Product Description
Taking Sides volumes present current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. Taking Sides readers feature an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites. An online Instructor’s Resource Guide with testing material is available for each volume. Using Taking Sides in the Classroom is also an excellent instructor resource. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Be prepared to argue wtih yourself
The text was a required reading for one of my college courses.The book is laid out in a for vs against style for each case study presented.The cases present valid ethical arguments that are pertinent to today's society covering a range of topics including consumer rights, privacy and safety. It's a great research resource as well.

Very dated view of ethics
This book was not a good choice for the ethics class I took in college. One example was the Ford Pinto case. The arguments for Ford were very clear, but the case of the explosion was a reprint of an article readily available on the Internet. Many of the case studies were not apples to apples - but bananas to apples - meaning not equally persuasive on both sides.

The instructor who taught our class used old materials like this book -i.e. Ethics in America. If he had used a couple of the cases, that would have been great. There are much better ethics resources out there that are up to date and have recent and relevant cases.

You don't have to read it
This book covers 19 controversial issues. First the authors bring an issue, give some comments and give two articles that discuss the issue, but are contraversial to each other.

The reasonwhy this book cannot get more than three stars is that the choise of articles wasn't really successful. Sometimes some of the articles seem not to make sence at all. Some of them don't answer any questions.

For instance, the one about Patenting Life; second article, which keeps ripping on Rifkin (the author of the previous article) instead of discussing some of the issues Rifkin mentioned in his article against Patenting Life.It's obvious that he's for patenting lives, but he doesn't come even close to some of the issues that Rifkin talks about in his article. He just tries to avoid them because he doesn't know how to answer to those claims. The author could pick a different articles in this and many other cases as well.

Also the second article ofCEO Compensation Issue doesn't make any sence. Actually, the author of the article was Lisa H. Newton herself. She asserts that CEOs do nothing but writing memos and lay offs, at the same time receiving over 47,000 times (if I remember correctly) more than other people in developing nations like Africa and Asia do, and 209 times more than his employees.Common, this is not called Ethics in Business. She doesn't face the facts brought up by the author of the article who gave pretty reasonable arguements why CEOs should get that much compensations, why they are worth it.

Some of the articles do not provide with any references or sources of citations from outside sources when needed. I can mention one from Rifkin's article on patenting life.

The reason why this book got three stars is that, the issues brought by authors are pretty interesting and some are thought provoking. Even though one doesn't agree with the arguements, you can still learn something by reading them, and try not to repeat some of the blunders made by the authors.

I do recommend you to go for alternatives if you want a book on Business Ethics. ... Read more

Product Description
When standards for pollution, discrimination, and salary schedules are lower in an offshore host country than they are in the home country, should multinational corporations insist on home country standards? Would using home standards imply a failure to respect cultural diversity and national integrity? What obligations, if any, do multinationals have to the people they affect indirectly? In this study, business ethicist Thomas Donaldson offers three concepts for interpreting international business ethics: a social contract between productive organizations and society, the notion of a fundamental international right, promulgated by ten specific international rights, and a moral "algorithm" to help multinational managers make tradeoffs between conflicting norms in home and host countries. He then employs these concepts in the analysis of specific problems such as the distribution of hazardous technology and South African divestment.A timely and important text for courses in international business or business ethics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Difficult, but rewarding
I use this book in a graduate class in international business. MBA students struggle with it, and I have to teach pretty actively in order to identify the core argument for them. But they eventually understand it, and many find it the most rewarding book they read in the class.

The structure of Donaldson's reasoning is beautiful, and the algorithm gives useful guidance toward RESOLVING ethical dilemmas in international business. Donaldson believes businesses have ethical responsibilities in international settings, but what they are isn't always obvious. The context matters, for this author; neither transporting American ethics abroad nor "doing what the Romans do while in Rome" works properly.

Besides his ethical algorithm (specific guidance for resolving ethical dilemmas), Donaldson contributes a list of 10 "fundamental international rights" and the duties they imply for multinational corporations. An important book in the field, and very satisfying. ... Read more

Product Description
This compilation analyzes the differences between the concepts of social responsibility and business ethics , which are often erroneously interpreted to be the same. It explains that social responsibility is a characteristic but just one of the many aspects of the much wider concept of business ethics. The collection includes contributions from experts from diverse fields such as industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations, who present the theoretical underpinning of the concepts, along with real-life case studies dealing with the varied, hands-on experiences of leaders from different industries.
... Read more

Product Description

This book provides comprehensive and, above all, business focused guidance on the fundamentals of business law and how they should be integrated into ethical and effective business decisions. It concentrates on legal principles and thereby is able to articulate the impact of global business law and its international applications  providing  a comprehensive overview of the legal and ethical principles which both facilitate and regulate corporate business. This is an ambitious undertaking, yet arguably no more ambitious than the projects undertaken by global business leaders making business decisions around the world.

The author combines the expertise of a long-term blue chip law background with the insights of an experienced business educator. Law and Ethics in Global Business is both a comprehensive course book for MBA study and an invaluable business reference source for any executive involved in global business.

Customer Reviews (3)

Introduces business students to essential issues in law and ethics
A helpful book for introducing business students to essential issues in law and ethics.The text provides basic, easily-understood information for students.Nelson's approach permits instructors to supplement in a wide variety of ways, depending upon their course objectives.

- Kathleen Getz, Associate Professor of Global Corporate Citizenship,
Kogod School of Business, American University, USA.

A "must" for Business students
A very valuable new text, currently adopted onto our distance learning programmes as a core text.The law and ethics issues are a "must" for business students, and are delivered here in a user-friendly, but challenging, fashion.

- Dr. Alistair Benson, Academic Director, Manchester Business School Worldwide

A key focus for both business schools and law schools
In my career I have had the task of teaching business ethics to lawyers and teaching introductory business law to MBA students.Brian Nelson's Law and Ethics in Global Business would have helped considerably in both courses, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to students in the future.This interface of business ethics, business law, and business practice is becoming a key focus for both business schools and law schools.

- Professor Thomas Clarke, Director, Centre for Corporate Goverernance, UTS Sydney ... Read more

Product Description
"Business and Society: Stakeholder Relations, Ethics and Public Policy" by Lawrence and Weber has continued through several successive author teams to be the market-leader in its field. "Business and Society, 12e" highlights why government regulation is sometimes required as well as new models of business-community collaboration. The authors believe that businesses have social (as well as economic) responsibilities to society; that business and government both have important roles to play in the modern economy; and that ethics and integrity are essential to personal fulfillment and to business success. In addition, this textbook has long been popular with students because of its lively writing, up-to-date examples, and clear explanations of theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book was very well written and comprehesive.
Most textbooks do a very poor job of addressing current issues in a clear, accurate, concise manner.This book, however, is to be commended.I especially found the resource information and discussion cases to be atremendous benefit.The discussion questions and current event topicsencourage the students to explore these issues outside of class, in theirbusinesses and in the community.Business and society is a topic ofextreme importance.Unfortunately, it often goes overlooked in so manyuniversities and colleges.Overall, I rank this book as a worthwhileinvestment and hope the authors continue to explore these important issuesin business and education.

Not ideal for Students, like me
I found this book exremely biased, especially on its treatment of ethics and environmentalism, which were extremely collectivistic and altruistic. I felt like I was also overcharged for the text book, for something sovaguely written. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of 36 original and reprinted contemporary cases that focus on ethical and social issues surrounding business. Readers will be made aware of situations that require moral reflection, judgment, and decision-making, thus revealing the complexities that surround moral choices and the formation of public policy.Arguments included address employees and the workplace, customers, clients, and consultants, stakeholder interests and government interests, competitive markets, and problems of justice.For business professionals and others interested in business ethics and policies.q ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

book for class
great seller. Bought this book for my class. Was shipped in a timely mannner and the book was in great condition. ... Read more

Product Description
In the first anthology of its kind, Thomas O'Brien and Scott Paeth have gathered unique pieces from across religious perspectives to illustrate the growing influence and contribution of religion to the field of business ethics. Tackling such wide-ranging subjects as Jewish environmental ethics, Zen in the workplace, and Christian social ethics, this text is a valuable addition to business ethics courses. ... Read more

Product Description

Harvard Business Review on Corporate Responsibility

What and whom is a business for? This collection of articles gathers the latest thinking on the strategic significance of corporate social responsibility. Readers will develop an understanding of why businesses should continue to give money away even while laying off workers, how companies play a leadership role in today's social problems by incorporating the best thinking of governments and nonprofit institutions, and how community needs are actually opportunities to develop ideas and demonstrate business technologies. Readers will see how corporate responsibility can lead to new markets and solutions to long-standing business problems.

The Harvard Business Review Paperback Series

The series is designed to bring today's managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. From the preeminent thinkers whose work has defined an entire field to the rising stars who will redefine the way we think about business, here are the leading minds and landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for ambitious businesspeople in organizations around the globe.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book on good shape
The book was in great shape and transaction went very well. The book came a little late but within the time frame as specified. Otherwise great transaction!

A very interesting book
A collection of articles gathers the latest thinking on the strategic significance of corporate social responsibility: a very interesting book!

Excellent for the newbie, boring for the old-hat
As a self described old had on corporate responsibility, sustainability, and green leadership, I paged through this quickly, took interest in a few articles, and ultimately didn't get a lot out of it. If you have substantial experience in the field and have read other books and literature, I'd recommend you skip this brief compendium of the top Harvard Business Review articles.

On the positive side, the essays are all quite well written, researched, and vetted, though some are a bit dated now. Most of these form the backbones of some very serious strategy arguments in the business world, and considerable amounts of research have sprung from these quick leaders. If you're looking to get a broad overview quickly, read this, then go find books and articles that cite these articles to get a much more in-depth view of the philosophies.

Excellent collection of Harvard Business Review publications
This book is excellent for the researcher who has been trying to find some older works on CSR, which originally appeared in the Harvard Business Review.
There are some "classic" articles in this book, however I would not full-heartedly recommend this collection to the general public:

As one would expect by a Harvard Business Review collection anyway, the topic CSR is not dealt with in a consistent manner, the publication rather adds a number of distinguished articles one after the other.

Harvard CSR
As an educational leadership professor, I am interested in learning about corporations and how they impact educational settings. This text was one of the most comprehensive collections of essays to offer a wide range of perspectives on the issues of corporate social responsibility. With its researchers and the commentary, this text provides a novice, like myself, with the background, application and insight as to how the business world perceives CSR within its own environment. For those of you who are new to this field, this is a must read.

Dr. Joan Jackson, Asst. Prof. Ed. Leadership, ODU ... Read more

Product Description

For courses in Business Ethics or Business and Society.   A collection of 30 cases on major ethical issues in business.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Text review of Ethics and the Conduct of Business
The text was very informative, although I was disappointed in the instructional nature of the book. I am recently finishing a business ethics course in college where this book is our class text. It would have beenextremely helpfull if there had been an end of section review with testquestions to challenge a students learning and understanding of the subjectmatter. Otherwise, as stated before, the book was rather informative andthe case studies were interesting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good product, new, but late delivery!
Great book! Useful information! I wish they'd delivered it sooner! It took about 3 wks to get my book! About 3 days before my mid term exam! ... Read more

Product Description
In today's business climate, firms need to be wary of practices that may provoke criticism and scandals. Investigative reporters, eager lawyers, and zealous governmental agencies are lurking in the wings. These lessons of the past give you an inside look at some of the biggest mistakes of recent history. You can ponder not only how they might have been avoided, but also how their resolution might have been better handled. Robert Hartley, author of the popular Marketing and Management Mistakes and Successes books, brings you face-to-face with major players and the temptations, crises, and torments they experienced. Thought-provoking discussion questions, role-playing exercises, and debates present you with key ethical concerns that may help you avoid similar situations in your own career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Entertaining stories
I hate ethics books that just drill "do the right thing" into your head. This book has practical real-world examples to draw on. The chapters/stories are relatively short and hit the main points in that time frame. Better than the text book ethics books.

Good Foundation for Ethics Review
Hartley's "Business Ethics" is a composition of a many different case studies that may have practiced in the "grey area" of ethics.With boundaries spanning a myriad of locations depending on culture and backgrounds, ethics is a hot topic but an important topic of discussion in business.

Hartley's book provides a great launching pad for ethics discussions, but some of the questions are written for a very undergraduate or high school audience.My recommendation would be to read the content, and formulate your own questions depending upon the audience with which you are working. ... Read more

Product Description
Accounting Ethics uses concrete examples and case studies, including current situations such as the Enron/Arthur Andersen debacle, to examine the ethical responsibilities of individual accountants as well as accounting firms.

• Offers a comprehensive overview of ethics in accounting, as well as an examination of and recommendations for solving the current crisis in this field.
  
• Investigates the nature and purpose of accounting.
  
• Uses concrete examples and case studies, including current situations such as the Enron/Arthur Andersen debacle.
  
• Examines the ethical responsibilities of individual accountants as well as accounting firms .

Customer Reviews (2)

Ethics
The book was sent at a speedy time.The sender did a great job shipping the book timely. Thanks!

Some Good Basic Information, Fair Overall
This short text offers some good basic background information on ethics and then goes on to apply this to accounting.The focus is on public accounting and audit in particular, though the discussion also applies to the accounting field in general.However, this text does not go beyond the basics, and anyone who has spent some time thinking about the subject will have confronted most of these issues already.Still a worthwhile sumamry. ... Read more

Product Description
Wake Up Calls: Classic Cases in Business Ethics presents classic cases that demonstrate business ethics blunders by mainstream companies.The authors provide a conceptual background to help put each case into a meaningful context. By exploring and discussing where businesses have failed, learners get a greater insight into the importance of practicing ethical behavior. ... Read more

Product Description
In recent years, a succession of corporate scandals has rocked the international business community. As a result, many companies have invested considerable time, money and effort on the development of ethics management programs. However, in many cases, such programs are nothing more than insurance policies against corporate liability, designed merely to limit the fallout of scandals should they occur. In Business Ethics as Practice, Mollie Painter-Morland urges us to take business ethics seriously by reconsidering the role of ethics management within organizations. She redefines the typical seven-step ethics management program from within - challenging the reader to reconsider what is possible within each aspect of this process. In doing so, she draws on the insights of Aristotle, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Foucault and numerous contemporary organizational theorists and sociologists to create the space for the emergence of a morally responsive corporate ethos. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

manging fo rstakeholders:
A great introduction to a new way of seeing business. It is not only about making money, it is about giving a contribution to a better world. Managing for stakeholders is strong in its ideas and practical in how you make them happen. Make money for your owners and aim at doing somthing good for all the other stakeholders as well.

A practical approach to business management
Good business leaders know they can help their firms succeed by connecting to their communities and by improving their relationships with employees, suppliers and customers. Yet, many executives still make the grave mistake of focusing solely on their shareholders and bankers, ignoring other important stakeholders. R. Edward Freeman, Jeffrey S. Harrison and Andrew C. Wicks provide new thinking and techniques to help you best manage stakeholder relationships and boost your firm's success. They offer practical advice for balancing the needs of your financiers with those of other stakeholders. getAbstract recommends this book to all managers and business thinkers. Board members and other professionals who want to understand their new roles and responsibilities in the globalized world of commerce will also value the authors' take on business ethics.

Our complex society requires corporate management to consider its context as well as its income
I really have little use for the socialists who insist they have property rights to influence, control, and even run the daily operations of private (or even publicly traded) companies.This is not only a bad idea, it is bad for society.However, this book stops short of this "social responsibility" claptrap.The idea these authors present is that society is so complex that there is no such thing as a stand alone corporation.Companies require the infrastructure that society provides, they certainly need customers, and most have vendors.Those who pay the taxes, run the companies that supply other firms, and who live in the communities where these companies work, and who work in these companies, all have an interest in how these corporations influence their lives.If a firm bulls ahead without regard to the interest of these stakeholders, they will actually create more problems for themselves.

The idea in the book is that a firm that works WITH its stakeholders actively rather than waiting until problems arise, is going to be more competitive, and contribute more net good to its shareholders and all who are affected by its work.

When anyone claims the stakeholders are equal or greater than the shareholders, you lose me.I don't think these authors are claiming that.They are just claiming that prudence dictates that the corporation has more considerations than just the net income that can be provided to the shareholders.It makes some sense.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Quick Read - Grist for Meaningful Reflection
Generally, I am suspicious of any book touting a stakeholder model over one grounded on shareowners. The problem is one of identification. Without a clear party in control, the CEO and board can rationalize just about any position based on balancing "stakeholder" interests.

I'm also concerned with a book on ethics sponsored by the Business Roundtable, since that organization has a long history of ill-founded opposition to shareowner interests, such as expensing stock options and proxy access. Despite these reservations, I can honestly recommend Freeman's book. The corporate form exists for more than simply maximizing shareowner wealth. A stakeholder approach is appropriate in most day-to-day decisions, and this small volume offers good advice.

Any executive or board can benefit by more thoroughly examining their corporation's community of interest. As the authors posit, companies which "find a way to create value for conflicting stakeholder interests will be the winners." Engagement often leads to value-creation. Even when it does not, a few simple cooperative steps can often diffuse what might otherwise be a damaging situation. "Unilateral action increases the risk of conflict escalation."

The book lacks ex ante rules for deriving a hierarchy of stakeholders but, instead, takes a more organic approach. More discussion of the fundamental tension between the expectation for substantive debate over disagreements with stakeholders and the reality of our common preference for social cohesion and conflict avoidance would have added value. In Hearing the Other Side: Deliberative versus Participatory Democracy, for example, Diana C. Mutz, reports finding that the degree of cross-cutting discussion decreases as levels of income and education increase. This helps explains why so few corporations make an adequate effort to communicate with stakeholders. Rather than limiting active engagement to the like-minded or withdrawing, Mutz argues for "weak ties" that foster loose engagement and build tolerance.

I would have also liked more of a conceptual framework. For example, readers might have benefited from a discussion of the "rights" of stakeholders using Wesley Hohfeld's fundamental legal concepts of a claim against, a liberty or privilege, an authority or power, and an immunity. Such a discussion would be helpful in framing expectations around stakeholder engagement.

While readers are warned the book is "written for executives, not for academics," and "we are in the process of creating a separate book that will contain all the academic support," this reader would have benefited from more science and a more rigorous conceptual framework. Instead, the authors appear to argue that management is still more art than science.

Still, I liked the discussions on the principles of ethical leadership and on leadership by choice, which emphasizes that people must have adequate knowledge of alternatives and at least some options before they truly engage in a genuine choice to follow. Pack the book for your next flight and you'll probably find a reasonable amount of grist for meaningful reflection.

Another useful tool for identifying at least some of your company's stakeholders is touchgraph.com. Try it out by entering the name of your company or its URL to visually portray your firm's 6 degrees of separation in cyberspace. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
A focused, easy-to-read, book that defines and illustrates contemporary business examples with applied ethical principles. This book uses a stakeholder approach to identify the central constituencies surrounding a business ethical dilemma, incident or crisis, whether it is an environmental, regulatory, advertising, health related, multinational, or employee workplace issue. No other paperback ethics text has the variety of managerial and ethical frameworks that this book contains. ... Read more