Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach

Movies can be a powerful teaching tool in Business Ethics. The actions of characters in films compellingly portray the ethical quandaries and moral decision-making that play out in the modern workplace. But what can Salmon Fishing in Yemen tell us about the recent European horsemeat scandal? Or Groundhog Day teach us about a Dunkin’ Donuts ad campaign? Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach examines a wide range of ethical dilemmas, principles and moral reasoning that arise in contemporary business through a series of popular films and real-world case studies.

Whether through the actions of a whistleblower like Jeffrey Wigand from The Insider or the morally suspect behavior of Wall Street’s Gordon Gekko, chapters reveal surprising parallels between movies and actual cases in business ethics—ethical issues relating to corporate decision-making, the workplace, employer/employee conflicts, customer concerns, product safety controversies, the role of technology, the environment, human rights, justice, and more.

The first unit looks at integrity, greed, and the impact of technology, followed by the second unit’s coverage of the major ethical theories. The concluding unit three addresses pressing problems that put our moral reasoning skills to the test—such as pay inequities, workplace violence, harassment and bullying, and environmental disasters. Innovative and thought-provoking, Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach offers a wealth of illuminating insights into key issues surrounding the field of Business Ethics.

• Engages readers in learning about ethical theory by using movies and both national and international case studies in business as the vehicle for analysis and reflection
• Facilitates comprehension of ethical issues by showing how characters in films confront issues, make choices, and face the consequences
• Draws from a variety of actual cases in Business Ethics – from the 1982 Tylenol poisoning and the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster to recent examples such as the Foster Farms salmonella outbreak and the chemical spill in West Virginia
• Reveals the important role that ethics plays in setting the moral foundation of a business or corporation
• Develops critical thinking skills through applying analytical checklists to ethical dilemmas raised in films and in actual cases in Business Ethics