Business Ethics

Teacher Preparation:

Review the following Internet sites to establish a basic understanding business ethics.  A historical perspective of the increase in importance in business ethics in the last 15 years makes for an interesting introduction.

Websites:

1. Articles About Codes of Ethics  http://www.ethicsweb.ca/codes/articles.htm 

2. Business Ethics Resources of WWW  http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/resources/business/ 

3. Creating a Code of Ethics for Your Organization  http://www.ethicsweb.ca/codes/

4. Why Have a Code of Ethics?  http://www.ethicsweb.ca/codes/coe2.htm

5. Guidance for Writing a Code of Ethics Draft http://www.ethicsweb.ca/codes/coe3.htm 

Activity:

• Lesson 1

Print out selected articles from the "Articles About Codes of Ethics" or other articles which will introduce Business Ethics to the students.  Introduce definition of business ethics and discuss the readings.  Focus on  why codes of ethics are important to businesses and consumers.   

One the second day focus on how to look at various ethical situations, how to identify the affected parties of a situation, identify ethical issues, give suggestions on what alternatives could be followed, and lastly, how will each of the alternative suggestions affect each of the identified parties.  

• Lesson 2

Have students get into groups of 3-5.  Assign each group a scenario where an ethical consideration must be made.  Have the students prepare a presentation to the class, discussing what alternatives they would consider if presented with the same situation as in the scenario.  The questions that students should answer and be prepared to include in their presentation are:

1. Who are the affected parties of your scenario?

2. What are the ethical issues?

3. What alternatives are available to follow?

4. How will the alternatives affect the above identified parties?

Click Here to View and Print Suggested Scenarios.

Each group should identify a group leader, a group recorder, and they should assign tasks to each member of the group.

• Lesson 3

Have each group present their scenario.  First, each group should introduce all members of the group.  Second a representative (leader) of the group should read the details of their scenario, and then the group should answer the above questions. 

After the presentation, each member of the group will complete an evaluation form for his or her team members.

Click Here to View Group Evaluation Form.