By Stefan Georgi A central tenet of my new course on business ethics is that companies need to elucidate their values in order to succeed. One great way to do this is to clarify your principles through the development of a mission statement. An effective mission statement can do wonders for your company. Ideally, it should be short, elegant, and complete. It should encapsulate your core values and help stakeholders understand exactly what it is your company stands for. Over the course of studying numerous businesses, I’ve begun to realize that some companies really “get” mission statements
Consumer Data and Do Not Track
This week, the Federal Trade Commission called on Congress to enact legislation that would regulate the companies that compile and sell consumer data. The agency argued that consumers have a right to privacy, and as such they should be able to access the information that is collected about them. Additionally, the FTC called for online companies to embrace “Do Not Track,” (also referred to as “do not collect”) a mechanism that allows consumers to opt out of having their digital activities monitored. While advocacy groups have lauded the FTC’s call for greater protection of consumer privacy, some parties are not
Cultural Relativism and the Law: The Complex Case of Corporate Bribery
Legend has it that when Darius was king of Persia, he called forth several Greeks who were visiting his court. When formalities had been set aside, he asked them an unusual question: What would it take for them to eat the bodies of their dead fathers? The Greeks were disgusted. They responded to Darius that no amount of money, in fact, no earthly riches at all, could make them eat their father’s bodies. Fair enough, Darius responded. He then called forth some Indians from the Callatiae tribe, who did indeed eat their deceased parents, and asked them what it would
Homeless Hotspots: The Problem with Social Media and Rapid Response
One of the biggest news stories of the last week revolved around a company using homeless people as wireless hotspots. It occurred during the popular South by Southwest technology conference in Austin, TX, and was implemented by marketing company BBH Labs. News of the campaign rapidly went viral, and many made haste to criticize BBH. Tim Carmody, who blogs for Wired Magazine, described the problem as “completely problematic” and “sounding like something out of a darkly satirical science-fiction dystopia.” New York mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio said it “crossed a line.” Influential blogger XO Jane blasted the campaign as “exactly
The Problem with Multitasking at Work
*Editors Note: This article is by a guest contributor, K.C. Dermody. In it, she argues that multitasking at work can be unethical. What do you think of her arguments? By K.C. Dermody We Love Multitasking The ability to multitask can be a great asset when it comes to many jobs. In fact, it’s been suggested that this is one of the key skills that many interviewers are looking for in their job candidates. According to Robert Half International, the world’s leader in professional staffing and consulting services, 36 percent of employers named multitasking as one of the most important characteristics
What Declining Empathy Rates Mean for the Digital Media Industry
In late spring of 2010, a study performed by researchers at the University of Michigan reported that today’s college students are 40% less empathetic than they were thirty years ago. The research quickly made headlines, gaining press in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, and Scientific American. Some pundits pointed fingers at video games and social media as causes of the declining empathy rate, while others offered prescriptions for addressing the problem. Very few, however, asked the question of how the results of this study might affect the digital media business? The article provides some insight
