Study the 22 vocabulary terms below. Then continue to the activities.
- Accountability
- Bribe
- Carbon footprint
- Compliance
- Confidential
- Consequence
- CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
- Cultural appropriation
- Dilemma
- Discrimination
- Equality
- Ethical
- Fraud
- Glass ceiling
- Idealistic
- Information privacy
- Integrity
- Morality
- Nepotism
- Shareholder
- Stakeholder
- Transparency
Noun (concept)
having responsibility for an action, as well as the obligation of justifying and if needed correcting it
The general lack of accountability for poor business decisions caused investors to become fearful and pull out.
Verb (infinitive)
to dishonestly persuade somebody to act in one's favor by giving them money or gifts
He found out that his company had been bribing customs officials for years in order to advance the passage of goods.
Noun (concept)
the amount of greenhouse gases released as a consequence of an individual's actions
Many people don't realize the seemingly innocent actions that dramatically raise their carbon footprint, such as frequent flying, buying fast fashion, eating meat every day, etc.
Noun (concept)
acting in line with a rule or guideline
It's the compliance officer's job to make sure that all company activity is in accordance with the law.
Adjective
information that is meant to be kept private or secret
The terms of his contract were confidential, so he wasn't allowed to talk to outsiders about it.
Noun (concept)
an effect of an action or occurrence, typically negative
He violated company policy and was fired as a consequence.
Noun (concept)
the idea that a company should positively contribute to societal and environmental issues
With an increase in awareness of organizations' roles in society came an increase in the importance of CSR, with companies launching more environmentally friendly products, etc.
Noun (concept)
an unacknowledged, disrespectful, stereotypical, or exploitative adoption of elements belonging to a culture one is not a part of
A coworker dressed up in a Native American costume for our office Halloween party and was swiftly called out for cultural appropriation.
Noun (concept)
a situation where a difficult choice has to be made, especially when all options are not desirable
The CEO found himself in a dilemma when he faced a choice between two business decisions, one favoring the shareholders at the expense of the employees, and the other benefiting the employees but disfavoring the shareholders.
Noun (concept)
the unjust judgement and treatment of others based on their (perceived) belonging to a certain group or category, such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation
Firing an expectant mother because of her pregnancy is considered discrimination and prohibited by law.
Noun (concept)
all members of society or a group having the same status, rights, and opportunities, and are treated fairly and in the same way
Every office should provide a safe and inclusive work environment in order to ensure equality.
Adjective
following moral values, dealing with right and wrong
Today more than ever before, ethical decision-making is a vital part of business, and can actually lead to more success, as ethics have a big impact on company image.
Noun (concept)
intentional trickery or deceit to achieve a dishonest gain or profit, often criminal in nature
If you get an email from someone claiming to be a Wakandan prince and asking for money, that's definitely fraud and you should not engage.
Noun (concept)
an intangible barrier or hurdles in an organization that prevent women or members of minority groups from advancing to higher level positions, despite their qualifications and achievements
There are several factors that contribute to the glass ceiling beyond corporations refusing to promote minorities, such as different wages for comparable work, work environments that are incompatible with family, etc.
Adjective
the unrealistic belief in and striving for perfection
Some call the demand of shorter work hours and longer weekends idealistic, but studies actually show that more off time raises worker morale and productivity.
Noun (concept)
relating to the protection of personal data that is collected by organizations
Authentication, encryption, and data masking are effective steps to protect information privacy.
Noun (concept)
having and consistently adhering to strong moral principles
After openly criticizing his supervisor's decision to lay off 10% of staff, he thought he would be fired, but was instead promoted for showing integrity and grit.
Noun (concept)
a code of conduct, or set of standards that determines what is acceptable or even admirable within a social group, referring to both actions and character
When doing business across borders it is important to remember that morality and ethical standards vary across cultures, and what is considered acceptable at home may not be okay abroad, or vice versa.
Noun (concept)
the practice of favoring family or friends in a professional context
They say he only got the job because of nepotism, not because he was the person most qualified.
Noun (person)
one who owns a part of a company
I am invited to Apple's annual shareholder meeting, as I bought company stock last year.
Noun (person)
one with a vested interest in a company, who impacts or is impacted by the company's performance
A company typically has many stakeholders, including investors, employees, suppliers, customers, etc.
Noun (concept)
disclosing in-depth information about a practice or commodity, such as ingredients manufacturing details, environmental impact, revenue, etc.
With consumers demanding product transparency of brands, some companies have used it for marketing purposes, advertising their products to be especially environmentally friendly or similar.