Business ethics.

AO1 – Knowledge (15 prompts)

  1. What key areas does business ethics evaluate when assessing a company’s moral practices?

  2. What is the principle of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and what obligations does it impose on businesses beyond profit?

  3. Who counts as a stakeholder, and how does stakeholder theory expand the consideration of those affected by business decisions?

  4. How do the principles of human dignity, the common good, and solidarity guide ethical business practices according to Cardinal Nichols and natural law?

  5. How do Aristotelian virtues and ethical behaviour contribute to both moral and practical success in business?

  6. What is the purpose of whistle-blowing in a workplace context, and where does the term originate?

  7. How does an employee’s duty of honesty and integrity relate to whistle-blowing within the employer-employee contract?

  8. Why is whistle-blowing more ethically challenging when the employer is the wrongdoer, and how does this involve competing loyalties?

  9. How does ethical behaviour contribute to the long-term success and stability of businesses?

  10. How can ethical treatment of customers, suppliers, and employees contribute to a company’s long-term profitability?

  11. How have recent corporate scandals highlighted the impact dishonesty can have on a company’s reputation and financial success?

  12. What is globalisation, and how does it affect the operation of companies across national boundaries?

  13. How can globalisation negatively impact stakeholders in both LEDCs and MEDCs?

  14. How can utilitarianism be applied to assess corporate social responsibility, even if CSR is considered “window-dressing”?

  15. How can Kantian ethics be applied to assess corporate social responsibility, considering duty and intention rather than profit?

AO2 – Evaluation (15 prompts)

  1. How does utilitarianism guide ethical decision-making in whistle-blowing, considering duties to the business versus the wider world?

  2. How does Kantian ethics guide ethical decision-making in whistle-blowing, and how does it balance duty to employer vs public good?

  3. To what extent is utilitarianism compatible with the idea that ethical behaviour is good for business, rather than focusing solely on profit?

  4. How does Kantian ethics support the argument that ethical behaviour should underpin business success, beyond profit concerns?

  5. How can utilitarianism justify certain business practices in globalisation, and how might this conflict with stakeholder welfare?

  6. How does Kantian ethics critique exploitation of workers and resources in developing countries due to globalisation?

  7. What are the positive impacts of globalisation on local communities and global awareness?

  8. What are the negative impacts of globalisation on developing countries and local communities?

  9. How do Aristotelian virtues in business balance practical success with ethical decision-making?

  10. How do the principles of human dignity, the common good, and solidarity create ethical responsibilities towards all stakeholders?

  11. How should businesses weigh honesty and integrity against loyalty when considering whistle-blowing in morally complex situations?

  12. How do recent corporate scandals demonstrate the tension between ethical behaviour and commercial competitiveness?

  13. How do utilitarian and Kantian approaches differ in justifying corporate social responsibility when profit motives are present?

  14. How does globalisation challenge businesses to act ethically while competing internationally?

  15. How can businesses reconcile ethical practices with practical pressures such as cost, competition, and global supply chains?

AO1 – Knowledge

  1. Business ethics studies moral principles in business, questioning if profit is the main concern and considering effects on economy, workforce, consumers, and environment, especially for multinationals.

  2. CSR means businesses have obligations beyond profit, including responsibilities to community, environment, governments, and tax authorities.

  3. Stakeholder theory considers how business decisions affect anyone with an interest: employees, customers, communities, governments, and global populations.

  4. Aristotle valued the community alongside the individual; Cardinal Nichols highlighted: human dignity, the common good, and solidarity in business ethics.

  5. Ethical business requires honesty, concern for others, generosity; virtues build habits, trust, and long-term support while avoiding unethical practices.

  6. Whistle-blowing is when an employee exposes wrongdoing to employer or public; the term comes from policemen’s whistles alerting to crime.

  7. Employees’ duty of honesty aligns with whistle-blowing; contracts include explicit and implied duties like honesty and integrity.

  8. Whistle-blowing is harder when the employer is the wrongdoer; employees face conflicts between loyalty, societal responsibility, and moral values.

  9. Ethical companies succeed long-term because trust is essential; scandals like FIFA show unethical behaviour destroys credibility and stability.

  10. Ethical treatment of customers, suppliers, and employees builds trust, allows better partnerships, ensures quality, and reduces conflicts.

  11. Scandals like Volkswagen and Nike show dishonesty can destroy reputation and trust; yet some companies profit from low prices despite unethical practices.

  12. Globalisation integrates economies, industries, cultures, and markets; businesses cross borders, bringing investment, jobs, and economic growth.

  13. Globalisation can exploit LEDCs for cheap labour, cause unemployment, environmental damage, threaten local culture, and harm MEDC jobs.

  14. Utilitarianism supports CSR if it maximises happiness; even if CSR is “window dressing,” what matters is whether outcomes benefit most stakeholders.

  15. Kant argues moral duty, not profit, drives CSR; the “good shopkeeper” acts honestly because it’s right, not for gain, considering all stakeholders.

AO2 – Evaluation

  1. Utilitarians weigh pleasure vs pain; whistle-blowing is right if it creates greatest overall happiness, but emotions may complicate decisions.

  2. Kantian ethics prioritises duty; covering corruption is wrong as it cannot be universalised, loyalty should serve public good over personal gain.

  3. Utilitarianism in business judges outcomes; ethical behaviour likely creates greatest good, but rules constrain actions to prevent “anything goes.”

  4. Kantian ethics requires treating all people ethically, including future generations; exploitation for profit is immoral.

  5. Utilitarian globalisation may justify harm to few for majority good; Singer argues all suffering must be considered equally.

  6. Kantian ethics rejects global exploitation as treating people as means; it cannot be universalised and fails moral duty.

  7. Globalisation can create jobs, boost local economies, share culture, increase awareness of global issues like climate change.

  8. Globalisation can exploit cheap labour/resources, repatriate profits, harm local businesses, threaten culture, and reduce MEDC jobs.

  9. Aristotelian virtues balance ethical decisions and practical success by building trust and relationships.

  10. Human dignity, common good, and solidarity guide responsibility towards all stakeholders and support underprivileged communities.

  11. Employees must balance honesty and integrity against loyalty when whistle-blowing; moral obligations may require courage.

  12. Corporate scandals show tension between ethics and competitiveness; dishonesty harms reputation, finances, and trust.

  13. Utilitarianism focuses on outcomes for CSR, Kant focuses on duty and intention, not profit.

  14. Globalisation pressures businesses ethically and competitively, risking exploitation while balancing stakeholder responsibilities.

  15. Ethical practices can align with business pressures through trust, sustainable practices, and stakeholder consideration.