Patricia Werhane - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Patricia Werhane
In commerce, many moral failures are due to narrow mindsets that preclude taking into account the... more In commerce, many moral failures are due to narrow mindsets that preclude taking into account the moral dimensions of a decision or action. In turn, sometimes these mindsets are caused by failing to question managerial decisions from a moral point of view, because of a perceived authority of management. In the 1960s, Stanley Milgram conducted controversial experiments to investigate just how far obedience to an authority figure could subvert his subjects' moral beliefs. In this thought-provoking work, the authors examine the prevalence of narrow mental models and the phenomenon of obedience to an authority to analyze and understand the challenges which business professionals encounter in making ethical decisions. Obstacles to Ethical Decision-Making proposes processes-including collaborative input and critique-by which individuals may reduce or overcome these challenges. It provides decision-makers at all levels in an organization with the means to place ethical considerations at the heart of managerial decision-making.
Melbourne Review: A Journal of Business and Public Policy, The, Nov 1, 2008
While at least one out of six in the global human population cannot meet the basic demands of sur... more While at least one out of six in the global human population cannot meet the basic demands of survival and they have little ability to buy goods and services, this situation also presents potential new markets for multinational enterprises seeking long-term sustainability. If economic growth is a continuing and positive goal for the planet and for global companies, then, as markets in developed economies become saturated, these new markets provide fresh opportunities to satisfy this objective.
Journal of Business Ethics, 2011
This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex... more This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex's successful introduction of Climatex Lifecycle, a completely compostable material that is produced by an absolutely clean manufacturing process.
Issues in Business Ethics, 2011
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Six defective mental models that obstruct multinational enterprises from efforts at global povert... more Six defective mental models that obstruct multinational enterprises from efforts at global poverty alleviation are identified. These include mindsets that define poverty in terms of individual daily earnings, that contend that global poverty is unsolvable, and frame global poverty as a human rights issue. In addition, there are the biased mental models that contend that the poor are incapable, that
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and D [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and D [UVA-E-0110] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. Faced with community pressure to use quieter machinery and challenged by increasingly stricter environmental regulations, Kalin has committed himself to improving the
This note documents the transition of Dr. Michael Braungart from Greenpeace activist to internati... more This note documents the transition of Dr. Michael Braungart from Greenpeace activist to international consultant in industrial ecology. In the process of forming a consulting company, the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency, Braungart poses a challenge to an international scientific organization, SETAC, about methodologies of assessing product and process life cycles.
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. After the compostable fabric is developed, produced, and marketed, Rohner's supplier of ramie yarn, an essential component of the fabric, goes bankrupt.
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. In the C case, Rohner's dyemaster substitutes another dye for the dye Rohner is currently using for its compostable-fabric project. The substituted
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. The B case finds Kalin facing a new problem. Steelcase has updated its manufacturing machinery, thus creating additional strength requirements for the
This series of cases (see also the B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. Faced with community pressure to use quieter machinery and challenged by increasingly stricter environmental regulations, Kalin has committed himself to improving the
This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex... more This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex's successful introduction of Climatex Lifecycle, a completely compostable material that is produced by an absolutely clean manufacturing process.
In this follow-up to the A case (E-0097), Rich does move to another state and obtains subsidies f... more In this follow-up to the A case (E-0097), Rich does move to another state and obtains subsidies for his solar water heater, but he still cannot create a market for his technology. Does he fail because of flaws in his design or in his marketing plan? Or is he simply the victim of a system that ought to subsidize engineers
A.C. Rich is an entrepreneur who has invented and patented a new form of solar water heater that ... more A.C. Rich is an entrepreneur who has invented and patented a new form of solar water heater that he claims will significantly reduce home-heating costs and is aesthetically pleasing. The case asks students to evaluate Rich's design in terms of cost, performance, and marketability, and also in terms of a set of ethical and environmental criteria presented in "Note on
In commerce, many moral failures are due to narrow mindsets that preclude taking into account the... more In commerce, many moral failures are due to narrow mindsets that preclude taking into account the moral dimensions of a decision or action. In turn, sometimes these mindsets are caused by failing to question managerial decisions from a moral point of view, because of a perceived authority of management. In the 1960s, Stanley Milgram conducted controversial experiments to investigate just how far obedience to an authority figure could subvert his subjects' moral beliefs. In this thought-provoking work, the authors examine the prevalence of narrow mental models and the phenomenon of obedience to an authority to analyze and understand the challenges which business professionals encounter in making ethical decisions. Obstacles to Ethical Decision-Making proposes processes-including collaborative input and critique-by which individuals may reduce or overcome these challenges. It provides decision-makers at all levels in an organization with the means to place ethical considerations at the heart of managerial decision-making.
Melbourne Review: A Journal of Business and Public Policy, The, Nov 1, 2008
While at least one out of six in the global human population cannot meet the basic demands of sur... more While at least one out of six in the global human population cannot meet the basic demands of survival and they have little ability to buy goods and services, this situation also presents potential new markets for multinational enterprises seeking long-term sustainability. If economic growth is a continuing and positive goal for the planet and for global companies, then, as markets in developed economies become saturated, these new markets provide fresh opportunities to satisfy this objective.
Journal of Business Ethics, 2011
This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex... more This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex's successful introduction of Climatex Lifecycle, a completely compostable material that is produced by an absolutely clean manufacturing process.
Issues in Business Ethics, 2011
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Mental Models, Milgram and the Problem of Obedience, 2013
Six defective mental models that obstruct multinational enterprises from efforts at global povert... more Six defective mental models that obstruct multinational enterprises from efforts at global poverty alleviation are identified. These include mindsets that define poverty in terms of individual daily earnings, that contend that global poverty is unsolvable, and frame global poverty as a human rights issue. In addition, there are the biased mental models that contend that the poor are incapable, that
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and D [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and D [UVA-E-0110] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. Faced with community pressure to use quieter machinery and challenged by increasingly stricter environmental regulations, Kalin has committed himself to improving the
This note documents the transition of Dr. Michael Braungart from Greenpeace activist to internati... more This note documents the transition of Dr. Michael Braungart from Greenpeace activist to international consultant in industrial ecology. In the process of forming a consulting company, the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency, Braungart poses a challenge to an international scientific organization, SETAC, about methodologies of assessing product and process life cycles.
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. After the compostable fabric is developed, produced, and marketed, Rohner's supplier of ramie yarn, an essential component of the fabric, goes bankrupt.
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. In the C case, Rohner's dyemaster substitutes another dye for the dye Rohner is currently using for its compostable-fabric project. The substituted
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. The B case finds Kalin facing a new problem. Steelcase has updated its manufacturing machinery, thus creating additional strength requirements for the
This series of cases (see also the B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0... more This series of cases (see also the B [UVA-E-0108], C [UVA-E-0109], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland. Faced with community pressure to use quieter machinery and challenged by increasingly stricter environmental regulations, Kalin has committed himself to improving the
This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex... more This follow-up to the A case (E-0099) briefly covers the sequence of events that led to DesignTex's successful introduction of Climatex Lifecycle, a completely compostable material that is produced by an absolutely clean manufacturing process.
In this follow-up to the A case (E-0097), Rich does move to another state and obtains subsidies f... more In this follow-up to the A case (E-0097), Rich does move to another state and obtains subsidies for his solar water heater, but he still cannot create a market for his technology. Does he fail because of flaws in his design or in his marketing plan? Or is he simply the victim of a system that ought to subsidize engineers
A.C. Rich is an entrepreneur who has invented and patented a new form of solar water heater that ... more A.C. Rich is an entrepreneur who has invented and patented a new form of solar water heater that he claims will significantly reduce home-heating costs and is aesthetically pleasing. The case asks students to evaluate Rich's design in terms of cost, performance, and marketability, and also in terms of a set of ethical and environmental criteria presented in "Note on