The overall objective of a Business School is to provide future leaders with the skills and tools necessary to successfully manage a business enterprise. The goal of an Ethics course in business is to enlighten and, hopefully, ensure that these leaders conduct their business ethically.
After reading these chapters and trying to integrate the information with “real world” business practices, I thought what manager (in their right mind) would conduct an unethical business? Granted, there will always be a few bad apples with the intention of practicing unethical behavior, but would or could there be an organization of “unethical” people working together for a common goal? For example, could there be a highly successful pharmaceutical company that intentionally, yet legally, made a drug that would harm people? Or an internationally popular auto-maker that made unsafe vehicles for decades? How could these employees knowingly and willingly participate in these activities; would this qualify as a “meaningful work” according to Kant? Perhaps these examples seem a bit preposterous, but how about a tobacco company?
I must state that I am not taking a stand for or against smoking, but was wondering what I would do if I were a manager at R.J. Reynolds. Where would I reside on the ethical spectrum? Could I disassociate my responsibilities (to provide a safe work environment and increase shareholder value) from the “effects” of consuming our products because it’s culturally acceptable to smoke (Cultural Relativism)? Am I an unethical manager participating in an activity that may not be in the best interest of the overall community, but I am providing my employees an “honest wage”. I guess my point is, if possible, can you differentiate ethical from unethical behavior if its 1) accepted by society, 2) provide meaningful work and 3) conducting day-to-day business ethically though it may harm many (directly or indirectly). Any thoughts?
1 comment:
There was one person at R. J. Reynold's (a senior scientist and researcher (as I recall), who could not live with the thought that his company had placed such a burden on him and decided to speak out about it. (It turns out that by making employees sign a confidentiality agreement, he and others accepted the terms of agreeing not to reveal the harmful side effects of nicotine).
The manager decided to tell the truth. The backlash he received included:
1. The murder of a colleague
2. The loss of his job
3. The loss of his wife & kids
4. Threats on his life
5. The political silencing of a
news network that agreed to
air the story, then reniged.
6. A lawsuit by the company
stating that he broke the
confidentiality agreement and
they used this platform to
discredit him.
The furor the heads of R. J. Reynold's unleashed to quiet this man's testimony was incredible, yet, who's to say how often this happend and goes unreported?
Russell Crow played this man in the movie that depicted his story. I don't remember how it ended or what time period it happened. Perhaps someone else has seen it. You may want to do further research. However, as scary as it may seem, your thoughts are more fact than fiction.
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