BUS 637
The Ethics and Cultural Decision Making paper
BUS 637: Intrapreneur/Entrepreneur
Introduction
In the simulation on ethics and social responsibility we went through different scenarios
including false advertising, utilizing child labor in a different country, paying a bribe and
falsifying expense reports. In the article we read about agency, corporate egoist, instrumentalist,
moralist, and altruist cultures. Based on different cultures, different outcomes could or would
occur. “It is suggested that virtue, conceived of as a type of knowledge, or skill, can be taught,
and people can, with appropriate experience, habitual practice, and good role models, develop
excellence of character and become moral experts.” (Begley)
Explain what the simulation offered with suggested correct decisions. Are these suggested
decisions that might have been made in the cultures described in the article (i.e., agency,
corporate egoist, instrumentalist, moralist, and altruist)?
In the example of the different scenarios within the simulation, the child labor one comes
to mind and I do not think I would have had a second thought on how to handle it. The
suggestion was to put the joint venture on hold until you can investigate if allegations are true.
Once it was determined that in El Salvadore the legal working age is 14, I would have continued
on with the joint venture. For the United States to insist that the company only hire those that are
18 or older or that they ensure an after school program would have not been the correct
approach. The agency would have concerns for the management. They would have moved
forward regardless without pause or the investigation. The corporate egoist and instrumentalist
would have only been concerned about what benefits the shareholders and not taken into
consideration anyone else. A company has the social and ethical responsibility to ensure that
The Ethics and Cultural Decision Making paper
BUS 637: Intrapreneur/Entrepreneur
Introduction
In the simulation on ethics and social responsibility we went through different scenarios
including false advertising, utilizing child labor in a different country, paying a bribe and
falsifying expense reports. In the article we read about agency, corporate egoist, instrumentalist,
moralist, and altruist cultures. Based on different cultures, different outcomes could or would
occur. “It is suggested that virtue, conceived of as a type of knowledge, or skill, can be taught,
and people can, with appropriate experience, habitual practice, and good role models, develop
excellence of character and become moral experts.” (Begley)
Explain what the simulation offered with suggested correct decisions. Are these suggested
decisions that might have been made in the cultures described in the article (i.e., agency,
corporate egoist, instrumentalist, moralist, and altruist)?
In the example of the different scenarios within the simulation, the child labor one comes
to mind and I do not think I would have had a second thought on how to handle it. The
suggestion was to put the joint venture on hold until you can investigate if allegations are true.
Once it was determined that in El Salvadore the legal working age is 14, I would have continued
on with the joint venture. For the United States to insist that the company only hire those that are
18 or older or that they ensure an after school program would have not been the correct
approach. The agency would have concerns for the management. They would have moved
forward regardless without pause or the investigation. The corporate egoist and instrumentalist
would have only been concerned about what benefits the shareholders and not taken into
consideration anyone else. A company has the social and ethical responsibility to ensure that
