ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research

Jamie Larsen, Instructor

Activity - Discussion Forum

Ethics training is on the rise within organizations. Fifteen years ago, ethics training was typically provided only to managers. However, organizational psychology studies have shown that in the past ten years, 44% of US companies provide ethics training. Why? Education is expensive so why would companies spend money on ethics training of their employees?

The following reasons where determined by a study conducted by Susan Harrington in 1991, "What Corporate America is Teaching about Ethics:"

To develop employee awareness of ethics
To draw attention to potential ethical issues
To avoid lawsuits and build company image
To address ethical decision making
To establish an ethical corporate culture through the use of a code of ethics

You will have a code of conduct as a professional. This is always a good document to get early in your career. Ethics can be defined as standards for moral behavior - a code of behavior. You have your personal code that you live by. As a professional, your ethical conduct will define your reputation. Protect this as if it were a tangible asset - because it is!

Early in your career you may find yourself being exposed to ethical training. Some methods include the use of case studies. One case used in IBM illustrates a scenario of how much past information to consider when making a promotion decision.

Read this Ethics Case and decide how you would respond.
Click on WebCT/Vista
Click on the Discussion Forum Professional Ethics
Post an original message or reply about which of the four choices you would choose to do in step 1 of the Ethics Case if you were CEO of Archer Corporation.