Introduction

If there is a matter which has continued to dog the business sector and the operation of business, it is that of fairness ands justice. This is to an extent that many have come to conclude amiss that business on one hand and fairness and justice on the other hand have a relationship which can be well summarized by to be mutually exclusive. It is against this backdrop that in the book Honest Work:  A business Ethics Reader, Joanne B. Ciulla and Clancy Martin make an attempt at presenting the arguments presented towards the same topic.

Article 1

1. The purpose of John Orlando's article Promises and Betrayals on the Job: Ethics in the Workplace is to show that/how that there are several factors which may underpin and thus necessitate downsizing.

2. The main steps/components/elements of Orlando's argument are:

1) Downsizing may be geared towards the utilitarian goal: realization of many as opposed to the safeguarding of the gains of many.

2) The company may have to downsize out of its fiduciary duties.

3) The company or organization may be compelled to proceed with the downsizing exercise to avert its risks.

On the basis of these above arguments, Orlando concludes that in the face of the ethical fundamentals, there are far greater forces and factors which may come into play, thereby necessitating the exercise.

3. For me, the strongest/most compelling/most interesting argument/assertion/contention is:

(A) His acknowledgement of the pitfalls of downsizing, even in the face of being emphatic on some of the needs for downsizing.

(B) The arguments he presents against downsizing are factual and adequate to cogently sustain an argument. The arguments, according to Orlando may include:

I) It harms some at the benefit of some.  

II) It undermines legitimate expectations.  

III) It repudiates totally, the principle of fairness.

The most intriguing/interesting/especially effective about this point is that:

A)    It presents the merits and demerits of downsizing, thereby ensuring the highest sense of objectivity.

4. The weakest aspect of Orlando's article is:

(1) His tendency to not take a definite stand on the matter. The problem with this development is that he is an authority, and as such, his lack of taking a definitive stand leaves the rest in limbo. It is always better for one to take stand in a scholarly argument or treatise so that the same can act as the author's thesis which his entire work seeks to defend.

5. In sum/on the whole/on balance, I believe Orlando's Honest Work:  A business Ethics Reader" to be:

a) To be a very valuable contribution to the discussion of downsizing. This is seen in the manner in which he maintains objectivity by presenting both the arguments for and against downsizing (as an issue of [employee] justice).

b) Intriguing but incomplete. The intrigue is seen in the point in which Orlando objectively presents both the merits and demerits of downsizing. As far as this is concerned, the reader is able to see clearly the underpinnings of downsizing. The incompleteness is brought about by Orlando's failure to take a definitive stand. This makes the identification of his thesis a very hard task.

Article 2

1. The purpose of Sharon Silverstein's article Promises and Betrayals on the Job: Ethics in the Workplace is to show that/how ethical matters at the workplace can take on different forms, and how they ought to be dealt with. In this article, Silverstein trains her arguments on antigay jokes.

2. The main steps/components/elements of his/her argument are that in order to discourage antigay remarks and jokes, several actions can be taken, for instance:

 1) Seeking and enlisting the support of the organizational management

 2) Fighting humor with humor

 3) Using the "ouch" technique.

4) Using the "I don't get it technique"

5) Coming out strongly and directly against antigay jokes as a form of unfairness.

On the basis of these arguments, Silverstein concludes that it is possible to totally ward off antigay jokes from the working atmosphere.

2. For me, the strongest/most compelling/most interesting argument/assertion/contention is: Silverstein's penchant for vouching for non combative means of warding off antigay remarks as a form of unfairness and injustice at the workplace.  Another interesting assertion by Silverstein is her ability to include antigay jokes and remarks as forms of unfairness and injustice, as opposed to sticking to core issues such as employees' rights and emoluments.

A. What is intriguing/interesting/especially effective about this point is that Silverstein assumes that all should get along amicably, and that antigay remarks are necessarily bad.

4. The weakest aspect of X's article is:

(1) Silverstein's reliance on liberalism as the mode of existence. Particularly, Silverstein expects all to get along very well at the workplace at the expense of antigay jokes, while she fails to factor that some companies will necessarily not hire the services of homosexuals. As such, these organizations may entertain the issuance of antigay jokes. At the same time, it is not necessarily true that antigay jokes are bad or an infringement of other employees' sense of justice or rights.

5. In sum/on the whole/on balance, I believe Silverstein's Promises and Betrayals on the Job: Ethics in the Workplace:

a) To be a very valuable contribution to the discussion of fairness and justice, since it discusses well, the ways in which one can deal with discrimination at the workplace;

b) To be unconvincing and weakly argued, since it assumes that antigay remarks are an epitome of unfairness and injustice at the workplace. There are more pressing issues that ought to be cogently discussed, mooted and ratified, such as the minimum wages that an employee ought to be paid and not peripheral matters which border on the bedroom and sexual lifestyles.  

Article 3

1. The purpose of Albert Z. Carr's article, The Check is in the Mail_ Honesty and Trust in Business is to show that/how the reasons why it is according to Carr, impossible not to deceive in a business. He talks of the pressures as the underpinnings to dishonesty in the business sector.  

2. The main steps/components/elements of his/her argument are:

1) The reasons which may lead to deceitfulness in business, such as:

I) There are no medals for honesty
II) the pressure to deceive
III) the laws are in favor of the employee, not the employer.

2) The consequences of deceiving (not paying regard to injustice and fairness) in business organization, such as:

I) undermining trust

II) Undermining labor relations

III) And, degrading the spirit of cooperation

3) On the basis of these arguments, Carr concludes that it is far much easier to deceive, but the repercussions for deceit in business are far more outweighing, easily perceptible and destructive.

3. For me, the strongest/most compelling/most interesting argument/assertion/contention is that:

A) Carr is totally honest about the allures of deceit and world business systems and laws which make cheating very appealing and almost compelling

B)  Carr's candid exposure of the consequences of cheating in business.

C) In relation to the two above, Carr's can be said to be objective since it presents a balanced overview of matters that enhance cheating in business and the consequences of dishonesty in business

A. What is intriguing/interesting/especially effective about this point is that Carr, while clearly acknowledging the intrigues of business enterprises which spur on dishonesty, explicitly warns against the vice by presenting the consequences of the vice.

4. The weakest aspect of X's article is:

(1) Like Orlando, he has a tendency of not taking a definitive stand.  

(2) He acknowledges the rights of the employees, yet he overrules the rights that employers have and bring about the realization of profits.

The problem here is that in citing the reasons that underpin lying in business, he gives a perceived acceptable version of an excuse to deceit and injustice in businesses. Indeed, it is very feasible and tenable to make business profit honestly, through the pursuit of laws which spell out the rights of the employer. An example of these rights is: the rights to receive a day's work from an employee, among others  

5. In sum/on the whole/on balance, I believe Carr's The Check is in the Mail_ Honesty and Trust in Business

a) To be a very valuable contribution to the discussion of matters relatable to employer-employee relations and honesty at the workplace;

b) To be convincing and strongly argued, given that it acknowledges the undercurrents of employer-employee relations.

In conclusion, of the three articles, Carr's The Check is in the Mail_ Honesty and Trust in Business can be found to be the most useful and credible piece, given that it maintains the highest sense of objectivity in its analysis. The article clearly elaborates how the law and business systems all form an intrigue so that in the mind of the business operator, it becomes easy to assume that seizing and consolidating profitability is not within grasp. Nevertheless, as if taking a stand on the vice of dishonesty, unfairness and injustice in business, Carr explicitly elaborates on the dire consequences of not adhering to business ethics.