental change processHow to manage three internal communication mechanisms for employees to report potentially unethical or illegal behaviors: an Ethics & Compliance Office, Ombudsman, and Ethics HotlinesProviding a five-step ethics job-screen process and an ethical decision-making framework, as well as guidelines for conducting a variety of business ethics workshops, Essentials of Business Ethics is the only guide you will need containing all the relevant facts on business ethics, all in one place.

Author Biography

Denis Collins, PhD, is a tenured Professor of Business at Edgewood College and teaches in the areas of business ethics, management, leadership, and organization behavior. Considered a leader among business ethics professors, Dr. Collins serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Academic Ethics, and Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society and has published numerous books and articles in the areas of social philosophy, participatory management, business ethics, and service learning.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xiii
Preface	p. xvii
About the Web Site	p. xxiii
Acknowledgments	p. xxv
Background	p. 1
Human Nature and Unethical Behavior in Organizations	p. 3
Daily Occurrence of Ethical Dilemmas	p. 4
Competitive Advantages of Ethical Organizations	p. 7
Managing Morally Imperfect People	p. 11
What Is the Extent of Unethical Behaviors at Work?	p. 12
What Types of Organizations and Operational Areas Have Ethical Problems?	p. 13
Why Do Good People Behave Unethically?	p. 13
What Are the Costs of Unethical Behaviors?	p. 14
What Is Human Nature?	p. 16
Summary	p. 17
Notes	p. 17
The Ethical Foundation of Capitalism and the Optimal Ethics Systems Model	p. 19
Adam Smith's Capitalism and Business Ethics	p. 20
Federal Sentencing Guidelines	p. 24
The Optimal Ethics Systems Model	p. 28
Summary	p. 31
Notes	p. 32
Getting Everyone on Board	p. 33
Hiring Ethical People	p. 35
The Five-Step Ethics Job Screen Process	p. 36
Summary	p. 55
Notes	p. 56
Codes of Ethics and Codes of Conduct	p. 59
Difference Between a Code of Ethics and a Code of Conduct	p. 60
Importance of Code Expectations and Awareness	p. 61
Prevalence of Codes of Ethics and Conduct	p. 62
Code of Ethics Content	p. 63
Code of Conduct Content	p. 65
Effective Codes	p. 67
Annual Code of Ethics Assessment	p. 70
Summary	p. 74
Notes	p. 75
Ethical Decision-Making Framework	p. 77
Rotary International's Four-Way Test	p. 78
Raytheon's Ethics Quick Test	p. 78
The Ethics Decision-Making Framework	p. 79
The Five Ethical Theories	p. 81
Persuading Others	p. 91
Ten "Ethical Hazard Approaching" Signs	p. 94
Summary	p. 95
Notes	p. 95
Ethics Training	p. 97
Extent of Ethics Training	p. 98
Who to Train	p. 99
Web-Based Ethics Training	p. 100
Facilitating an Ethics Discussion	p. 100
Ethics Training Options	p. 101
Assessing the Ethics Training Workshops	p. 123
Summary	p. 124
Notes	p. 124
Respecting Employee Diversity	p. 127
Competitive Advantages of Diversity Management	p. 128
Four Layers of Diversity	p. 130
Implementing a Diversity Initiative	p. 133
Best Operational Practices for Managing Diversity	p. 135
Diversity Training Problems and Solutions	p. 137
Diversity Discussion Guidelines	p. 139
Diversity Training Exercises	p. 140
Summary	p. 150
Notes	p. 151
Daily Internal Operations	p. 153
Ethics Reporting Systems	p. 155
Undesirable Employee Reactions to Ethical Issues	p. 156
Ethics & Compliance Officer (ECO)	p. 157
Ombudsman	p. 161
Assist Lines	p. 165
Whistleblowing	p. 168
Summary	p. 173
Notes	p. 173
Ethical Leadership, Work Goals, and Performance Appraisals	p. 177
Managers as Ethical Role Models	p. 178
Great Place to Work® Dimensions	p. 180
Virtues and Leadership Practices	p. 181
Work Goals	p. 183
Performance Appraisals	p. 190
Collection and Evaluation Issues	p. 195
Performance Appraisal Feedback	p. 197
Disciplining Work Rule Violations	p. 198
Forgiveness	p. 201
Summary	p. 202
Notes	p. 203
Empowering Ethical Employees	p. 205
Go-Getters, Fence-Sitters, and Adversarials	p. 206
Effective Teams	p. 212
Systematic Team Problem-Solving Process	p. 212
Connecting Employees to the Mission-Appreciative Inquiry	p. 217
Daily Performance Reflections	p. 220
Scanlon-Type Gainsharing Plans	p. 221
Open Book Management	p. 223
Profit Sharing	p. 224
Stock Options	p. 225
Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs)	p. 226
Cooperatives	p. 227
Summary	p. 228
Notes	p. 229
Being a Good Citizen	p. 231
Environmental Management	p. 233
Competitive Advantages of Being Eco-Friendly	p. 234
Managing the Environmental Change Process	p. 237
Environmental Management System (EMS)	p. 241
Environmental Risk Assessment	p. 243
The Natural Step (TNS) Framework and Cost Reductions	p. 247
Product Packaging and Design	p. 250
Green Buildings	p. 251
Environmental Performance Indicators	p. 253
Sustainability Reporting	p. 255
Summary	p. 256
Notes	p. 257
Community Outreach and Respect	p. 259
Business Case for Community Involvement	p. 260
What to Give	p. 262
Giving to Whom?	p. 268
Team Building and Project Management Training Opportunities	p. 276
Community Involvement Management Process	p. 276
Community Reputation Assessment	p. 278
Social Performance Reporting	p. 279
Summary	p. 281
Notes	p. 284
Index	p. 287
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