Description: Volkswagen (VW) may have landed itself in a crisis that is unprecedented in modern memory. Their act of installing a device to mislead regulators will surely result in a massive number of litigations. Source: CBC Date: September 22, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2675990932/?page=2 Questions for Discussion: Explain the sequence of events that led to VW’s crisis?… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ethics
Biggest recall in U.S. history
Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. recalled 34 million cars – the largest in the U.S. history; in other words, one is every seven cars in the U.S. is being recalled. The reason for the recall is defective airbags made by Takata – a Japanese company. This recall involves 11… Read more »
KFC Under Pressure After McDonald’s Says No to Antibiotics in Chicken
Description: KFC, world’s largest fried chicken restaurant chain, may face pressure from consumers and environmental groups after McDonald’s announced that it would switch to chickens raised without antibiotics. Source: Financial Post Date: March 12, 2015 Text Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/03/12/what-will-kfc-do-fried-chicken-chain-faces-pressure-after-mcdonalds-says-no-antibiotics-in-chicken/ Questions for Discussion: How does McDonald’s new strategy give them a competitive advantage? What should KFC do? Discuss… Read more »
Canada’s largest engineering and construction firm facing corruption charges
Description: Canada’s largest engineering and construction firm, Montreal based SNC-Lavalin, is accused of paying $47.9 million in bribes to Libyan officials. Source: CBC Date: February 19, 2015 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2654817566/ Questions for Discussion: Explain SNC-Lavalin’s corrupt practices? How did these practices benefit SNC-Lavalin? Is bribery common in international business? How should the government reprimand SNC-Lavalin?
Senior Target managers get large cash payout but no such payouts for front-line workers
Description: Target, which recently decided to close all its stores in Canada, will give out a large cash payout to its senior managers, however, there’s no such payout for its 17,000 front-line workers. Source: CBC Date: January 24, 2015 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/top-target-canada-managers-get-big-cash-payouts-as-stores-close-1.2930064 Questions for Discussion: Provide a rationale for why Target is giving a large cash… Read more »
Bank CEO’s are paid too much: TD Bank CEO admits
Description: Toronto-Dominion’s outgoing CEO, Ed Clark, admits that bank chief executives are paid too much. There is a growing spread between average incomes and what senior executives are paid at the bank. Source: CBC Date: October , 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/td-ceo-ed-clark-i-m-paid-too-much-so-i-give-back-1.2818836 Questions for Discussion: Do bank chief executives deserve such high salaries? Why or Why… Read more »
Canada Improves its Record on Bribery in Foreign Markets
Description: According to Transparency International, Canada has improved its record in combating corruption and bribery among Canadian companies that operate in foreign markets. Source: CBC Date: October 23, 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2568579479/ Questions for Discussion: Why is it important that Canada should more actively enforce its rules on combating corruption by its companies in foreign… Read more »
“Guilt Tipping”
Description: Technology has made it easier for people to tip. Starbucks will soon allow customers to leave a tip using a mobile app. It is almost impossible today for customers to forget to tip. Source: CBC Date: March 13, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2441753660/ Questions for Discussion: According to Bruce Sellery, what is “Guilt Tipping”? How has… Read more »
JPMorgan fined $1.7 billion
Description: The U.S. government seems to be coming hard on Wall Street. In a recent judgment, the U.S. justice fined JPMorgan $1.7 billion for failing to inform the authorities over Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Source: CBC Date: Jan 10, 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2429428298/ Questions for Discussion: Should JPMorgan be held responsible and fined… Read more »
Swiss to vote on CEO pay
Description: Switzerland goes to vote on capping CEO pay to 12 times the pay received by the lowest paid employee in the company. The reasoning behind this referendum is to maintain some level of parity among the highest and the lowest earners in the country. Source: CBC Date: Nov. 21, 2013 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2419872290/ Questions… Read more »
