13 Jan What are some of the sources

Week 1 discussion

DQ1 Ethics is Personal

Initial Text:Though ethics involves our professional relationship to clients and our society at large, ethical challenges and how we resolve them have a big impact on how we feel about ourselves, our peers, and our career. With this fact in mind, I want you to think about this study in ethics as “your course.” What do you want from this course? How do you hope to benefit from a deeper understanding of ethics? (I hope that as the course progresses, you will review these thoughts and raise questions to be sure that your concerns are being met, but also that your discussion here helps me to understand and look for opportunities to respond to your individual concerns.)

DQ2 Google versus China

Read the Ethics case Google versus China” on page 41 of your text. Do you think acting legally is the same as acting ethically for a company doing business in a foreign country? Discuss the various ethical dilemmas that Google confronted when it first started operating in China and later on when the company was a victim of a hacker attack allegedly traced back to China.

Week 2 discussion

DQ1 The Enron Case

From the Enron case, assume that you are new members of the Board of Directors for Enron. What questions would you ask? What are some of the questions that the B.O.D. should ask? Why would you ask the questions that you did? (In other words, what are you trying to find out or accomplish?)

DQ2 What Does it Mean to be a Loyal Employee?

Employees should be loyal to their bosses.” Or, “Subordinates should follow the orders given to them by their manager.”

What is the meaning of the above quotes? How would you answer the question: What is more important, to be true to oneself, or to be true to one’s company?

Week 3 discussion

Showing Discomfort Over Certain Conduct

Suppose that you express your discomfort with a certain action or conduct because you consider it to be unethical. When you tell a coworker that you think that another coworker did something that you think is unethical, you make the comment that you could not sleep at night if you were to do the same thing. Or, that it would bother your conscience, so you won’t do it. Your coworker replies, “Since you are avoiding this conduct just so you can ‘sleep at night’, aren’t you also just acting in your own self-interest?” Aren’t we all just acting in our own self-interest, whether a decision is based solely on economic or moral considerations?

DQ2 Describing the Good Life

Describe the good life (not necessarily in the hedonistic or material sense, though you could if it’s a fact that reflects your values). What does a “good life” look like in the moral or ethical sense? What values, behaviors, and consequences are created when individuals choose to live a “virtuous” or good life?

Week 4 discussion

DQ1 Bribery or Opportunity in China

Review the author’s case on page 194, “Bribery or Opportunity in China Case.” From the Analysis of Stakeholders shown, explain the significance of the stakeholder and explain why John should consider them in his analysis to determine an ethical outcome.

DQ2 Practical Ethical Decision Making

Is it wise for a business executive to take into account more than profit when making decisions that have a significant social impact? Explain.

Week 5 discussion

DQ1 The Value of a Code of Ethics

A code of ethics is of little or no value. Do you agree or disagree? Support your answer.

DQ2 Outside Auditor’s Responsibilities

How has the Sarbanes-Oxley Act changed the responsibilities for auditors as they relate to the Board of Directors?

Week 6 discussion

DQ1 What Makes a Profession & a Professional?

After thinking about the question in general terms, explain, in your words, specifically what makes accounting and auditing a profession, and why accountants and auditors are professionals.

DQ2 What is the Professional Environment?

What are some of the sources of ethical guidance for the accounting profession? What is the major influence that each of these items has on the accounting profession?

Week 7 discussion

DQ1 Corporate Social Responsibilities

Why should a corporation report on its social responsibility performance? Research on the Internet an example of a corporate social responsibility report. Present a brief summary of your findings. Be sure to cite your source.

DQ2 Corporate Oversight

Describe the various risks that a business must consider that might require oversight by directors and company management (include a reference to any risk-measurement frameworks that you might have reviewed). Review the website www.coso.org/resources.htm. Discuss your findings on Enterprise Risk Management, developed by COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations).