Tutorial 7 – Understanding Organisations: Theory and
Practice: Business Ethics Issues
Taylorism Article -
‘Taylor could not have predicted the rise and fall of America’s trade unions over
the rest of that century. But, like many of today’s gig-economy companies, he was
quietly confident that his ideas would win out in the end. Like Uber and Deliveroo,
he had faith in the power of his system to provide consumers with cheaper and
better stuff and believed that would ultimately overwhelm all objections. “At first
glance we see only two parties to the transaction, the workmen and their
employers,” he wrote in his book. “We overlook the third great party, the whole
people – the consumers who buy the product of the first two.” ‘
‘ “In the end, he predicted, “the people… will force the new order of things on
both employer and employee.” ‘
Algorithms provide a degree of control and oversight that even the most
hardened Taylorists could never have dreamt of
It can be considered subtly more controlling than slavery as suggested by
‘Taylorism 2.0’
Is this considered ethical or not?
Class debate
What have we learnt from these examples in relation to issue of business
ethics?
Example of discussion point:
Is management/business an ethics-free activity?
Should decision makers in organisations be held accountable for their
decisions? How?
Is it just a matter of compliance to laws or is there something
more?
Page 1
Practice: Business Ethics Issues
Taylorism Article -
‘Taylor could not have predicted the rise and fall of America’s trade unions over
the rest of that century. But, like many of today’s gig-economy companies, he was
quietly confident that his ideas would win out in the end. Like Uber and Deliveroo,
he had faith in the power of his system to provide consumers with cheaper and
better stuff and believed that would ultimately overwhelm all objections. “At first
glance we see only two parties to the transaction, the workmen and their
employers,” he wrote in his book. “We overlook the third great party, the whole
people – the consumers who buy the product of the first two.” ‘
‘ “In the end, he predicted, “the people… will force the new order of things on
both employer and employee.” ‘
Algorithms provide a degree of control and oversight that even the most
hardened Taylorists could never have dreamt of
It can be considered subtly more controlling than slavery as suggested by
‘Taylorism 2.0’
Is this considered ethical or not?
Class debate
What have we learnt from these examples in relation to issue of business
ethics?
Example of discussion point:
Is management/business an ethics-free activity?
Should decision makers in organisations be held accountable for their
decisions? How?
Is it just a matter of compliance to laws or is there something
more?
Page 1
