1) Conflict of Interest 10 points
You are a purchasing agent for a manufacturer of luxury yachts. A sales rep from a company which makes high end furnishings for yachts invites you to attend the Super Bowl as their guest.
Should you accept? Why or why not? Be sure to use material from the readings to answer this question.
2) Competitor Intelligence 40 points
Read the Case: Proctor and Gamble Goes Dumpster Diving then answer these questions:
a) Is dumpster diving an ethical way of acquiring information from a competitor? If companies do not take precautions, such as shredding vital documents, why should they be protected from prying eyes? Would it make a difference if the dumpster were on private property or on a public street?
b) Although John Pepper acted courageously in notifying Unilever, was his action morally required? In view of the reaction from Unilever, did he act wisely?
c) Is Unilever owed any compensation? What harm has the company suffered for which they should be compensated? [Note: Compensation is due only for harm done. Compare this case to compensating the owner of an automobile in a crash.]
d) Was Unilever overreaching, punishing P&G when its chairman had acted properly? Or is the idea of a monitor a creative solution to a difficult problem? [Note: The sole purpose of a monitor is to ensure that P&G does what Pepper promised, and the cost of the monitor would be inconsequential.]
3) Financial ethics 50 points
Read the Case: Goldman Sachs and the Abacus Deal and watch the Crisis of Credit Video, then answer the following question using the format: Decision/Facts/ Ethical Reasoning/ Opposing point of view/ CST
Did Goldman Sachs create Abacus 2007-AC1 unethically?
