Discuss how self-interested behavior can compromise ethical behavior within the workplace.

Introduction

Jane Doe offers a kickback to a client for giving her more business. Is Jane at fault for offering the bribe or is Jane’s company at fault for not having proper rules in place to prevent such behavior?

An engineer derails a train while sending a text message to his spouse. Is the engineer responsible for his individual behavior or is the company responsible?

In The Moral Responsibility of Firms: For or Against?, (Links to an external site.) N. Craig Smith (2014) discusses the current debate of who is to blame when business wrong-doing occurs. In The ‘invisible hand’ has an iron grip on America, (Links to an external site.) Chris Matthews (2014) discusses “how the self-interested behavior of people in a marketplace leads to the greater good for all.” Reading these articles will help you to establish your own opinion on who is responsible for such behavior in the workplace.

Instructions

Prepare a paper in which you expand upon the following points:

Consider what you have learned this week about moral agents. Discuss your thoughts on whether the individual or the organization should be held responsible and/or liable when wrong-doing occurs.

Discuss how self-interested behavior can compromise ethical behavior within the workplace.

Provide an example (scenario) of an ethical dilemma that has occurred within the workplace. Is this example categorized as systemic, organizational or individual? Justify your decision.

How does moral responsibility or the invisible hand apply to this scenario? Justify your response.

Consider your course project. How will moral responsibility and the invisible hand affect your plan?

Use a minimum of four credible sources, which may include this week’s supplemental reading and other sources, to support your findings and conclusions. Please refer to the grading criteria listed below.

articles: https://fortune.com/2014/08/13/invisible-hand-american-economy/

https://knowledge.insead.edu/responsibility/the-moral-responsibility-of-firms-for-or-against-3243