Business Ethics Discussion
Technological determinism is the
imperative that what can be developed will be developed. Ethical lag occurs
when the speed of technological change exceeds the speed of ethical
development. A variety of issues arise in the business context at the
crossroads of technology and ethics.
Please address the following:
• One of the technological issues
that arise in the business context is that of privacy. What personal
information do businesses acquire from their employees? Their shareholders?
Their customers? Their vendors? How should organizations protect this
information?
• Have you witnessed unethical
activities related to technology, either by employees in a company in which
you’ve worked or at school? What made the activity unethical? How was this
unethical conduct addressed by management or school administrators? How should
it have been addressed?
1. Are there any benefits or
negative side effects of technology in business that have not been mentioned in
this chapter? Discuss.
2. Do you agree that society is
intoxicated with technology? Does this pose special problems for business with
respect to the ethics of technology? Will such intoxication blind people to
ethical considerations in business?
3. Do you think business is abusing
its power with respect to invasion of privacy of both consumers and employees?
What about surveillance? Which particular practice do you think is the most
questionable?
4. Is it an exaggeration to
question the ethical implications for business of cell phone and text-messaging
use? Discuss both sides of this issue.
5. Do you think genetically
modified foods raise a legitimate safety hazard? Should government agencies
such as the FDA take more action to require safety testing? What about warning
labels? Do you think warning labels would unfairly stigmatize GMFs and make
consumers question their safety? Is this fair to the GMF
Industry?





