Peer Review

Business Ethics Cases

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This webpage from the Institute for Global Ethics has links to cases that
concern Business Ethics. There are numerous cases available with 14 of them
pertaining to business. The background of each case is presented along with a
short analysis of the various decision options. The real-life resolution is not
provided as the authors want to encourage the readers to utilize the
information provided to develop their own solutions to these dilemmas.
Type of Material:: Collection
Recommended Uses:: These cases would be best used as the basis for class discussion. They could be
analyzed individually or in teams prior to class meetings and then provide the
basis for a discussion of ethical dilemmas in business.
Technical Requirements:: Standard internet browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The purpose of this module is to illustrate various ethical dilemmas and to
present different approaches to their resolution. Students are then required to
determine which outcome they believe to be in the best interest of the parties
involved
Target Student Population:: These cases are suitable for use in undergraduate and graduate ethics,
management
and education classes. They could also be used with adult learners.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Some introduction to general management principles and ethics and perhaps a
process for analysis would be helpful for students before assigning these cases.

Rating:
Strengths:: The material presented in these cases is interesting and certainly presents some
clear ethical dilemmas. The analysis section is effective as it presents both
sides of the issue and the pluses and minuses associated with each potential
decision. The cases are short enough to be used for in-class work, but
difficult enough that the analysis could be assigned as a homework exercise.
Concerns:: I believe that the learning process may be improved if the real-life solutions
were available to the students. I also believe the learning process would be
enhanced if the various different alternative solutions were evaluated for the
student so that he or she could have a better understanding of what the best
solution to each dilemma would be. It would also be beneficial to have teaching
notes to aid the instructor in the analysis.

Rating:
Strengths:: The cases contained in this site are real world ethical dilemmas with no
'correct' answer, as is often the case in the real world. But, they provide an
excellent forum for class discussions. Much can be learned by allowing students
to develop their own solutions to these dilemmas and then hearing how their
fellow students propose to resolve them.
Concerns:: Because the different solutions are not evaluated, it would be difficult for the
student to complete the assignment independently. These cases require class
discussion and instructor input to guide students to the best resolutions.

Rating:
Strengths:: The module is easy to use and the cases are well written and interesting.
Concerns:: It would perhaps be more interesting for the students if the module was more
interactive. In other words, they could propose how they would respond to the
dilemma and the computer would evaluate the quality of their response. This
might entail some sort of multiple choices at the end of each case to facilitate
a computer response.

Other Issues and Comments:: This module could be very useful if a process for analyzing ethical situations
was also linked for the students.
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