MGMT 575 – Business Ethics
Questions for Midterm #2
Chapters 9-15, 17-19
Here is the list of questions you will be responsible for on Midterm #2. The chapters for coverage are 9-15 and 17-19. As on the first midterm, the exam will include four of the questions on this list and you will answer three of those four.
1) Do you think business is abusing its power with respect to invasion of privacy of both consumers and employees? What about surveillance? Which particular practice do you think is the most questionable?
2) What are the major strategies companies might employ in improving global ethics? What are the key steps research has shown are important to successful company anticorruption efforts?
3) What is regulation? Why does government see a need to regulate? Differentiate between economic and social regulation. What social regulations do you think are the most important, and why? What social regulations ought to be eliminated? Explain.
4) Outline the major benefits and costs of government regulation. In general, do you think the benefits of government regulation exceed the costs? In what areas, if any, do you think the costs exceed the benefits?
5) Explain lobbying in your own words. Describe the different levels at which lobbying takes place. Why is there a lack of unity among the umbrella organizations?
6) What is a PAC? What are the major arguments in favor of PACs? What are the major criticisms of PACs? In your opinion, are PACs a good way for business to influence the public policy process? What changes would you recommend for PACs?
7) What is your opinion of the consumerism movement? It is “alive and well” or is it dead? Provide evidence for your observations.
8) Differentiate the doctrine of strict liability from the doctrines of absolute liability and market share liability. What implications do these views have for the business community and for future products and services that might be offered?
9) What are some examples of sustainable business and decision models for addressing environmental concerns?
10) Explain the employment-at-will doctrine, and describe how it is being eroded. Do you think its existence is leading to a healthy or an unhealthy employment environment in the United States? Justify your reasoning.
11) Explain the dilemma of affirmative action versus reverse discrimination. Do you think the Supreme Court is headed in the right direction for handling this issue? Explain.