Question

Culture and Ethical Business Practices

The business world is becoming increasingly global due to advances in technology and travel. This means that businesspeople must know how to navigate intercultural ethics, not just the ethics of their particular country. To better prepare for the ethical challenges of a global marketplace, you should broaden your cultural awareness and familiarize yourself with strategies that help you adhere to legal and ethical guidelines.
Read the following passages.
You are an HR representative for a global shipping company. Your supervisor asks you to contribute ideas via e-mail on possible discussion topics for the next HR meeting on intercultural ethics.
What discussion topics could you suggest?
A. Legal requirements, company policies, and conflicting cultural norms.
B. Ways to avoid being caught when participating in unscrupulous business practices abroad
C. Organizational mapping.
During a conference call with the corporate office, you are told by a senior executive that you will be going abroad in the next week to finalize a large account. He informs you that your expense account for this trip will be larger because, in order for the deal to go through, you must pay the top executives $5,000 each.
How do you respond to this information?
A. Accuse the senior executive of global corruption and read him the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
B. Clarify the situation, and ask specific questions about the overseas company's cultural and ethical practices. Also, ask what your company policies are regarding intercultural ethics.
C. Suggest that you pay just one executive this time around and save the company money.
Rather than determining whether a culture has good or bad ethics, it is best to look for practical solutions to the cultural challenges of doing global business.
Which of the following suggestions acknowledge different values and respect the need for moral initiative?
A. Refuse alternatives.
B. Avoid reflex judgments.
C. Don't rationalize shady decisions.
D. Embrace transparency.

Answer 1

Culture and Ethical Business Practices

1. Discussion topics:

A. Legal requirements, company policies, and conflicting cultural norms.

2. Response to this information:

B. Clarify the situation, and ask specific questions about the overseas company's cultural and ethical practices. Also, ask what your company policies are regarding intercultural ethics.

3. Suggestion that acknowledge different values and respect the need for moral initiative:

D. Embrace transparency.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are global cultural differences. The country's value system may be difficult to be globally upheld. It is only transparency that will ensure proper navigation of intercultural ethics. By asking questions and soliciting for clarifications, a good balance can be established in order to overcome ethical challenges in the global marketplace.