Question

1. Your company is growing worldwide and for the first time it sends managers abroad. What are you going to do to ensure these people are able to face the ethical dilemmas they face?

2. Imagine if you had a payoff or lose the contract with someone. How are you going to think about it? What are you going to do? Why does this happen? What factors could influence your decision? What would you expect in terms of assistance from your employer?

Answer 1

If you were going on your first overseas business assignment, what would you do to ensure that you were prepared to deal with ethical dilemmas they face?

Possible Responses

• Study the culture

        - Social, political and economic

        - Similarities and differences in relation to the U.S.

        - Cultural perspectives on business

• Learn the language and cultural idioms

• Talk to employees who have been there before

        - Their perceptions of differences in business practices

        - Pitfalls to avoid

• Talk to foreign nationals

        - Their perceptions of differences in business practices

        - Pitfalls to avoid

• Learn business practices

        - Ethical issues typical of the culture

        - Negotiation tactics

Imagine yourself in a situation, where you had to bribe someone or lose the deal. How would you think about it? What do you think you would do? Why? What position would you hope your employer

Possible Answers

• Apply the "Eight Steps to Sound Ethical Decision Making in Business" that were introduced in Chapter 2

1. Gather the facts

2. Define the ethical issues

3. Identify the affected parties

4. Identify the consequences

5. Identify obligations

6. Consider your character and integrity

7. Think creatively about potential actions

8. Check your gut

                                                      

• Refer to the culture of your organization. What guidelines does it provide for decision making?  

• Recall the code of conduct or policy manual of your organization. What guidelines does it provide for decision making? (

Probes to Stimulate Discussion

• "What factors would you consider in weighing your options?"

       

• "What are the options?"

• "What criteria would influence your final decision?"

• "What would be the short and long term ramifications of each option?"

• “What do you think you would do? Why?”

Probe to Stimulate Discussion

“Explain your decision in terms of the factors you considered and the ramifications of your choice versus other options