MGT 360 Learning Activity #1 & 2

Learning Activity #1

Ethics: A Personal Perspective

How we perceive ethical issues and how we expect others to act is in many respects a reflection of our personal views. Considering the importance of our internal views of ethics, think about the following scenario:

You have been recently hired in the human resources department at the company you have always dreamed of working for. At the end of your first day, your manager, I. M. DeBoss, on her way out of the office says to you: “So Mr./Ms. Jones, what things come to mind when you think of the word “ethics”? Before you can answer, she asks you if you believe ethics are important for a company and if so why do you feel that way? Not letting up, because she is DeBoss, she then asks you if you think your views on ethics have evolved based on your life experiences or do you believe as suggested in the 60 Minutes piece, “Born good? Babies help unlock the origins of Morality,” that your ethics DNA was established at birth and why?

Just as you are about to respond to her, she says “I am sorry Mr./Ms. Jones but I really have to run but I want to continue our conversation tomorrow.” You are relieved because you will have a night to ponder her questions and wow her with your responses tomorrow. How would you respond to your manager?

Learning Activity # 2

Applying Lessons Learned

Drawing on your ethical compass as discussed in Learning Activity # 1 and using the video, “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmVu66Fpd9U” from your assigned readings and viewings as a framework, how would you resolve the following ethical situation:

You are on a boat and nearby are two large rocks filled with persons waiting to be rescued; there are six people on one rock and five on the other. Assume that you cannot rescue both groups and that you are the only one able to rescue either group. Which group do you rescue?

In your response, be certain to identify what you believe is the ethical choice or dilemma that is presented, and discuss your reasons and possible alternative solutions to the one that you propose. Is what you would actually do different from what you should do? If so, why?

To what extent, if any, do you think this scenario is relevant to the question of why one studies business ethics in the first place?