OK, gents, listen up. A really cute girl I work with has to write a paper on a topic that is a current ethical dilemma in business & said really cute girl needs your help to think of a good topic.
So far, the ones we've thrown out as possibilities are:
--Martha Stewart's insider trading --The Haliburton thing (getting the contract before the attacks & Cheney's former sitting on the board) --The possibility of cloning businesses (in the same vein as abortion clinics) --The NYC MTA fare hike "fraud"
Does anyone else have anymore? She could really use some good ideas. Did I mention she was really cute? Oh, yeah...one other thing..
ATTENTION ROB, JEFF, TIM, & OMEGA!!!
This is simply TO THROW OUT IDEAS. It is NOT a forum to debate said ideas. If you four fuckheads get this kicked over to the Flameboard again, I'mma hunt all yo' asses down & give all y'alls such a severe wedgie, you'll have cotton in your teeth.
That is all. (And hi, Kelly!)
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Straight up A++:
"Why some company names are used to decribe those products, regardless of brand."
Like, a "Xerox" machien si not alwayed teh "Xerox" but cood be liek "Copographix" or "GODDAMNWOMANGETINTHECOPYROOMANDMAKEMESOMECOPIESANDAFUCKINGSAMMICHYOUWHORE!"
I would also like to read about Martha Stewart's adventures in prison.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
Hmmm.
- African countries using generic versions of American pharmaceutical products because they can't afford the patented versions (and said US response) - Stem cell reasearch - The politics of genetically modified foods - The ethics of doing business in foreign countries with heavy corruption (where paying off local officals is an essential practise of doing business) - The ethics of doing business in Washington DC (") - Profit-oriented foreign aid consulting companies - Mutual funds that specialise in "sins" for lack of a better word (gambling, warfare, cigarrettes, prostitution)
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
There have been accusations made that the publishers of Hillary Clinton's new book are lying about printing and sales statistics, IIRC. I'm also rather pissed about the whole FreeCraft/Blizzard C&D thing, mostly at the FreeCraft team. But that might be a bit below the proverbial radar.
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Not sure if these qualify but,
The Enron thing
US pharmaceutical companies buying drugs in other countries cheaper and then selling them in the States
The Three Gorges Dam project.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mucus: - African countries using generic versions of American pharmaceutical products because they can't afford the patented versions (and said US response)
Oh, it's worse than that - pharmaceutical companies testing said drugs in foreign (generally third-world) countries, often without seeking proper authorisation from governments, patients or patient's families, or notifying them of potential side-effects; then, when the tests are completed and the drug licensed, pricing them so high that the (surviving) former test subjects cannot afford them.
Privatizing social and infrastructural services, in the name of better service to the people by switching from state owned providers to more competitive private ones, even at the risk of reduced accountability. Whose choice is it? What happenes when things don't turn out the way intended?
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
Corporate influence in politics: how companies use their fundraising power to meld social policy, (i.e. taxes) and how said companies happen to be involved with lucrative contracts.
On the same vein, you can debate on why election reforms are targeting contributions from unions and other non-profit organizations, while leaving corporate contributions intact (said legislation is being debated in Ontario by said Conservative party).
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Since it was brought up, I should point out that I don't "get things kicked over to the Flameboard". I only make inflammatory remarks if they're deserved. Or funny. Preferably both.
Carry on.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Lots of these seem pretty expansive, and most of them seem primarily involved with politics or science. Which can be related to business, sure. But if someone is working on a paper for, say, Business Administration 254, they might want something a bit narrower and more technical. So what sort of audience are you talking about, Shik?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
From what I'm told, it's a class on business ethics. That's...all I know.
Posted by Cartmaniac (Member # 256) on :
-Denying third-world countries access to Western markets, subsidizing our products while boycotting theirs
-Exporting arms (anti-personnel mines, automatic rifles, the works) to aforementioned third-world countries, fueling civil wars and ethnic cleansing and the recruitment of child soldiers
There are too goddamned many.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shik: a paper on a topic that is a current ethical dilemma in business So far, the ones we've thrown out as possibilities are:
Well I don't see how Stem Cells are really ethical business dilemmas.
What about the oil industry and the ludicrous petrol prices? Or the lack of any incentive to move towards non-fossil-fuel-based methods of propulsion?
Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :
Outrageous ATM fees.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
Giving huge bonuses to CEOs even when they fail.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
I like that one Wraith.
In fact, you could do a comparison. I know of one company who was struggling pretty bad and the CEO decided to give up his yearly salary to acknowledge that fact. And of course, there are many more in which other CEOs take home rich pay while other lower employees are laid off.....
I think there was extensive coverage of the CEO who gave up his salary, don't know which company or who the guy is.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
Yeah, there was a company (I think it was GlaxoSmithKline) whose shareholders revolted and voted down giving a huge bonus to the CEO when profits had been falling.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
Not that one. This CEO voluntarily gave up his salary, bonus and all. His hand wasn't forced.
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
*raises hand* Just out of curiousity, is the purpose of this thread just to help Shik help the said cute girl and score points?
*gets shot*
Here's another ethical ones: companies selling their clean-air credits to other companies that generate more pollution. Exploiting loopholes in environmental laws, or just another business deal?
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
Shh!!!!
Posted by Cartmaniac (Member # 256) on :
A registered sex offender scoring points with ze ladies? Nah, couldn't be. 8)
Posted by Phoenix (Member # 966) on :
I hate to be pedantic, but most of the things mentioned in this thread aren't "ethical dilemmas" at all.
An ethical dilemma would be something along the lines of "If we do something unethical, something good will come of it, but if we don't do it, and stay ethical, something bad will happen".
Merely discussing examples of companies that have been unethical (Halliburton, Enron etc.) doesn't really answer the question.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
OK then... G.S.T.
People in Ostraya, Canadia and the land of the long white sheep can debate the pros and cons of a Goods and Services tax.
Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
quote:Originally posted by Phoenix: I hate to be pedantic, but most of the things mentioned in this thread aren't "ethical dilemmas" at all.
An ethical dilemma would be something along the lines of "If we do something unethical, something good will come of it, but if we don't do it, and stay ethical, something bad will happen".
Merely discussing examples of companies that have been unethical (Halliburton, Enron etc.) doesn't really answer the question.
It depends on who you are. For Halliburton and Enron, they may want to do unethical things and the good that comes out of it is money for the CEOs and shareholders. If they stay ethical, then they risk being run roughshod by the competition.