Abstract
This is a research paper on insider trading from a "Utilitarian" ethical point of view. The author discusses types of insider trading, the Utilitarian theory of Ethics and the arguments for and against insider trading.

From the Paper
"Insider Trading generally refers to the buying or selling of financial instruments (usually in the stock market) on the basis of privileged information that is known to a restricted group of people. Debate has raged among economists, traders, businesspersons, philosophers and even the general public for many years about the rights and wrongs of insider trading practice. No consensus seems to have emerged yet. In this paper we would be looking at the practice of insider trading from the utilitarian ethical point of view and try to determine whether the practice is morally justified."

Tags:utilitarianism, ethical, security, tips, sec, bentham, john, stuart, mill, market, stock, shareholder, economics, capitalism

Abstract
This essay serves to examine the wage inequalities between men and women in the modern day workforce. It references two specific examples of gender discrimination; Ann Hopkins' suit against Price Waterhouse in 1982 and Muriel Kraszewski's suit against State Farm. The author also explains in detail the ramifications of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which attempts to protect the rights of women who work in the same jobs as men.

From the Paper
"In order to fully gain equal employment and fairness, traditionally male positions must be opened to females. This is the only way to shatter the glass walls and ceilings that are so prevalent in today's society. Many women have fought discrimination and improved their own lives and the lives of countless other women over the span of several generations. The first step in creating equality in the workplace is to inform women of their rights. The next step is for these women to exercise their rights. Women can no longer allow themselves to be excluded from the workforce. Individuals concerned about equality should press for the continuation and strengthening of better paying jobs for women, and this support must not come from women alone. In order for our society to foster this change, we must understand why these changes are necessary. Society requires that men and women work together and this is not likely to change. What must change is the way that we work together. "

Tags:ceiling, discrimination, gender, glass, inequalities, segregation, sex, title, vii, wage

Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of sexual harassment in the workplace. The author discusses background of sexual harassment, legalities of sexual harassment and business strategies to reduce sexual harassment in the workplace such as various policies and requirements.

From the Paper
"In 1964 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act was accepted into our nation's law. Since then sexual harassment has been added as a protected class under Title VII. Unfortunately, it has taken many high-profile lawsuits such as the Anita Hill Senate hearings, Faragher v. Boca Raton, and Crowley v. L.L. Bean for employers to understand that it is imperative for every company, no matter how big or small, to have a well-thought out plan for dealing with sexual harassment situations. It is also crucial that these organizations make sure their employees are completely aware of the procedures to follow if such a situation arises. Not only should companies have guidelines in this area, but they should also make it clear where they stand on relationships between employees and how sexuality is viewed within the company, because what is acceptable in one instance may be unacceptable in another. One of the most common reasons sexual harassment situations evolve into multi-million dollar lawsuits is because the victims are not made aware of their organization's policies or their claims are not properly dealt with by the organization. By taking a few simple preventive measures, the probability that a lawsuit will arise from a sexual harassment is minimal, making the workplace better for both employees and employers."

Tags:harassment, sex, workplace, women

Abstract
This research paper describes to the average internet user the possible abuse of copyright laws. The paper investigates the legality of companies such as Napster, which is organized downloading or file sharing services. It states the basic goals of copyright law and looks at new technologies, such as MP3 players.

From the Paper
"When an artist writes a song or a novelist writes a book, copyright laws protect his or her ideas. Copyright laws protect and secure a person's creativity, their originality and his or hers product so that others will not gain a profit from their work. Companies such as Napster, an Internet file sharing service, break these laws. However, downloading music off the Internet is not technically illegal."

Tags:kazaa, metallica, music, napster, sharing, web, wide, world

Abstract
This paper features a business case study of AWC Inc. and its need to reduce its air pollution, the stakeholders affected by measures taken to do so, possible alternatives, and a recommended solution. The paper opines that AWC should change their corporate level strategy through diversification - more specifically, focus on increasing sales through welding. Through financing the cost of the re-circulating filtration system and adding another welding line, the paper explains, AWC will have the advantage of increasing sales and decreasing cost due to less competition and an increase in bargaining power with suppliers. The paper concludes that this method correctly follows government regulations, reduces harmful effects on the community and employees, and provides owners with a positive income in the long-run.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Company Background
Ethical Issue
Stakeholders
Alternatives
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"First of all, Alex argued that there has been no harm or complaints for the last 40 years of business at AWC so he saw no purpose of installing expensive systems to comply with the regulation. Although the welding line has been operating more than previous years, Alex believed that fresh air coming from a hole in the ceiling will dilute the substance. Based on Alex's research, he also believed that fines would be minimal compared to the cost of implementing either of the two systems. Although this alternative saves costs and remains profitable for the owners, it will not likely be able to meet the community and the government satisfaction. In addition, employees could still be inhaling an enormous amount of toxic air before diluting with fresh air coming in. This alternative should be automatically disregarded for a several reasons: maintaining status quo is always never an option, releasing toxic air is an unethical behavior, and simply because the alternative is a violation of the law."

Tags:disposal, toxic, waste, government, regulations

Abstract
This paper presents a case study based on a small, profitable aluminum plant - AWC and explores the potential options that are available to the company. It also provides a recommendation to ensure AWC will satisfy social needs while keeping itself alive.

Outline:
Introduction
Background
Strength
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Alternatives for AWC Inc.
Recommendations and Implementation

From the Paper
"AWC Incorporated is a small, localized but profitable aluminum fabrication plant located in south-western Ontario, run and owned by Alex MacDonald. The company has been deeply rooted in the local community since its foundation in 1950, which makes it more than a workplace but a family for its employees. Because of this sense of belonging, AWC's competent engineers and skilled workers are committed to the superior quality that the company represents in this industry, in which the competition has become increasingly fierce. Due to a local environmental legislation change, AWC's current pollution control system will no longer comply with Ontario's Environmental Emissions and Health and Safety regulations. The cost of the required upgrade system will have a major impact on the company's overall profit and cash flow, which could jeopardize the survival of AWC. This article will explore the potential options that are available to AWC and provide a recommendation to ensure AWC will satisfy social needs while keeping itself alive."

Tags:corporate, social, environmental, legislation

Abstract
The paper describes the case of NorthEastern Mutual Life (NML), a business that was confronted with the sharp decrease in net income, and faced with an age-old question familiar to most companies: Should it downsize its staff in order to be more financially sound? The paper asserts that NML is representative of this trend, as companies are constantly dealing with the undesirable option of downsizing as a means of survival in a competitive market. The paper explains that this case is particularly fascinating because of the ethically controversial nature of NML's approach towards its employees (the potential firing of its staff) and its potential decision to not adhere to the legal framework (the filing of the partial wind-up to the Alberta Pension Commission). The paper concludes that whether NML wants to admit it or not, its financial success ultimately depends on being socially responsible to its clients, because its reputation was largely built on this premise.

Outline:
Introduction
Ethical Issues
Stakeholders
Alternatives
Choice of Alternative
Solutions
Conclusion

From the Paper
"There could be a number of solutions for NML to turn to in order to increase their ROE, but the more realistic could include: salary cuts for the CEOs/CFOs etc, freezing of common share disbursement or sell shares of their subsidiary companies. The CEO salary cuts would be self-explanatory, but alone would possibly be not enough to organize an increase in ROE. If NML froze the selling of common shares they could also start buying back some of their shares through a stock repurchase, which would decrease the equity of the company and in turn increase ROE. NML could also attempt to cut costs through other expenses within the company. Selling their subsidiary shares would allow NML to buyback more of their own shares. Something could be done in terms of paying out dividends or selling off assets (in return, decrease equity), but in the case of dividends, the article states that any effect on dividends would affect the amount of revenue generated through sales ("a lower yield rate would directly affect sales")."

Tags:layoff, stockholder, value, job, loss, downsizing

Abstract
Using Immanuel Kant's 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals' as criterion, this paper discusses the ethical issues surrounding the deceitful practices that eventually led to the exposure and downfall of Enron. The writer describes first how Enron used investors as a means to an end and then explains why, according to Kant, this constitutes an unethical action. Some possible alternative scenarios that could have protected the investors in this case as well as any future cases of corporate deceit are discussed, but the paper concludes that deceit will endure as long there are those who are willing to put their trust in others.

From the Paper
"In the case of the now defunct energy giant Enron Corp (Cases in Business Ethics, 2006, p.10), the management took advantage of the trust of investors by pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars while deliberately covering up and lying about the company's imminent financial collapse. Rather than name specific offenders, the word management is used in this discussion since it took the collusion of numerous individuals to hide Enron's true performance from investors. The ethical problem in this case is not the risks the management of Enron took or the loss of investor money. Investment risk and bankruptcy are known realities to investors and are not unethical in and of themselves. The breach of ethics in this case occurs when management deceives the trust of shareholders as a means to achieve personal profit."

Tags:greed victim, categorical imperative, secrecy manipulation, Arthur Andersen

Abstract
This paper examines some some of the key issues raised by literature on corporate citizenship. It focuses on how corporate businesses impact environment because, according to many environmental groups, large corporations and businesses are responsible for the environmental damage that has been wreaked on the world. The author discusses a list of guidelines that a corporation can follow in order to stay economically viable while still being economically conscientious in the short term. The essay concludes by suggesting that the most effective and lasting change can come from changing the attitudes, values, and ideologies of a consumer culture with an insatiable appetite for products that can only come at the expense of the environment.

From the Paper
"There are major threats to the integrity of the environment, thanks to the activities of human beings. Global warming, emissions from power and transportation, manufacturing, and our very lifestyles are all having a detrimental effect upon the environment (Manning 9). Despite claims to the contrary by a number of politically conservative scientists and politicians, there is a general world consensus that human activity, especially economic activity, is bad for the environment in general. Decreases in biodiversity and ecosystem integrity are lamented by environmental groups and seemingly ignored by many corporations (Rees 111). In many cases, it just seems like big business doesn't care if it's destroying the environment.
"However, this conception is rapidly changing. Increasingly, analysts are pointing out that environmental issues have a major impact on business decisions and policies (Austin and Repetto 199). New government regulations and increasing pressure from public and special interest groups means that businesses can no longer act without consideration of environmental impact, if only from a self-serving perspective. The standard view that there is a direct trade-off between ecology and economy is being challenged."

Tags:environmental economy ethical corporate business, social responsibility

Abstract
Napster is a program allowing users to directly transfer music files without the aid of a centralized file server. Full-length songs may be exchanged in mere minutes through the program, and neither the artists nor the record companies are compensated for their work. The daunting prospect of consumers freely downloading complete libraries of music propelled the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to successfully sue Napster for trafficking in piracy. This paper analyzes the arguments made by both sides, investigates the virtues of the verdict, and discusses other court outcomes that would have been more beneficial to all parties involved. In addition, lawsuits of other file-sharing applications are discussed, including the likely outlook of Internet peer-to-peer sharing for the future.

From the Paper
"The advent of the Internet has enabled users to promptly and effortlessly share information between one another as never before. While the vast majority of individuals embrace this new technology as a blessing, the capacity to impart so much data has produced a crisis regarding copyright infringement. Napster is a program allowing users to directly transfer music files without the aid of a centralized file server. Individuals are able to gain access to an immense library of copyrighted music, thus rattling the record industry.1 Full-length songs may be exchanged in mere minutes through the program, and neither the artists nor the record companies are compensated for their work. The daunting prospect of consumers freely downloading complete libraries of music propelled the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to successfully sue Napster for trafficking in piracy. The following will analyze the arguments made by both sides, investigate the virtues of the verdict, and discuss other court outcomes that would have been more beneficial to all parties involved. One such result would incorporate monthly fees and bonus features into the software, which would appease the RIAA's concerns and also allows Napster to continue its operations. In addition, the lawsuits recently launched against Morpheus, Kazaa, Grokster, and My.Mp3.com are predicted to result in the continuance of their operations, given that illegitimate files are removed from their respective systems."

Tags:application, artist, audio, company, copyright, download, files, freenet, gnutella, industry, infringe, internet, kazaa, law, lawsuit, legal, midi, morpheus