Business Ethics

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Business Ethics
Research Paper Topics
Date Given: November 22, 2016
Date Due: January 27, 2017
Instructions
The following are some topics which you may consider for your research paper. Decide which area you
would like to write about and the applicable theories which you will consider in your discussion. You
may also choose any other topic that interests you.
Decide on your topic, narrow your focus (based on your interest) and create an outline. You may send
this via email before you begin writing the paper.
The total paper should be approximately 16 to 18 pages long (5000 words), including also the
negotiation/communication issues.
The paper will also include a case or questions related to the Communication & Negotiation course. A
folder entitled Additional resources for the term paper will be available on the ISMnet
course page
(Kirkpatrick).
TOPICS
1. Bribery
a. How do bribes manifest themselves in a negotiation and how can negotiators deal with
these ethically? Give concrete tips for relevant practitioners.
b. Analyze cases wherein bribes have been accepted as part of a negotiating process and
determine whether bribes are ever an acceptable “tradeable”. Give concrete tips for
relevant practitioners.
2. Privatization of resources (example natural resources)
a. Analyze case(s) in which the particular characteristics of the negotiation process itself
impacted outcomes for stakeholders, from the perspective of ethics. Examples of recent
historical cases include: privatization of water supply and sanitation in Bolivia, Texaco in
Ecuador, the Keystone pipeline project in the US.
b. Discuss how states or community advocacy groups have approached solutions through
negotiations or, conversely, how particular unilateral actions may have been more
effectively served through bargaining.
3. Corporate codes of ethics (Are they just window dressing, or can they really work?
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a. Should codes of ethics be developed for negotiators? What are the challenges
organizations faces when formulating and implementing such codes of ethics? Provide
actionable tips for relevant practitioners.
b. Critically analyze existing negotiator codes of ethics and provide actionable tips for
developing more effective ones.
c. What opportunities and challenges do corporate codes of ethics present in the moment
of carrying out negotiations? Provide key insights or pointstoconsider
regarding
bargaining specifically for those who design corporate codes of ethics.
4. Ethics of Advertising
a. Describe selected aspects of advertising in terms of the constructs posited in the course.
Identify the negotiating parties, stakeholders, and potential ethical issues.
b. As above, but narrow the scope of your discussion to a particular case and propose
remedies.
5. Environmental policy and business ethics
a. Is it more effective for states to pursue environmental goals through negotiation or
imposition, and what are the ethical considerations?
b. Propose a solution for a specific environmental problem by means of Smart Partnering.
6. CEO compensation
a. Analyze cases of CEO compensation in order to produce practical tips for negotiating
compensation, e.g. for junior managers, women.
b. Is negotiation a more effective approach to addressing the issue of CEO compensation
than is legislation or regulatory action? Formulate policy or legislative proposals/
guidance.
7. Child Labor
Is negotiation a more effective approach in dealing with organizations involved in child labor
than legislation or regulatory action? Consider value generated for the stakeholders, whether in
terms of indemnity or other value, and how that balances with wider ethical concerns. Provide
policy proposals/ guidance.
8. You may identify primary ethics concerns in a specific industry and the means companies can
use to address them.
a. Include in that treatment how those ethics concerns affect the carrying out of
negotiations by practitioners in those industries or organizations.
b. Conversely, identify how negotiations in a selected field, industry or organizational
structure are unique. Contrast those characteristics with those of negotiations carried
out in another context you deem relevant.
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9. You may compare business ethics laws in different countries, or investigate the reasons that
corporate ethics policies do not work and offer ways for improvement.
Provide examples of how those laws affect the negotiating process in general and create specific
problem areas for certain negotiators. Develop tips for practitioners from one identified
jurisdiction for their carrying out negotiations in another identified jurisdiction.
10. Social and environmental awareness (are they in conflict with business?)
a. Using constructs from the course, describe how a particular organization(s) has satisfied
those potentially conflicting demands or has, conversely, failed to do so. Provide
concrete takeaways.
b. Propose the use of Smart Partnering as a means of pursuing a solution for a particular
social or environmental problem. This will require identifying at least two proposed
partner organizations or organization types.
11. Enron, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan – (these are just examples) – Are these corporations only a
few ‘bad apples’?
Is negotiation a more effective approach to the issue of corporate malfeasance than legislation
or regulatory action? Consider value generated for the stakeholders, whether in terms of
indemnity or other value, and how that balances with wider ethical concerns. Identify any
general guidelines. Alternatively, narrow the discussion to a particular case and provide practical
takeaways.
12. Corporations and Government policy
As No. 11, above.
13. Government support of the wealthy (eg. Via bailouts or subsidies)
Discuss cases of bailouts in which states “left value on the table”. Propose general guidelines
that could inform future public policy decisions.
14. Employees’ working conditions
What role does negotiating play in improving working conditions? You might narrow the scope
to such issues as the gender pay gap, or the information advantage employers typically enjoy in
salary negotiations. Provide policy or legislative proposals or tips for relevant practitioners.
15. Responsibility of pharmaceutical companies (e.g. should they be forced to provide medicine or
vaccines for developing countries?)
What role does power play in states’ ability to negotiate outcomes, to impose sanctions and
remedies or to pursue batnas. Similarly, explore power and options available to nongovernment
organizations
16. Corporate tax evasion
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How effective is negotiating for states as an approach to corporate tax evasion, tax avoidance or
even legal tax minimization strategies? Provide guidelines for states, specific agencies or
relevant practitioners.
17. Ethics in the banking or financial markets
Provide a critical analysis in terms of efficacy and ethical concerns of the practice of
departments/ministries of justice in negotiating monetary settlements in lieu of case of criminal
prosecution. You may narrow the scope and to a historical case or suggest remedies for a
current, unresolved case.
18. Ethics in Negotiations
There exists a significant body of literature concerning the specific topic of ethics in
negotiations. You may choose to narrow the scope, for example, to a specific field or
profession, or even to a specific problem area.
Guidelines for the preparation:
 The term paper must be submitted in English.
 Each student has to choose one of the proposed subjects in order to fulfil the examination
requirements.
 The subject of the term paper must be different from the presentation topic.
Due Date: January 27, 2017
Procedure:
1. The term paper has to be handed in to the Examinations Office both hardcopy and electronically,
holepunched
and stapled. Ring binders, folders, etc. will not be accepted.
2. The cover sheet – which can be found on the ISMnet
– must be attached.
3. Students must attach a declaration that the term paper is his/her original work and that he/she
did not use any other sources other than those cited in the assignment.
Number of words: 5.000 +/10%
according to the ISMGuidelines
Structure of the paper:
– Cover page with title, student name, address, etc.
– Table of contents
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– Page 3 and following: Elaboration of the subject
– Last page: Executive Summary
– Summary page of the literature/ Bibliography
– Declaration of Authorship, word count included therein
Important: All consulted sources (literature, internet, magazines, etc. ) are to be properly attributed
(footnotes and in the literature summary/ bibliography).
All questions related to administrative issues should be addressed to Maria Kahander (ISM
Frankfurt).
Overall Course Evaluation:
Presentation: 30 %
Term paper: 70 %
Signed this 22nd day of November, 2016
Jenese Wray James Kirkpatrick