Make Money Myself

The approaches to economic ethics and business ethics in Continental Europe and those in America show considerable differences but also a shared interest in turning business ethics into a subject relevant and useful for business practice as well as for the philosophical debate on ethics. The volume collects original essays on the major approaches to economic ethics and business ethics in Germany, the USA, and Europe. It provides the reader with a comprehensive overview about the discussion on modern economic ethics and business ethics. It introduces the German approaches to economic ethics and to business ethics to the English-speaking audience.

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Barrington Moore, Jr., one of the most distinguished thinkers in critical theory and historical sociology, has long been concerned with the prospects for freedom and decency in industrial society. The product of decades of reflection on issues of authority, inequality, and injustice, this volume analyzes fluctuating moral beliefs and behavior in political and economic affairs at different points in history, from the early Middle Ages in England to the prospects for liberalism under twentieth-century Soviet socialism. The social sources of antisocial behavior; principles of social inequality; and the origins, enemies, and possibilities of rational discussion in public affairs–these are among the topics Moore considers as he seeks to uncover the historical causes of some accepted forms of morality and to assess their social consequences.

The keynote essay examines how moral codes grew out of commercial practices in England from medieval times through the industrial revolution. Moore pays special attention to conceptions of honesty and the temptation to evade that inform the volume as a whole. In the other essays, he considers particular political issues, viewing “political” in its broadest sense as an unequal distribution of power and authority that carries a strong moral charge. Free of preaching and advocacy, his work offers a rare reasonable assessment of the morality of major social institutions over time.

Order Moral Aspects of Economic Growth, and Other Essays (Wilder House Series in Politics, History, and Culture): Barrington Moore form Amazon.

Disagreements about the morality of markets, and about self-interested behavior within markets, run deep. They arise from perspectives within economics and political philosophy that appear to have nothing in common. In this book, Daniel Finn provides a framework for understanding these conflicting points of view. Recounting the arguments for and against markets and self-interest, he argues that every economy must address four fundamental problems: allocation, distribution, scale, and the quality of relations. In addition, every perspective on the morality of markets addresses explicitly or implicitly the economic, political, and cultural contexts of markets, or what Finn terms ‘the moral ecology of markets’. His book enables a dialogue among the various participants in the debate over justice in markets. In this process, Finn engages with major figures in political philosophy, including John Rawls, Robert Nozick, and Michael Walzer, as well as in economics, notably Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, and James Buchannan.

Book Description
Disagreements about the morality of markets - and about self-interested behavior within markets - run deep. They arise from widely differing perspectives within economics and political philosophy that appear to have nothing in common. In this book, Daniel Finn provides a framework for understanding these conflicting points of view.

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From Booklist
Kotter is the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership at the Harvard Business School and author of numerous business books dealing with leadership and management, the most recent being Corporate Culture and Performance (1992), with James L. Heskett. Kotter’s “new rules” prescribe how to win success at work and were formulated after tracking the careers of 115 Harvard Business School graduates for the last 20 years. In those two decades, Kotter detected a significant shift in what is required to succeed, but he notes that many are still attempting to use old strategies. He claims that the globalization of markets and competition is driving the shift and that those who do well today have “[capitalized] on globalization by pursuing career paths that are less linear, more dynamic, and more unstable.” These often lead to starting and “growing” small businesses, consulting, organizational leadership, and dealmaking. Kotter also warns that to succeed, one must posses extraordinary competitive drive and take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities. A national publicity campaign and a large first press run will help generate demand for this book. David Rouse

Review
Letitia Baidridge CEO, Letitia Baldridge Enterprises, Inc. Wisely suggests that success today is no longer measured by total annual compensation alone, but by job satisfaction and good relationships, including with one’s family and community. Right on, Professor Kotter! — Review

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Review
“Like everything else in this timely book, the final how-to section combines astute analysis, genuine insights, and real wisdom. Looking at it from the perspective of my own 30-plus years of working with planners in business, the book can go a long way to help plug existing gaps in corporate and strategic planning. Wilson’s prescriptions carry the weight of his long and broad experience in helping organizations of just about every size and nationality. Add his wisdom and his eloquence, and you have what is indeed an authoritative and very useful book for top executives.”–Strategy and Leadership

“Overall, an excellent summary of the historc context, based largely on the extensive publications that have been published in the past decade. The relevant issues associated with the need for change and the general direction of enlightened policies are thoroughly discussed. Generally full of good sense and important messages.”–Book Reviews

“Broad-gauge, provocative, and thoughtful futures-thinking at its best. Recommended.”–Future Survey

“Ian Wilson’s masterful book will surely become a classic text for future generations of business leaders…[and] will be an eye-opener for those who believe that a corporation exists only to make a profit for its shareholders. [H]e spells out the new rules in clear, concise terms.”–Edward Cornish President, World Future Society

“….[A] penetrating analysis of the historic drama now unfolding…. Don’t miss this book if you hope to understand the future of big business.”–William Halal George Washington University

“It is a most thoughtful exposition of the changing corporate environment…. The first comprehensive treatment of the major challenges facing corporate management in the immediate years ahead…. I commend it heartily.”–Reginald H. Jones Former CEO of General Electric

“A thoughtful book with a wide-ranging perspective…. Written not only for planning experts but for any manager concerned about the inflection points that will determine success or failure in the next century.”–Warren Bennis Distinguished Professor of Business Administration, University of Southern California

“Ian Wilson provides a capstone of his long and distinguished career in corporate strategy. The result is… a clear and relevant guidepost for senior decisionmakers dealing with an ambiguous and uncertain business environment.”–Murray Weidenbaum Founder and Chairman of the Center for the Study of American Business

“…Ian Wilson articulates the changing social expectations for corporations and ways in which corporate leaders can address them. The subject is very timely–driven by strong forces which include the rise of capitalism,… globalization, economic restructuring and dramatic advances in information technology. [It] is a well-structured and thoughtful book,… and it closes with a clear action agenda to help guide behavior.”–Daniel G. Simpson Vice President, Strategy & Planning The Clorox Company

Corporations operate under the terms of a largely unwritten, constantly changing social charter–a dictum as forceful as their written legal charter. Wilson explores the rules that are beginning to govern corporate performance, rules that arise from society’s ever changing values and expectations. Provoking these changes are four formative forces: the power shift from the public to private sector; globalization; economic restructuring; and, the transforming technologies of the computer and communications revolution. The rules emerging from them will dictate higher standards and changed behavior in seven crucial areas of corporate conduct. Wilson argues that corporate social responsibility is no longer a peripheral “public relations” activity. Rather, it is an integral part of corporate strategy. Trends may seem to be running in corporations’ favor, but the same trends also place greater responsibility and higher public expectations on corporations. The next decade, says Wilson, is likely to be a critical testing time for democracy, market systems, and by extension the private corporation. His book is a detailed analysis of the seven new rules and what their impact will be on U.S. and ultimately world corporations. Wilson concludes his book with a detailed agenda of needed, and workable, corporate responses to the new rules and cites the initiatives that many corporations are already taking to live by them. The seven new rules of conduct that corporations will have to observe, sooner rather than later. (1) Legitimacy: to earn and retain social legitimacy the corporation must define its mission in terms of social purpose, rather than the maximization of profit. (2) Governance: the corporation must be thought of, managed, and governed as a community of stakeholders, not as the property of investors. (3) Equity: corporations must strive to achieve greater perceived fairness in the distribution of economic wealth and the treatment of stakeholder interest. (4) Environment: corporations will have to integrate the practice of restorative economics and sustainable development into the mainstream of their business strategy (5). Employment: they must rewrite the employment contract, addressing the values of the new work force. (6) Public-Private Sector Relationships: corporations must work with governments to achieve a viable and publicly accepted redefinition of their societal roles and responsibilities. (7) Ethical Conduct: corporations will have to elevate and monitor the level of ethical performance to earn the trust which is the foundation of sound relations with stakeholder groups. Is all this impossible? Not at all says Wilson, and he documents how many of America’s most successful companies are operating in whole or in part by these rules already, and how others have begun doing so with immediate positive results.

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After nimbly sidestepping any and all lawsuits for more than four decades, the tobacco industry received what could prove to be a mortal blow when Merrell Williams, a Louisville paralegal, stole thousands of pages of confidential documents from the law firm where he worked and handed them over to Michael Moore, the attorney general of Mississippi. These confidential documents proved that the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, a client of the firm, knew the dangers associated with smoking cigarettes, and that they had lied repeatedly to the public about the risks. Once these documents were released via the Internet and numerous anonymous mailings, the blood was in the water. A coalition of 65 top American trial lawyers attacked the tobacco industry from one side, while Moore and 39 other states’ attorneys general pounced from the other, eventually resulting in a $368 billion settlement–the largest in American history. The People Vs. Big Tobacco: How the States Took on the Cigarette Giants is a blow-by-blow account of how the "Mother of All Lawsuits" was eventually settled, who the major players were, and what the settlement actually means for the future of Big Tobacco. The lawsuit settlement has since been railed by many health organizations and policymakers as a sellout, but there is no doubt that the tobacco industry has been permanently altered. Though more big-league legal wrangling is sure to come, The People Vs. Big Tobacco is an excellent analysis of the battle as it currently stands.

From Library Journal
The reporters from Bloomberg Financial Markets recount the events and often dramatic negotiations between the CEOs of cigarette makers Philip Morris, RJR, Brown and Williamson, Ligett, and Lorillar and a loosely federated alliance of antismoking interests that resulted in a staggering $368.5 billion settlement against the tobacco giants in June 1997. The cigarette makers, confronted by a record number of pending lawsuits and a reelected President Clinton, reluctantly recognized the need to compromise or face possible bankruptcy. The arrogant miscalculations of the CEOs, the frustrations of attorneys on both sides, and the role played by whistle-blowers and document snatchers are all vividly retold, showing how that unlikely agreement was cobbled together. In addition to the settlement, the tobacco industry lost much of its advertising privileges and faced possible regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. This rousing, readable account serves as a fine complement to Richard Kluger’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Ashes to Ashes (LJ 6/15/96). Highly recommended for public libraries.?Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Township Lib., King of Prussia, Pa.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Order The People Vs. Big Tobacco: How the States Took on the Cigarette Giants: Carrick Mollenkamp, Joseph Karl Menn, Adam Levy, Joseph Menn form Amazon.

Review
“Permission to Steal is a delectable little book, well thought out, fast-paced, and easy to read. In just one hundred pages, Newton traverses the diverse landscape of juicy journalism, deep philosophical analysis, and practical moral education of the public. I have no hesitation in recommending this as a good and worthwhile read…” Ethical Perspectives<!–end–>

“Permission to Steal is hard-hitting, insightful, passionate, and refreshingly readable. It is a must-read for all citizens who care about ethics in business and a more healthy society.”
–W. Michael Hoffman, Bentley College

“This book blends the insight of a first-rate philosopher with the moral outrage that every citizen should feel about the wave of recent corporate scandals. Newton minces no words in addressing the fundamental questions that every person should ask: What went wrong? Why was it wrong? How did it happen?”
–Joe DesJardins, Executive Director, Society for Business Ethics

“Permission to Steal reads like a whodunit: once you start reading it, you will find it difficult to put down. A crisp outlining of corporate scandals moves seamlessly to an analysis of their causes. Newton concludes with seven tasks to bring our society to a point where we can ‘trust our nation’s wealthiest not to rob us.’ Bravo to the author: all will learn from her in this delightful read.”
–Ronald Duska, American College Center for Ethics in Financial Services

“Permission to Steal is a delectable little book, well thought out, fast-paced, and easy to read. In just one hundred pages, Newton traverses the diverse landscape of juicy journalism, deep philosophical analysis, and practical moral education of the public. I have no hesitation in recommending this as a good and worthwhile read…” Ethical Perspectives “Permission to Steal is hard-hitting, insightful, passionate, and refreshingly readable. It is a must-read for all citizens who care about ethics in business and a more healthy society.” –W. Michael Hoffman, Bentley College “This book blends the insight of a first-rate philosopher with the moral outrage that every citizen should feel about the wave of recent corporate scandals. Newton minces no words in addressing the fundamental questions that every person should ask: What went wrong? Why was it wrong? How did it happen?” –Joe DesJardins, Executive Director, Society for Business Ethics “Permission to Steal reads like a whodunit: once you start reading it, you will find it difficult to put down. A crisp outlining of corporate scandals moves seamlessly to an analysis of their causes. Newton concludes with seven tasks to bring our society to a point where we can ‘trust our nation’s wealthiest not to rob us.’ Bravo to the author: all will learn from her in this delightful read.” –Ronald Duska, American College Center for Ethics in Financial Services

Citing recent examples including Enron, Arthur Andersen, and WorldCom, Permission to Steal explores what went wrong and advocates a universal reassessment of what is considered “good” in corporate America.

• A fascinating exploration of the recent corporate scandals which have rocked the global business community.
• Written with sharp and compelling style, suitable for students, professionals, and general readers.
• Companion website offers discussion points for the book as well as an up-to-date chronology of ongoing corporate scandals.

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Order Permission to Steal: Revealing the Roots of Corporate Scandal–An Address to My Fellow Citizens (Blackwell Public Philosophy Series): Lisa H. Newton form Amazon.

Over the last decade of the 20th century, the question of the relationship between organisations and society was subject to much debate, often of a critical nature. The decade saw protests concerning the actions of organizations, exposures of corporate exploitation and unfolding accounting scandals. At the same time, ethical behaviour and a concern for the environment have been shown to have a positive correlation with corporate performance. The nature of corporate social responsibility is therefore a topical one for businesses and academics. There are, however, many different perspectives as to what is meant by corporate social responsibility and how this might be applied within organizations. This book explores some of these perspectives, based upon the experiences of people in different parts of the world. The authors involved are respected academics from a variety of disciplines and from a number of different parts of the world. The contributions to this book investigate theoretical perspectives on the topic, the application in practice of socially responsible behaviour and the ethical dimension of such behaviour.

Order Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility (Corporate Social Responsibility Series): David Crowther, Lez Rayman-Bacchus form Amazon.

Review
‘I found the idea of a “planetary bargain” highly appealing… A most stimulating read’ Kay Sexton, AccountAbility, UK; ‘This interesting book takes a broad approach to examining corporate social responsibility in both its conceptual framework and the practical case studies it considers’ International Labour Review; ‘I have enjoyed and been very interested to read The Planetary Bargain. It is very informative and also a good read’ Stephanie Draper, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Industrial Society, UK

Pre Publication reviews

“I found the idea of a “Planetary Bargain” highly appealing … A most stimulating read.” — Kay Sexton, AccountAbility, UK
“This interesting book takes a broad approach to examining corporate social responsibility in both its conceptual framework and the practical case studies it considers.” — International Labour Review
“I have enjoyed and been very interested to read “The Planetary Bargain”. It is very informative and also a good read.” — Stephanie Draper, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Industrial Society, UK

This book reviews corporate social responsibility (CSR) work and suggests a cooperative CSR strategy which creates prosperity for both corporations and the people they serve. It addresses these issues by arguing that it is good for business and essential for future prosperity and stability. It presents the case for a worldwide agreement, or “planetary bargain”, between private and public sectors and discusses the implications of such an idea. The book also contains case studies of international companies who have adopted socially responsible programs and analyzes research in this area of the past two decades.

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Review
[Praise for the first edition] In this remarkable book, Ted Peters explores the fallacies of the gene myth and presents a resounding array of arguments against this kind of all-encompassing genetic determinism..
–From the Foreword by Francis S. Collins Director, National Center for Human Genome Research

[Praise for the first edition] The well-wrought ethical arguments complement Peters sophisticated framing of issues facing geneticists today.
–Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology, November 2002

Since the original publication of Playing God? in 1996, three developments in genetic technology have moved to the center of the public conversation about the ethics of human bioengineering. Cloning, the completion of the human genome project, and, most recently, the controversy over stem cell research have all sparked lively debates among religious thinkers and the makers of public policy. In this updated edition, Ted Peters illuminates the key issues in these debates and continues to make deft connections between our questions about God and our efforts to manage technological innovations with wisdom.

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