Which ethical risks does your company face ?

Your project is under massive attack on social media. Try to imagine the reasons why this might happen:

Negative impacts of your project have been uncovered and made public.

Your company places too low a value on diversity.

Consumers criticise the company's handling of data.

Your company pays generous dividends but at the same time lays off employees.

Management is criticised for the treatment of employees.

Your company has production conditions that violate human rights and/or are harmful to the environment.

You are taking part in a panel discussion on the topic of "Risk management in the company". Which of these topics are part of your risk management ?

We have to prevent negative environmental impacts.

We have to handle sensitive data with great care and responsibility.

We have to guarantee fair working conditions.

We have to deal with increased communication challenges (e.g. we quickly run the risk of angry furore on social media).

We have to be careful not to grow uncontrollably.

Your investors suggest that from now on you should follow more strongly the so-called precautionary principle.

This principle inhibits innovation.

This principle helps prevent abuse.

This principle is too defensive.

This principle is helpful as a safeguard.

The principle is useful for communication.

A journalist calls you and asks you which principles you follow when handling the protection of the data that you collect. How do you answer this question ?

The person gives us their consent when providing their data.

The data is anonymised before use.

We use the data to achieve added value for our customers.

We pass the data on to third parties, but inform them about it in our data protection policy.

Two of your shareholders fear reputational damage because of your project: They accuse you of neglecting diversity issues. How do you react to this accusation ?

This is possible, but the performance of our employees is what matters most. Society only moves forward in this way.

This is possible, but the added value we create for our customers is greater.

This is possible, as our existing policy fails in its implementation.

This is possible, but it only shows that it's difficult to find competent employees/ but only proves that competent employees are hard to come by.

This is possible. But it is not the responsibility of a private company to initiate social change.

Imagine: It turns out that your project puts jobs at risk. How do you react to this ?

We are aware, but the jobs at risk only provide degrading work.

This is regrettable, but we create as many new jobs as are lost.

This drawback is compensated by the fact that consumers receive a better product/service at a lower price.

You are a manager in a company. Which of the following policies are part of your company ?

Our company pays dividends and at the same time dismisses employees.

Employees are given one day off per year to do social work on behalf of the company.

We have installed a digital system to monitor the activity of employees on their computer.

Employees are expected to be available at all times.

Part-time positions are not possible.

Would you be prepared to automate all secretarial work and replace the relevant employees if necessary ?

Yes, if this increases our competitiveness.

Yes, if this allows that the remaining employees can focus on more demanding activities.

No, I desire high human presence in this area.

Yes, if this can be absorbed by the natural staff turnover.

Yes, because innovation creates room for improvement.