Business Ethics
An Ethical Decision-Making Approach
Foundations of Business Ethics Series

Business Ethics: An Ethical Decision-Making Approach presents a practical decision-making framework to aid in the identification, understanding, and resolution of complex ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

• Focuses exclusively on three basic aspects of ethical decision making and behavior?how it actually takes place, how it should take place, and how it can be improved
• Uses real-life examples of moral temptations and personal ethical dilemmas faced by employees and managers
• Discusses the biases, psychological tendencies, moral rationalizations, and impact of self-interest as impediments to proper ethical decision making
• Includes relevant examples of ethical misconduct and scandals appearing in the news media

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction to Ethical Decision Making 1

Part One Descriptive Theory 21

1 What Determines Ethical Behavior? 23

2 The Ethical Decision-Making Process 59

3 Impediments to Proper Ethical Decision Making 93

Part Two Normative Framework 127

4 Distinguishing Right from Wrong 129

5 The Decision to Report Misconduct 159

Part Three Practical Application 189

6 Developing and Sustaining an Ethical Corporate Culture 191

7 What Would You Do? Common Workplace Dilemmas 231

Conclusion: Navigating the Moral High Road 259

Appendix A: Factors Affecting Moral Character 271

Appendix B: Descriptive Ethical Decision-Making Models 277

Appendix C: Normative Ethical Decision-Making Models 287

Appendix D: Business Ethics in Hollywood Movies 293

Index 299

Mark S. Schwartz, MBA, JD, PhD, is Associate Professor of Business Ethics at York University's School of Administrative Studies in Toronto, Canada. An award-winning teacher and researcher, Dr. Schwartz has contributed to such journals as Business Ethics Quarterly, Journal of Business Ethics, Business & Society, Business and Society Review, Corporate Governance: An International Review, and Business Horizons. His most recent books include Corporate Social Responsibility: An Ethical Approach (2011) and, as co-editor, Business Ethics: Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality (2014).