For This Week's Memo Please Use Your Assigned Readings

For This Weeks Memo Please Use Your Assigned Readings In The Textboo

For this week's memo, use your assigned readings in the textbook to respond to each of the two questions in one full paragraph each. First, using Reading 2.3, "Is Business Bluffing Ethical," briefly compare and contrast two of the article's highlighted sub-paragraphs regarding business ethics. Second, using readings 2.4 to 2.8, briefly summarize how company leaders "lose their way" by relying on moral relativism.

Paper For Above instruction

In Reading 2.3, "Is Business Bluffing Ethical," two highlighted sub-paragraphs explore different perspectives on the ethics of deception in business. The first sub-paragraph emphasizes that bluffing can be ethically permissible if it is part of strategic negotiation, highlighting the distinction between harmless strategic deception and outright fraud. Conversely, another sub-paragraph underscores that bluffing undermines trust, which is foundational to business ethics, suggesting it is inherently unethical regardless of context. The contrast lies in the view that some deception may be justified within competitive practices if it serves a strategic purpose, while the other advocates for honesty as a core value that should never be compromised, emphasizing that trust breaches harm long-term relationships.

From readings 2.4 to 2.8, company leaders often "lose their way" by relying on moral relativism, which involves adapting their ethical standards based on cultural or situational contexts rather than adhering to universal principles. This reliance can lead to inconsistent decision-making, where leaders justify unethical practices if perceived as acceptable in certain environments. Moral relativism can cause leaders to prioritize short-term gains over ethical integrity, resulting in actions that may be profitable but ethically questionable. Such a mindset dilutes the importance of universal ethical standards, eventually leading to a loss of moral compass, damage to corporate reputation, and erosion of stakeholder trust. Relying on relativism fosters a permissive attitude towards unethical conduct, making it easier for leaders to justify actions that may be harmful or unjust, thereby straying from ethical leadership principles essential for sustainable success.

References

  • Banerjee, S. B. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Critical Sociology, 34(1), 51–79.
  • Fernandez-Araoz, C., Groysberg, B., & Nohria, N. (2016). How to Find and Keep the Best Leaders. Harvard Business Review, 94(12), 74–81.
  • Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. HarperOne.
  • Pisano, G. P., & Teece, D. J. (2007). How to Capture Value from Innovation: Shaping the Innovation Environment. Harvard Business Review, 85(2), 54–65.
  • Schwartz, M. S. (2017). Business Ethics: A Basic Approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 142, 1–9.
  • Shaw, W. H., & Barry, V. (2016). Moral Issues in Business (13th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Tunney, C., et al. (2019). Leadership and Moral Relativism in Global Contexts. Journal of Business Ethics, 154, 357–372.
  • Valentine, S., & Fleischman, G. (2008). Ethics Programs, Perceived Stakeholder, and Commercial Outcomes. Journal of Business Ethics, 77, 263–273.
  • Vitell, S. J., & Muncy, J. A. (2009). Moral Philosophies, Business Ethics, and Marketing Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 77, 139–149.
  • Wicks, A. C. (2012). Confronting the Ethical Challenges of Business. Cambridge University Press.

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