The Ethical Barometer

News & Events

The Medium Changes, But the Ethical Issues Are the Same

Reverb Communications settled up with the FTC.  The marketing company agreed to remove from the Internet all the iTune reviews that appeared to be written by run-of-the-mill app users but that had really been written by its very own employees.  Reverb admitted nothing, noting that it could not agree with the FTC on the facts.  However, Reverb could have taken a lesson from Hollywood.  Fake reviews are nothing new.  We have had them for movies. Actress Demi Moore starred in the 1995 movie, The Scarlet Letter,   (more…)

Roger That and Blago This: Truth Percolates and/or Gushes

Roger Clemens was indicted for perjury.  Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was convicted on one count of 24 charges – that of lying to the FBI. Common thread?  Their troubles did not spring from their mistakes, misjudgments, and almost felonies.  Their troubles resulted from what they did when their conduct percolated to the surface.  Well, their troubles began when their conduct gushed to the surface like oil from a BP Gulf rig.  From the time of Nixon, it’s always the cover-up that gets you.  (more…)

Classic Quotes

“Dope!”

In a classic illustration of the front-page-of-the-newspaper test for making ethical decisions, the New York Daily News summed up Roger Clemens’ indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation into his use of performance-enhancing drugs. The News actually used the much better Jennings’ National Enquirer test:  Make up the worst possible headline you can think of for what you are about to do and then decide accordingly.

“Deciding to use performance-enhancing substances and methods has nothing to do with the lack of morality. It has to do with normative structure of elite sport, and the athlete’s commitment to his identity as an athlete.”

 Jay Coakley, sociologist and author, discussing Lance Armstrong and the   allegations of steroid use

Ah, but generally shifting norms don’t find us denying our adherence to the norm in lieu of, well, in this case, the laws as well as the regs of the sport.

“BP CEO Tony Hayward will step down. He’s looking forward to spending more time saying insensitive things to his family.” Stephen Colbert

“We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” C.S. Lewis

Ethical Dilemmas

If They Can’t Think of an Ethical Dilemma . . .

Here’s an interview question that provides a window into the soul:  Describe an ethical dilemma that you have faced (in your life, your last job) and explain how you resolved it.  If your interviewee struggles to come up with one, well, trouble may lie ahead.  That blank look and stymied expression could be the result of any of the following: (more…)

The Rude Air Travelers, But I Repeat Myself

The two men from Houston whisked by me as I waited for the TSA agent to use her highlighter and give me entrance to the innards of the Atlanta airport.  They had the attitude of those who travel sockless in expensive loafers. Indeed, they had their expensive loafers on, sans socks. The TSA agent was struggling because I had a boarding card, an increasing rarity these days.  I lacked the ubiquitous one-sheet print-out from the home or hotel computer.  Our TSA agent did not know where to swipe her orange highlighter (more…)

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Featured Books by Marianne Jennings

Businss Ethics 7th Edition

Coming December 2010: the Seventh Edition of Marianne's Businss Ethics book with case studies and reading. Available at cengage.com soon.

Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment

Coming December 2010: the Ninth Edition of Marianne's Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment

The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse

Never trust the people you cheat with. They will throw you under the bus.

A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success

Meet Edgar P. Benchley. Charitable people tend to call him a nerd. Others use less subtle descriptions. If you hear Edgar chatting to himself, don't be alarmed. He has an invisible friend who's kind of a cousin to Harvey from the old movie of the same name with Jimmy Stewart.