Hoffman explores worldwide developments in the field of business ethics. The book is unique in that it not only discusses ethical issues faced by transnational corporations, but it also addresses the possibilities for international cooperation after the cold war, as well as regional business ethics issues from around the world. Included in the volume are discussions of business ethics in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Pacific Rim, and North and South America. A variety of issues and cases are contained in the volume including: the BCCI scandal, the IBM-Fujitsu case, intellectual property rights, transnational codes of ethics and theoretical and empirical studies about the moral responsibilities of transnationals, ethics and international law, ethics and development, and business ethics and cultural differences.
The work begins with a brief introduction that summarizes major themes contained in the book. The essays are collected in five sections. Section one contains cases and issues that are unique to regions and nations worldwide. Section two focuses on cases involving ethics and international law. These first two sections include a number of regional studies including ones from Brazil, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Hong Kong, and case studies including the BCCI scandal and the IBM-Fujitsu case. Section three features analyses of ethical issues faced by transnational corporations, for example, their relationship to host nations, their social responsibilities, and ethics programs within transnationals. Section four contains a summary and a debate about the development of transnational codes of business conduct including a discussion of efforts being sponsored by the United Nations. Finally, section five looks into the ethical problems that arise during economic development. Included here are contributions that raise questions about ethics and emerging financial markets, land-use, and the role of multinational corporations. This volume of essays will be an important resource for courses in business ethics, and international law, as well as a useful addition to business, academic, and public libraries.
About the Author: W. MICHAEL HOFFMAN is Director of the Center for Business Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at Bentley College. He is the co-author, with Dr. Frederick and Dr. Petry, of the Quorum Books Business, Ethics, and the Environment (1990), The Corporation, Ethics, and the Envoronment (1990), and The Ethics of Organizational Transformation (1989).
JUDITH BROWN KAMM is Associate Director of the Center for Business Ethics and Associate Professor of Management at Bentley College.
ROBERT E. FREDERICK is Research Scholar at the Center for Business Ethics and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bentley College. He is the co-author with Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Petry, of the Quorum Books Business, Ethics, and the Environment (1990), The Corporation, Ethics, and the Environment (1990) and The Ethics of Organizational Transformation (1989).
EDWARD S. PETRY, JR., is Research Associate at the Center for Business Ethics and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bentley College. He is the co-author with Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Frederick, of the Quorum Books Business, Ethics, and the Environment (1990), The Corporation, Ethics and the Environment (1990), and The Ethics of Organizational Transformation (1989).
