学术英语-综合-第二单元

学术英语AcademicEnglishUnit2BusinessEthicsTextAStrikingtheRightBalanceFreeenterpriseFreeenterprisereferstothesystemofbusinessinwhichindividualsarefreetodecidewhattoproduce,howtoproduceit,andatwhatpricetosellit.自由企业制度，就是确保企业能够拥有在产权受法律保护的基础上所享有的自由创业权、自由经营权、自由交易权以及自由支配或处置财产权等一系列的制度安排。它包括产权制度、进入退出制度、公平竞争制度、平等合约制度、平等交易制度以及平等获取信息服务制度等。Unit2BusinessEthicsTextABackgroundinformationDoyouagreeornot?Profitmaximizationistherightgoalforabusiness----AdamSmith2016年3·15晚会：共筑消费新生态【曝光】“饿了么”惊现黑心作坊看完你还会饿么？【曝光】制造用废钢料这样的假牙你敢戴吗？【权威发布】跨境电商进口儿童用品超三成不合格【消费预警】你买的人参可能一半是白糖！BalanceprofitandbusinessethicsBusinessEthicsBusinessethicsmeanswrittenandunwrittencodesofmoralstandardsthatarecriticaltothecurrentactivitiesandfutureaspirationsofabusinessorganization.Theycandifferfromonecompanytoanotherbecauseofdifferencesinculturalperspectives,operationalstructuresandstrategicorientations.Theguidingframeworkofbusinessethicsexistsalllevelsoftheorganization.Itisabouthavingthewisdomtodeterminethedifferencebetweenrightactionsandwrongdecisions.Insimplerterms,businessethicsprovidesthemoralitystandardsandbehavioralpatternsexpectedofindividualsandthebusinessasawhole.Thesemoralstandardscanbeperceivedintermsofthemicroenvironmentandmacroenvironmentofthebusiness.StakeholderVSShareholderTherearetwoschoolsofthoughtregardinghowcompaniesshouldapproachadefinitionforbusinessethics:theshareholderperspectiveandthestakeholderperspective.StakeholderVSShareholderShareholderPerspectiveThosewhoapproachethicaldecisionmakingfromashareholderperspectivefocusonmakingdecisionsthatareintheowners'bestinterest.Decisionsareguidedbyaneedtomaximizereturnoninvestmentfortheorganization'sshareholders.Individualswhoapproachethicsfromthisperspectivefeelthatethicalbusinesspracticesareonesthatmakethemostmoney.StakeholderVSShareholderStakeholderPerspectiveThephrase corporatesocialresponsibility isoftenusedindiscussionsofbusinessethics.Theideabehindthisconceptisthebeliefthatcompaniesshouldconsidertheneedsandinterestsofmultiplestakeholdergroups,notjustthosewithadirectfinancialstakeintheorganization'sprofitsandlosses.Organizationsthatapproachbusinessethicsfromastakeholderperspectiveconsiderhowdecisionsimpactthoseinsideandoutsidetheorganization.Stakeholdersmayinclude:employees,suppliers,customers,competitors,governmentagencies,thenewsmedia,communityresidentsandothers.Theideabehindstakeholderbasedethicaldecisionmakingistomakesoundbusinessdecisionsthatworkforthegoodofallaffectedparties.ImportanceofEthicalBusinessDecisionsCompaniesandpeoplewhobehaveinasociallyresponsiblemanneraremuchmorelikelytoenjoyultimatesuccessthanthosewhoseactionsaremotivatedsolelybyprofits.Knowingthedifferencebetweenrightandwrongandchoosingwhatisrightisthefoundationforethicaldecisionmaking.Inmanycases,doingtherightthingoftenleadstothegreatestfinancial,social,andpersonalrewardsinthelongrun.CorporateSocialResponsibilityDefinitionsCorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)isabouthowcompaniesmanagethebusinessprocessestoproduceanoverallpositiveimpactonsocietyCorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)referstoabusinesspracticethatinvolvesparticipatinginactivitiesthatbenefitsociety.PyramidofSocialResponsibility(Carroll1991)TextAStrikingtheRightBalancePara1In1776,AdamSmithdescribedhowan“invisiblehand”guidescompaniesastheystriveforprofits,andthathandleadsthemtodecisionsthatbenefitsociety.Smith’sinsightsledhimtoconcludethatprofitmaximizationistherightgoalforabusinessandthatthefreeenterprisesystemisbestforsociety.TextAStrikingtheRightBalanceButtheworldhaschangedsince1776.Firmstodayaremuchlarger,theyoperatedglobally,theyhavethousandsofemployees,andtheyareownedbymillionsofstockholders.Thismakeuswonderifthe“invisiblehand”stillprovidesreliableguidance.Shouldcompaniesstilltrytomaximizeprofits,orshouldtheytakebroaderviewandtakemorebalancedactionsdesignedtobenefitcustomers,employees,suppliers,andsocietyasawhole?Para2MostacademicstodaysubscribetothefollowingmodifiedversionofAdamSmith’stheory:Afirm’sprincipalgoalshouldbetomaximizethewealthofitsstockholders,whichmeansmaximizingthevalueofitsstocks.Para2Freeenterpriseisstillthebesteconomicsystemforthecountryasawhole.Underthefreeenterpriseframework,companiesdevelopproductsandservicesthatpeoplewantandthatbenefitsociety.However,someconstraintsareneeded---firmsshouldnotbeallowedtopollutetheairandwater,toengageinunfairemploymentpractices,ortocreatemonopoliesthatexploitconsumers.Para3Theseconstraintstakeanumberofdifferentforms.Throughthepoliticalprocess,societyimposesawiderangeofregulationsthataredesignedtokeepcompaniesfromengaginginpracticesthathurtsociety.Anothersetofconstraintsarethecoststhatareassessedoncompaniesiftheytakeactionsthatharmsociety.Properlyimposed,thesecostsfairlytransfervaluetosufferingpartiesandhelpcreateincentivesthathelppreventsimilareventsfromoccurringinthefuture.Para3Tworecentexamplesdramaticallyillustratethesepoints.First,manyWallStreetfirmsengagedinextremelyriskyactivitiesthatpushedthefinancialsystemtothebrinkofcollapsein2007and2008.Savingthefinancialsystemrequiredabailoutofbanksandotherfinancialcompanies,andthatbailoutimposedhugecostsonthetaxpayers,andalsohelpedpushtheeconomyintoadeeprecession.Para3Apartfromthehugecostsimposedonsociety,thefinancialfirmsalsopaidaheavyprice---anumberofleadingfinancialinstitutionssawahugedropintheirstockprice,somefailedandwentoutofbusiness,andmanyWallStreetexecutiveslosttheirjobs.Morerecently,in2010,themassiveBPoilspillintheGulfofMexicohadaterribleenvironmentalandeconomicimpactoftheGulfregion.Para3Inthethreemonthsfollowingtheinitialexplosion,BP’sstocklosthalfofitsvalue,andnooneknewhowhighitstotalcostwouldbeandwhetherthecompanywouldsurvive.ThespillhasalsoledtheUnitedStatesandothernationstore-examinetheirpoliciesregardingdeep-waterdrilling,andthatmighthaveaseriousadverseeffectonlong-runoilsupplies.CREDITCRISISbackgroundUSFederalReservelowertheinterestratestoonly%after911.Investor:lowreturnfor1%,Bank:borrowmoneyfromFedfor1%,cheapcredit(低息贷款),gocrazywithleverage,earnlotsofmoney,TheninvestorsofWallStreetalsowantstoearnmoremoney.Leverageisborrowmoneytoamplifytheoutcomeofadeal$10,000Howdidthathappen?HousebuyersInvestorsWallstreetHowdiditwork?mortgageBadresultsub-primemortgagecrisisEndPara4Still,somearguethatthecostsimposedonBPareinsufficienttocoverthedamagesthatwereincurred,andthatthetheoryofconstrainedprofitmaximizationisinadequate.Forexample,GEChiefExecutiveOfficer(CEO)JeffreyImmeltbelievesthatjustobeyingthelawisnotenough,andthatcompaniesshouldstrivetobehaveethicallyandcontinuallyoperatewithsociety’sinterestsinmind.Para4Immeltfurtherarguesthatvalueandreputationgohandinhand,andthathavingagoodreputationwithcustomers,suppliers,employeesandregulatorsisessentialifvalueistobemaximized.Inhiswords,“ThereasonpeoplecometoworkforGEisthattheywanttobepartofsomethingbiggerthanthemselves.Para4Theywanttoworkhard,winpromotions,andbewell-compensated,buttheyalsowanttoworkforacompanythatmakesadifference,acompanythat’sdoinggreatthingsintheworld…it’suptoGEbetoagoodcitizen.Notonlyisthatanicethingtodo,butit’sgoodforbusinessandthusthepriceofourstock.”Para5GEisnotalone.Anincreasingnumberofcompaniesseetheirmissionasmorethanjustmakingmoneyfortheirshareholders.Google’swell-knowcorporatemottois“Don’tBeEvil.”Consistentwiththismission,thecompanyhasitsownin-housefoundationthathasmadelargeinvestmentsinawiderangeofphilanthropicventuresworldwide.Thereareotherinstanceswherecorporateleadershavedonatedpersonalfunds.Para6In2008,MicrosoftCorporation’sBillGatesgaveaspeechtotheworldEconomicForuminwhichhemadethecasefora“creativecapitalism”.Gatesstatedthat,“suchasystemwouldhaveatwinmission:makingprofitsandalsoimprovinglivesforthosewhodon’tfullybenefitfrommarketforces.”Para7Gateshascertainlybeentruetohisword.In2000,heandhiswifeestablishedtheBill&MelindaGatesFoundation.Todaythefundhasassetstotaling$33.5billion.Itreceivedanotableboostin2006whenfamedinvestorWarrenBuffettannouncedthathewoulddonateahugeshareofhisfortunetotheFoundation.Para7Todate,Buffetthascontributedmorethan$6billion,andovertimeheisscheduledtocontributeadditionalstockthatisnowworthinexcessof$40billion.Theseeffortsshowthatthereismoretolifethanmoney,butitoftentakesmoneytodogoodthings.BillGateswasbornonOct,28in1955andgrewupinSeattlewithhistwosisters.Hisfatherwasalawyerandhismotherwasateacher.BillGateshadhiselementaryschoolandhighschooleducationisSeattle.BillGatesAnditwasduringthattimeBillfoundedthathisinterestslyinginwritingprogramsandbegantowriteprogramsat13.In1973,BillGateswasadmittedbyHarvardbuthequittedfromHarvardthreeyearslater.HeputallhistimeandenergyintodesigningprogramsforMicrosoftCooperationwhichestablishedin1975byBillandhisfriendPaulAllen.BillGatesmarriedMelindaFrenchGatesonJanuary,1stin1994.Theyhavethreechildren.Inthesparetime,Billhaspassioninreadingbooksandplayinggolf.WarrenBuffett’LifeHisfinancialcareerbeganattheageof14.At26,hesetuphisfirstinvestmentpartnershipforfamilyandfriendswith$174,000.Attheendof2008,hispersonalfortunewas$60billionandBerkshireHathaway,hisholdingcompany,wasvaluedat$200million.Buffettlovescharity,preparingtocontribute$37billion,accountingfor85%ofhisproperty.wordsforhissonHissondoesn’tfollowinhisfootsteps,butkeepsthefaithofWarrenBuffett,thatis:Enjoyingwhatyouaredoingeverydayisatruesuccess.Earningalotofmoneymaymakeyourich,butthatmeansseekingameaninglesslifebysacrificingyourhappiness.Thatmaybestupid.TextAOverviewCriticalreadingandthinking1.ScanTextAandcompletingthefollowingtable.Unit2BusinessEthicsTheoriginalversionThemodifiedversionTheinvisiblehandsguidescompaniestostriveforprofits.Profitmaximizationistherightgoalforabusiness.Freeenterprisesystemisbestforsociety.Afirm’sprincipalgoalshouldbetomaximizethewealthofitsstockholders.Freeenterpriseisstillthebesteconomicsystemforthecountryasawhole.Someconstraintsareneededforfirms.Exercise2Argument11)awiderangeofregulationsareimposed2)assessingcostsoncompanies;BPoilspillArgument21)behaveethically;valueandreputation2)Don’tbeEvil3)creativecapitalism4)contributedmorethan$6billionLanguagebuildingupTask1-11.无形的手2.自由企业制度3.股东4.经济体制5.开发产品和服务6.市场力量7.金融机构8.严重衰退9.破产Languagebuildingup10.stockprice11.mission12.corporatemotto13.assets14.maximizeprofits15.financialsystemLanguagebuildingupTask1-21.Whenpoliticiansandeconomiststalkabout【marketforce】,theymeantheeconomicfactorsthataffecttheavailabilityofgoodsandthedemandsforthem,withoutanyhelpfromorcontrolbythegovernment.2.Thedramaticchangeinbusinessenvironmentmakesallindustriesfacedrasticcompletion.Thisisalsohappenedinthe【financialinstitutions】.LanguagebuildingupTask1-23.A【freeenterprisesystem】canbecontrastedwithasocialisteconomicsystem,whichdependsheavilyongovernmentplanningandpublicownershipofthemeansofproduction.4.TheoilpriceincreasespushedtheEuropeaneconomyinto【deeprecession】.LanguagebuildingupTask1-25.AdamSmith’sfamous【invisiblehand】theoryhasbeenmodifiedtocatertothecurrenteconomicsituation.6.Anindividualororganizationthatownsstocksinacorporationcanbecalled【stockholder】.LanguagebuildingupTask1-27.Ineconomics,【profitmaximization】istheshort-runorlong-runprocessbywhichafirmdeterminesthepriceandoutputlevelthatreturnsthegreatestprofit.8.Asocialistmarket【economicsystem】hasnowtakenshape,andthebasicroleplayedbythemarkethasbeenimprovedinthesphereofresourceallocation.LanguagebuildingupTask2-Signpostlanguage1.and2.Another3.also4.Notonly,but5.otherLanguagebuildingupTask3-formalEnglish1.Smith’sinsightsledhimtoconcludethatprofitmaximizationistherightgoalforabusinessandthatthefreeenterprisesystemisbestforsociety.(understanding)2.MostacademicstodaysubscribetothefollowingmodifiedversionofAdamSmith’stheory.(agreewith)LanguagebuildingupTask3-formalEnglish3.Throughthepoliticalprocess,societyimposesawiderangeofregulationsthataredesignedtokeepcompaniesfromengaginginpracticesthathurtsociety.(forces…tobeaccepted)4.…andthatmighthaveaseriousadverseeffectonlong-runoilsupplies.(bad)LanguagebuildingupTask3-formalEnglish5.Anincreasingnumberofcompaniesseetheirmissionasmorethanjustmakingmoneyfortheirshareholders.(purpose)6.Consistentwiththismission,thecompanyhasitsownin-housefoundationthathasmadelargeinvestmentsinawiderangeofphilanthropicventuresworldwide.(charitable)LanguagebuildingupTask3-formalEnglish7.Thereareotherinstanceswherecorporateleadershavedonatedpersonalfunds.(given)8.Itreceivedanotableboostin2006whenfamedinvestorWarrenBuffettannouncedthathewoulddonateahugeshareofhisfortunetotheFoundation.(famous)TextBTwoviewsofsocialresponsibilityPara1:Governmentregulationandpublicawarenessareexternalforcesthathaveincreasedthesocialresponsibilityofbusiness.Butbusinessdecisionsaremadewithinthefirm–andthere,socialresponsibilitybeginswiththeattitudeofmanagement.Twocontrastingphilosophies,ormodels,definetherangeofmanagementattitudestowardsocialresponsibilityPara2TheeconomicmodelAccordingtothetraditionalconceptofbusiness,afirmexiststoproducequalitygoodsandservices,earnareasonableprofitandprovidejobs.Inlinewiththisconcept,theeconomicmodelofsocialresponsibilityholdsthatsocietywillbenefitmorewhenbusinessisleftalonetoproduceandmarketprofitableproductsthatsocietyneeds.Theeconomicmodelhasitsoriginsinthe18thcentury,whenbusinesseswereownedprimarilybyentrepreneursorowner-managers.Competitionwasvigorousamongsmallfirms,andshort-runprofitsandsurvivalweretheprimaryconcerns.Para3Tothemanagerwhoadoptsthistraditionalattitude,socialresponsibilityissomeoneelse'sjob.Afterall,stockholdersinvestinacorporationtoearnareturnontheirinvestment,notbecausethefirmissociallyresponsibleandthefirmislegallyobligatedtoactintheeconomicinterestofitsstockholders.Moreover,profitablefirmspayfederal,state,andlocaltaxesthatareusedtomeettheneedsofsociety.Thus,managerswhoconcentrateonprofitbelievethattheyfulfilltheirsocialresponsibilityindirectlythroughtaxespaidbytheirfirms.Asaresult,socialresponsibilitybecomestheproblemofgovernment,variousenvironmentalgroups,charitablefoundations,andsimilarorganizations.Para4ThesocioeconomicmodelIncontrast,somemanagersbelievetheyhavetheresponsibilitynotonlytostockholders,butalsotocustomers,employees,suppliers,andthegeneralpublic.Thisbroaderviewisreferredtoasthesocioeconomicmodelofsocialresponsibility,whichplacesemphasisnotonlyonprofitsbutalsoontheimpactofbusinessdecisionsonsociety.Para5Recently,increasingnumbersofmanagersandfirmshaveadoptedthesocioeconomicmodelandtheyhavedonesoforatleastthreereasons.First,businessisdominatedbythecorporateformofownershipandthecorporationisacreationofsociety.Ifacorporationdoesnotperformasagoodcitizen,societycanandwilldemandchanges.Second,manyfirmsarebeginningtotakeprideintheirsocialresponsibilityrecords,amongthemStarbucksCoffee,Hewlett-Packard,Colgate-Palmolive,andCoca-Cola.Para5EachofthesecompaniesisawinnerofaCorporateConscienceAwardintheareasofenvironmentalconcern,responsivenesstoemployees,equalopportunity,andcommunityinvolvement.Andofcourse,manyothercorporationsaremuchmoresociallyresponsibletodaythantheywere10yearsago.Third,manybusinesspeoplebelieveitisintheirbestinteresttotaketheinitiativeinthisarea.Thealternativemaybelegalactionbroughtagainstthefirmbysomespecialinterestgroup;insuchasituation,thefirmmaylosecontrolofitsactivities.Para6TheprosandconsofsocialresponsibilityBusinessowners,managers,customers,andgovernmentofficialshavedebatedtheprosandconsoftheeconomicandsocioeconomicmodelsforyears.Eachsideseemstohavefourmajorargumentstoreinforceitsviewpoint.Para7ArgumentsforincreasedsocialresponsibilityProponentsofthesocioeconomicmodelmaintainthatabusinessmustbemorethansimplyseekprofits.Tosupporttheirposition,theyofferthefollowingarguments:1.Becausebusinessisapartofoursociety,itcannotignoresocialissues.2.Businesshasthetechnical,financial,andmanagerialresourcesneededtotackletoday'scomplexsocialissues.3.Byhelpingresolvesocialissues,businesscancreateamorestableenvironmentforlong-termprofitability.4.Sociallyresponsibledecision-makingbyfirmscanpreventincreasedgovernmentintervention,whichwouldforcebusinessestodowhattheyfailtodovoluntarily.Para8Theseargumentsarebasedontheassumptionthatabusinesshasaresponsibilitynotonlytostockholdersbutalsotocustomers,employees,suppliersandthegeneralpublic.ArgumentsagainstincreasedsocialresponsibilityPara9Opponentsofthesocioeconomicmodelarguethatbusinessshoulddowhatitdoesbest:Earnaprofitbymanufacturingandmarketingproductsthatpeoplewant.Thosewhosupporttheirpositionargueasfollows:1.Businessmanagersareresponsibleprimarilytostockholders,somanagementmustbeconcernedwithprovidingareturnonowners'investment.2.Corporatetime,moneyandtalentshouldbeusedtomaximizeprofits,nottosolvesociety'sproblems.3.Socialproblemsaffectsocietyingeneral,soindividualbusinessesshouldnotbeexpectedtosolvetheseproblems.4.Socialissuesaretheresponsibilityofgovernmentofficialswhoareelectedforthatpurposeandwhoareaccountabletothevotersfortheirdecisions.Para10Theseargumentsobviouslyarebasedontheassumptionthattheprimaryobjectiveofbusinessistoearnprofitsandthatthegovernmentandsocialinstitutionsshoulddealwithsocialproblems.Para11Today,fewfirmsareeitherpurelyeconomicorpurelysocioeconomicinoutlook;mosthavechosensomemiddlegroundbetweenthetwoextremes.However,oursocietygenerallyseemstowant---andeventoexpect---somedegreeofsocialresponsibilityfrombusiness.Thus,withinthismiddleground,businessesareleaningtowardthesocioeconomicview.CriticalreadingandthinkingUnit2BusinessEthicsTask1 EconomicmodelThesocioeconomicmodelPurposeToproducequalitygoodsandservices,earnareasonableprofit,andprovidejobsToplaceemphasisnotonlyonprofitsbutalsoontheimpactofbusinessdecisionsonsocietySocialresponsibilitySocialresponsibilityissomeoneelse’sjob.Companiesfulfilltheirsocialresponsibilityindirectlythroughthetaxespaidbythem.Tohavearesponsibilitynotonlytostockholdersbutalsotocustomers,employees,suppliers,andthegeneralpublic