Managing for Organizational Integrity

1. Start with Lynn Sharp Paine’s article on page 274.
2. Then, go back and compare that to Amartya Sen beginning page 256.
3. Submit a written essay answering the questions contained below. It does not need to be in the brief format but I will use the elements of the case brief format to grade and give you feedback.

Lynn Sharp Paine and Amartya Sen

Managing for Organizational Integrity(GDJ):

Submit a two to three page response to these articles that addresses the following questions. The essay should be in narrative form after giving consideration to the issues raised by the questions. Put your name on the page.

1. Paine suggests that errors in ethical judgment rarely result from an intention to harm or deceive. What does Paine suggest is the source of those errors?

2. How does Paine suggest a company can “foster a climate that encourages exemplary behavior”? Is legal compliance from the top down sufficient?

3. How does Sen describe the benefit that results from the kind of organizational behavior envisioned by Paine? Is it consistent or inconsistent with classic economic theory as articulated by Adam Smith?

4. What larger systemic public good can an ethically integrated organizational culture achieve, according to Sen?

5. What do you personally think about these themes?

Textbook: Donaldson, T., & Werhane, P. H. (2008). Ethical issues in business: A philosophical approach. Pearson Publishing Inc. (8th edition)

***It does not need to be in the brief format but he will use the elements of the case brief format to grade and give me feedback.

Format for Briefs and other Article Summaries:

Issue: A statement of the pertinent facts and the primary business ethical issue presented by the case or article. This may include references to the ancillary issues to highlight why the student has chosen the primary issue to be the issue of importance.

Rule: A statement of the conflicting moral standards or “rules” as presented by the applicable portion of the course texts, or the videos or other materials presented by the professor citing the applicable chapter and page or presentation subject where the rules are found, as well as the full text of the rules. One standard is the rule the student recommends for solution of the issue. The other standard is an alternative rule that could generate a different outcome.

Analysis/application: The student’s independent analysis/application of the issues presented and the rule to be applied to that issue. In addition, the student may wish to include references to other issues or rules that he or she considered in preparing the analysis.

Conclusion: The student’s personal conclusion as to the reported facts in the article and the application of the rule selected. What ethical conclusion do you draw from the preparation of the brief concerning the article or situation? This conclusion may or may not agree with the statements found in the article selected.