Download HU245 Unit Six Seminar Russell Fail

HU245 Unit Six Seminar
Russell Fail
Old Business!
• Discussion Board
• Letter to Your Leader
New Business!
• Reading
• Case Study Discussion on Affirmative Action
• Discussion of the Ethics of Cheating
Background to the Case Study
In an effort to combat racism and sexism, the regents of State University passed
an affirmative action admissions policy designed to open up spaces in the
freshman class for members of groups that have faced discrimination and that
are underrepresented at the University.
Katie Sampson, an African-American student at the University, strongly objects to
her institution's affirmative action policies, and she has asked the Regents to
institute an admissions policy that does not give special preference to anybody.
She is concerned that affirmative action policies create the false impression
that minority students like her do not deserve their position at the University.
Katie is an effective organizer and has led a student group that has successfully
pressured the Regents to consider her proposal. A vote is scheduled to follow
a debate about whether or not affirmative action in admissions lives up to its
idealistic intentions.
What is Affirmative Action?
• Do all affirmative action measures involve
quotas?
• “Affirmative action is a program designed to
ensure the proportion of minorities within an
organization matches their proportion in the
available workforce” (Velasquez, 2006, p.
309)
Velasquez, M. (2006). Business Ethics Concepts and Cases (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education.
Why Affirmative Action?
•
•
•
•
Does job discrimination still take place?
How do you prove job discrimination?
2001 Average Family Income for White Families was $73,498
2001 Average Family Income for Black Families was $43,938
(or 60% of white)
• 1975 Average Family Income for White Families was $16,367
• 1975 Average Family Income for Black Families was $11,096
(or 64% of white)
(Velasquez, 2006, p. 311)
Arguments For Affirmative Action
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Gives advantage for disadvantaged groups
Creates diversity.
Job discrimination will continue without it.
Seeks to address past wrongs.
Arguments Against Affirmative
Action
• Results in reverse discrimination.
• Results in hiring and promoting less qualified
individuals.
• Causes harder feelings and more racial
tension.
• Portrays minorities and women as less
competent.
Seminar Question 1
• Of the issues discussed in the text, what
topics are most important to you? Why?
Why Do People Cheat?
When is it Okay to Lie, Steal or
Cheat?
Seminar Question Continued!
• Today, most people work in organizations.
Does this affect people's sense of moral
responsibility and conduct?
I’m Just Doing My Job!
• Does authority and loyalty hinder ethical
judgment?
• Do people compromise ethical standards in
a “groupthink” setting?
The Company Isn’t a Person
• Does an organization have an ethical
responsibility as a whole or can only
individuals be ethical or unethical?
• Does ethics flow from the top down?
• How does a company develop an ethical
culture?
What Business Ethics Isn’t
• Business ethics is not a list of rules to follow.
• Business ethics is not compliance training.
• Business ethics is not something that can be
learned without an understanding of basic
ethical theory.
Questions? Final Thoughts?