Substantive replies

In need of (2) substantive replies of 125 words each to (2) different post. BUSN311 Law and Ethics in the business environment Topic: Week 7 Putting It Together

Rubrics:

Peer replies to further the conversation

Student replied to at least two (2) classmates’ posts and each reply includes at least three (3) to four (4) sentences relating the classmate’s post to at least one (1) question/point of the Discussion Prompt.

Responses are substantive and encourage discussion by proposing a different point of view supported by an attribution to a source, personal example, or personal application. All responses include related follow up questions to promote continued discussion.

Forum Post 1:

Hello Prof and class,

Should business ethics be grounded in deontology more than utilitarism? Let’s start with the word “ethics” which google will define it as “moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.” We can collaborate that with business activities will be a simple theory of business ethics. Utiltarism is the theory that people should do the right thing solely because it is the right thing to do weather it is a formal law or not. On the other hand utilitarism will do the ethical act when legally obligated. Weather one should fall solely grounded to one dimension is up for interpretation. In 2018 Heinzelman quotes Greene in the Synthese when he stated that he “defines characteristically deontological judgments as those justified in terms of rights, duties, and similar deontological notions whilst characteristically consequentialist judgments are justifiable in terms of impartial cost–benefit analysis or other consequentialist conceptions” (Heinzelmann, 2018). I don’t feel business ethics needs to be obligated to choose sides. Situations may be handled accordingly but also a good direction needs to be had because we cannot foresee every instance that may occur therefor deonology would take place in absence of formal law. A 2006 article from the Journal of Business Ethic’s implies that business ethics should also be added to a “dwelling category and “The limitations of deontological, or principle-based ethics as well as those grounded in consequentialism or utilitarianism include that they are experienced as being too abstract to be usable, along with the view that the philosophical language with which they are often presented is off-putting” (Ladkin, 2006).

Heinzelmann, N. (2018). Deontology defended. Synthese, 195(12), 5197-5216. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy2.apus.edu/10.1007/s11229…

Ladkin, D. (2006). When deontology and utilitarianism aren’t enough: How heidegger’s notion of “dwelling” might help organisational leaders resolve ethical issues: JBE. Journal of Business Ethics, 65(1), 87-98. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy2.apus.edu/10.1007/s10551…

Forum Post 2:

Good Afternoon Class,

“Business ethics should be grounded in deontology more than utilitarianism.”

In my opinion this means that doing things the right way is more important than being the most helpful the largest amount of people overall. I think that it is dangerous to ever make any hard and fast rules when it comes to ethics. The only way in my opinion to be truly ethical is to look at each situation. in some cases either philosophy could be considered the best way to go. I think the experts are able to look at things from their business or their perspective and not see how it could be the opposite view from another industry.

I think that in a case where ethical gray lines are crossed but in the end large amounts of hungry people are fed, then this example is wrong. However, when discussing purely financial gains then in that case it make sense.

Overall, looking at all of these case studies money seems to be the objective and the environment and people may come second and that is not a very positive outlook for our world. I would like to think that there is room in the world for both good people and profit. It may mean slightly less profit in order to keep our world sustainable. I just can not quite get behind any of these somewhat all or nothing philosophies regarding ethics. I look at each one and see where they fit certain situations but none that fit them all.

Prompt W7: Putting It Together

During our discussions and your readings in this course, you have reviewed several legal and ethical issues that affect business practices and business decisions. The business environment, for even the sole proprietor and small company, can be complex. For this Forum, reflect on the readings, discussions and issues we have covered. For your first forum post this week, consider the following and respond.

One ethicist in the field of business ethics states, “Business ethics should be grounded in deontology more than utilitarianism.”

• What does this mean?
• Reflect on the definitions and application of these two distinct ethical frameworks.
• Why do you think this expert proposes this view?
• Consider the case studies you have read about.
• Think how you would make critical decisions.
• Do you you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.

Rubrics

Initial main response to Discussion Prompt

Student’s post directly responds to all the questions/points in the Discussion Prompt;
AND
Student discusses at least two (2) concepts in the post that demonstrate student has reviewed the required readings, lesson, or other relevant research sources.

WEEK 7: THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED READING FOR THE COURSE. THESE MATERIALS WILL ASSIST YOUR RESEARCH FOR DISCUSSIONS, EXAMS/QUIZZES, AND PAPERS.

Bumgardner, L. (2010). Lessons from the new Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform law. Graziadio Business Review, 13(4), n.p. Retrieved from https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/10/lessons-from-the-new-financial-regulatory-reform-law-2/

The Sarbanes Oxley Act. (2012, February 9). [Video File.] thatnewbeat. YouTube. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW9pSAwaeO0 (4:46 min, transcript provided)

“On July 30, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which he characterized as ‘the most far reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.’ The Act mandated a number of reforms to enhance corporate responsibility, enhance financial disclosures and combat corporate and accounting fraud, and created the ‘Public Company Accounting Oversight Board,’ also known as the PCAOB, to oversee the activities of the auditing profession.” (From SEC.gov.)

For your reference, a full copy of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 can be retrieved from: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-1883/pdf/COMPS-1883.pdf

Maffei, S. (2011). Personal liability of corporate shareholders in New York. Review Of Business, 31(2), 110-114. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=66249887&site=ehost-live.

Piercing the corporate veil. (2020, April 6). [Video File.] LawShelf. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lejw9IwVrE (6.16 min., transcript provided)

Piercing the corporate veil. (n.d.) Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/piercing_the_corporate_veil