Subject Code: IMT-49

Subject Name : BUSINESS ETHICS

Notes:
a. Write answers in your own words as far as possible and refrain from copying from the text books/handouts.
b. Answers of Ist Set (Part-A), IInd Set (Part-B), IIIrd Set (Part – C) and Set-IV (Case Study) must be sent
together.
c. Mail the answer sheets alongwith the copy of assignments for evaluation & return.
d. Only hand written assignments shall be accepted.
A. First Set of Assignments: 5 Questions, each question carries 1 marks.
B. Second Set of Assignments: 5 Questions, each question carries 1 marks.
C. Third Set of Assignments: 5 Questions, each question carries 1 marks. Confine your answers to 150
to 200 Words.
D. Forth Set of Assignments: Two Case Studies : 5 Marks. Each case study carries 2.5 marks.

Objective:
The objective of this course is to make students aware of the ethical aspects of the business and to make them
responsible to the society

Contents
LESSONS FROM ANCIENT INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEMS,
System of Education in Ancient India,
THE LAW OF KARMA,
Essentials of Indian Philosophy, The Philosophy of the Gita, The Law of Grace,
ETHICS AND RELIGION,
Ethics of Hinduism, Ethics of Buddhism, Ethics of Jainism,
BUDDHIST ECONOMICS,
Tenets of Buddhist Economics, Ethics of Buddhist Economics, Excluded Activities,
THE ETHICS OF VIVEKANANDA, GANDHI, AUROBINDO AND TAGORE,
Swami Vivekananda and his Philosophy and Ethics, Gandhi and his Philosophy and Ethics, The Philosophy of
Aurobindo (–), The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore (–),
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ETHICS,
Nature of Business Ethics, Criteria for Moral Judgements;, Ethical Relativism or Transcultural Values in
Management,
NATURE, SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF ETHICS,
Herd Morality and Conventional Morality, Reflective Morality, Ethics is a Normative Science, Postulates of
Ethics, Stages of Voluntary Action, Motive or Intention—What is the Object of Moral Judgement?, The Scope of
Ethics, The Need for Ethics, The Need to Go Beyond Ethics, Spirituality is Not Denial of the World, Ethics and
Religion,
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS AND MORAL STANDARDS
Importance of Ethics in Business, Unethical Behaviour from a Macro Perspective, The Macro Perspective—
Ethics and Trust, Moral Standards, Consequentialist Principles, Non-consequentialist Principles,
FEATURES, TYPES AND RELEVANCE OF VALUES,
Features of Values, Types of Values, Formulation of Values, The Relevance of Human Values in Management,
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Secular Versus Spiritual Values in Management, Work Ethos,
ETHICAL THEORY AND ENLIGHTENED EGOISM,
Cognitivism and Non-cognitivism, Some Non-cognitivist Theories, Ethical Aspects of Free Market Systems:
Enlightened Egoism,
MODEL OF MANAGEMENT IN THE INDIAN SOCIO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT,
Role of Indian Ethos in Management: A Twenty-first Century Perspective, Prospective Scenario of the Future
Organization, Relevance of the Indian Ethos to Future Organizations, The East and the West: Plain Living and
High Thinking: A Study in Contrast, Problems Relating to Stress in Corporate Management and Indian
Perspective,
CORPORATIONS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES,
The Concept of Social Responsibility, Need for Social Responsibilities, Responsibility of Business Towards
Society, Ethics, Values and Business, Place of Ethics and Values, To Whom Are Organizations Socially
Responsible?, Social Responsibility and Economic Performance, Milton Friedman’s Thesis, Ethics in
Management, Corporate and Socio-economic Conflict, Corporate Social Reporting, Social Report in Practice,
ETHICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT,
Environmental Ethics - I, Environmental Ethics - II, A Brief Historical Sketch of Environmental Ethics,
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS,
The International Code of Medical Ethics, Hippocratic Oath, Code of Ethics for Engineers, For Corporate
Members, Professional Ethics for Lawyers, Professional Ethics for Chartered Accountants, Professional
Misconduct Defined,
ETHICAL VISION OF MANAGEMENT: VEDANTIC APPROACH ,
The Indianness of Indian Management, Advantages of Sacred Simplicity,
HUMAN VALUES FOR INDIAN MANAGERS,
The Significance of Values, Deterioration of Management Values, A Moral Revolution,
QUALITY OF WORKING LIFE,
Humanisation of Work, Operational Systems for Improving Work Life, ,
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT,
What is TQM?, Striving for Perfection,
UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR BY INDIVIDUALS IN ORGANIZATIONS,
Dysfunctional Behaviour in Organizations, Moral Basis of Professional Behaviour, Modern Concept of
Professional Behaviour, Professional Ethics in Public and Private Organizations,
ETHICS AND DECISION-MAKING,
Decision-Making and Morality, Moral Approbation, Organizational Culture, Organizational Climate,
Organizational Goals, Decision Processes, Total Benefit Test,
MAKING MORAL DECISIONS,
Embedding Ethics in Organizational Culture, Decision Support Model,
ETHICS OF ADVERTISING,
Advertising and Behaviour Control, Controls of Advertising: Legal and Voluntary,
ETHICAL INVESTMENT,
Negative and Positive Forms of Ethical Investment, Animal Rights, Other Leading Ethical Investment ‘’Target’
Industries,
ETHICS AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS,
Different Value Systems of Different Cultures, Kant’s Kingdom of Ends, Other Possible Approaches,
SCI-TECH AND ETHICS,
Science Versus the Art of Noble Living, Uncontrolled March of the Sci-Tech,
LAW AND ETHICS,
What is Ethical Jurisprudence?, Natural Vs Legal Justice,
HRM AND ETHICS,
Developing Organizational Values, Qualities of a Personnel Manager,

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Reference:
1. Seglin, Jeffrey L. ‘The Right Thing; Conscience, Profit and Personal Responsibility in today’s Business’,
Smit – Kera
2. Hartman, Laura P., Perspectives in business Ethics, McGraw-Hill

ASSIGNMENTS
FIRST SET OF ASSIGNMENTS Assignment-I = 5
Marks
PART– A
1. How is education a purposeful ethical activity? Compare the system of education in ancient India with
the current system. Has it changed? Give reasons for your answer.
2. What are values? What is its significance in management?
3. Are you convinced about the need for business ethics? Give reasons for your answer.
4. Explain the concept of ethical relativism. Use examples to support your answer.
5. What are the types of values and how are they formed? Is management by secularism more effective
and important than management by spiritualism?

SECOND SET OF ASSIGNMENTS Assignment-II = 5 Marks

PART– B
1. From the perspective of the firm, ethics is closely associated with trust. Comment.
2. What is the responsibility of business towards society? Why is social responsibility at a low pitch in
India?
3. Explain the need for environmental ethics. What are the principles of ecological sustainability?
4. What do you understand by professional misconduct? How is the concept of 'quality of work life'
comparable to human resource development?
5. What is meant by white collar crime? Write a note on the modern concept of professional behaviour.

THIRD SET OF ASSIGNMENTS Assignment-III = 5 Marks

PART– C

1. Differentiate organizational climate from organizational culture.

2. State the areas in human resource management where ethical problems may arise. What are the
qualities essential in a good personnel manager? Explain in the light of business ethics.
3. Can advertising do without deception? Discuss with a view to an advertiser's professional duty.
4. What is the role of competitive benchmarking in TQM? Explain why it is referred to as a restless
approach?
5. Explain the philosophy of the Gita. Is it right to say that ancient Indian philosophy was based entirely on
austere asceticism?

FOURTH SET OF ASSIGNMENTS Assignment-IV = 2.5 Each Case Study

CASE STUDY - I

You are the CEO of a corporation whose board has just decided to cut the dividend to the stockholders. This is
a matter of absolute confidentiality, as it could have major effects on your stock prices if the information gets out
before implementation of the cut.
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 At a reception, an elderly gentleman who retired from the company several years ago, approaches you. Virtually
all of his savings and much of his retirement income is in company stock. He asks, point blank, whether he
should sell some of his stock, in order to obtain some needed funds for living expenses. You are aware that he
knows a 'yes' will indicate that some dramatic decision, such as a decision to cut the dividend, is impending. If
you say 'no,' he could lose considerable value on his stock. Could this affect your own job?

Questions:
1. Would you tell him? What would you say?
2. If you tell him, could it affect your organization?
3. Discuss the significance of moral and ethical issues in this case.

CASE STUDY-II

IT'S OK, SON, EVERYONE DOES IT

When Alok was six years old, he was with his father when they were caught speeding. His father handed the
officer a twenty-rupee bill with his driver's license. 'It's OK son,' his father said as they drove off. 'Everyone does
it.'
When he was eight, he was present at a family council presided over by an uncle, on the surest means to shave
points off the income tax return. 'It's OK, kid,' his uncle said, 'Everybody does it.'
When he was nine, his mother took him to his first theatre production. The box office man couldn't find any
seats until his mother discovered an extra twenty-five rupees in her purse. 'It's OK son,' 'Everyone does it.'
When he was twelve, he broke his glasses on the way to school. His aunt persuaded the insurance company
that they had been stolen and they collected one thousand rupees. 'It's OK son,' she said 'Everyone does it.'
When he was fifteen, he made right guard on the high school football team. His coach showed him how to block
and at the same time grab the opposing end by the shirt so the official couldn't see it. 'It's OK son,' the coach
said 'Everyone does it.'
When he was sixteen, he took his first summer job at the supermarket. His assignment was to put the overripe
strawberries in the bottom of the boxes and the good ones on top where they would show. 'It's OK son,' his
Manager said 'Everyone does it.'
When he was sixteen, Alok and a neighbour applied for a college scholarship. Alok was a marginal student. His
neighbour was in the top 3 of his class, but he couldn't play right guard. Alok got the scholarship. 'It's OK son,'
his parents said. 'Everybody does it.'
When he was nineteen, he was approached by a person who offered the test answers for five thousand rupees.
'It's OK son,' he said 'Everybody does it.'
Alok was caught and sent home in disgrace. 'How could you do this to your mother and me?' his father said.
'You never learned anything like this at home.' His aunt and uncle were also shocked. If there's one thing the
adult world can't stand, it's a kid who cheats.

Questions:
1. Basic learning of ethics starts from home. Discuss the significance of this statement based on the facts
provided in the case.
2. What kind of ethical training was essential for Alok from the very beginning? How can you establish the
relationship of ethical training in contemporary business?

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