Business Ethics & Golf• 97 % of executives believe golf is a good way to

establish business relationships• 87% bet money on golf (especially 55+)• 82% of Executives admit to cheating on the golf course

– 87% have played with a someone who cheated– 86% admit to cheating in business– 82% say they hate people who cheat when they play golf

• 59% of executives believe how a person plays golf is similar to how they conduct business– 73%: shows a person’s “true” character– 67%: person cheating in golf would cheat in business– 57%: hot head on course would have temper in office– 10% of men, 19% women, feign sick to play golf

• 11% would rather hit hole-in-one than see son hit a home-run

From: Starwood Hotels’ Study: www.hotelonline.com/News/PR2002_2nd/June02_HOTGolf.html

Reasons Business People Act Unethically

• Desired outcome• Self-serving• Image (look better)• Flawed / different ethical

framework.• Justifying / rationalizing• Lack of consequences• Peer expectations / culture• Help others• Direction from superior• Unclear (awareness) ethics

• Survival• Rebellion• Harm others / revenge /

pleasure• Competitiveness

6 Reasons Business People Act Unethically

1. Rationalization

2. Bad role models in the organization

3. Peer pressure

4. Difficulty in defining what is ethical

5. Corporate culture

6. Pressure from Superiors

From: “What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right” by Michael S. Jones, ABC News.com, Feb. 21, 2002

Plasma International.• Utility

– Cost / benefit – $.90 is high payment context

• Rights– PI right to make a profit– Patients right to

uncontaminated blood– Know all costs– Protect company information

• Care– Paying Africans

• Justice– No regulation on price of

blood– Same price for all?