Touchstone 2: Review a Code of Ethics OVERVIEW: In this assignment, you will rev

Touchstone 2: Review a Code of Ethics
OVERVIEW: In this assignment, you will review a code of ethics of a well-known company or organization and answer questions about the strengths and potential weaknesses of the code.
ASSIGNMENT: Download the submission template below, which further breaks down the steps involved in this assignment. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
Touchstone 2 Template
In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review this tutorial for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert: Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
A. Directions
STEP 1: Choose Code of EthicsSelect ONE code of ethics from the list provided. You may not use a code of ethics not on this list. Note: Some of these require following additional links within the page to read the complete document. You should follow all links and read the complete contents of the code of ethics you select.
3M https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/ethics-compliance/code/
Berkshire Hathaway https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/govern/ethics.pdf
Starbucks https://livingourvalues.starbucks.com/
Society for Human Resource Management https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/pages/code-of-ethics.aspx
American Society of Association Executives https://www.asaecenter.org/about-us/policies/code-of-conduct
Step 2: Evaluate Code of EthicsAnswer the following questions, applying the vocabulary and concepts from the tutorials.
1. Name the company or organization whose code of ethics you have chosen.
2. Review the code of ethics you’ve chosen and find the part of the code that addresses each topic below. Write 1–2 sentences paraphrasing the company policy on each topic. (See Employee Conduct Code.)
Basic conduct
Confidentiality
Competition
Giving and receiving gifts
Insider trading
Social media usage
Disparagement
For example, in the American Red Cross code of ethics, they state, “Any single gift or entertainment accepted must have a nominal value no greater than $75 and meet all of the guidelines in our Business Gifts and Entertainment Policy.” This would relate most closely to “giving and receiving gifts.” In the space provided in the template, you could write, “Employees may not receive gifts that are worth more than $75.”
If you cannot find a particular policy after carefully searching through the entire document or website, you may instead write a sentence or two about why this particular business has chosen not to include a policy in their code of ethics. For example, the lack of a social media policy may be intentional or may be an oversight. Which do you think it is, in this case? What potential problems might occur because the company has not included this concern in their code of ethics?
3. After reviewing the code of ethics (especially the sections listed in question #2), write a paragraph (5–7 sentences) describing whether the code describes an ethical minimum (legal compliance) or a higher ethical standard. Support your answers with specific examples from the code. (See Working Conditions.) For example, the American Red Cross code of ethics states “nondiscrimination.” In this case, it would be a legal duty of the organization not to discriminate because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, so this is an ethical minimum.
4. After reviewing the code of ethics (especially the sections listed in question #2), write a paragraph (5–7 sentences) describing what kind of culture the company seems to have based on the competing values framework (adhocracy, clan, market, hierarchy). Support your answers with specific examples from the code of ethics. (See What is Business Culture?.) For example, the American Red Cross code of ethics asks employees to “…embrace the rich diversity around us and strive to be inclusive….” This relates most closely with clan culture in the CVF.
5. After reviewing the code of ethics (especially the sections listed in question #2), write a paragraph (5–7 sentences) describing what ethical theory they seem to follow. (See Origin of Ethics and Modern Ethical Theories.) Support your answer with specific examples from the code of ethics. For example, in the American Red Cross code of ethics, the element of “harassment-free workplace” relates most closely with virtue ethics because the reasoning behind the policy is to help people flourish.
6. Based on this organization’s code of ethics, write 2–3 sentences in response to each question.
Do you feel they are reasonable and employee-centered?
Do any of the policies give you concern?
Would you want to work here?
What additional information would you find useful before making a decision to work here or not?
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
❒ Did you select a code of ethics from the ones listed above and read it carefully in its entirety?
❒ Did you locate each topic in the code of ethics and describe it in your own words?
❒ If any policy is missing, did you explain in your own words why they may not have included a policy and what problems may occur because of this?
❒ Did you answer all of the subsequent questions using both language from the code of ethics and the concepts and terms covered in the tutorials?
❒ Did you meet the length requirements for each question?
❒ Did you review the rubric to make sure you are meeting all of the goals of the assignment?
❒ Did you review your Touchstone to ensure no grammar errors exist?
B. Rubric
 AdvancedProficientAcceptableNeeds ImprovementNonperformance
Basic Analysis of Code of Ethics (COE)
Touchstone provides the name of a company from the list provided and locates and describes each topic on the list. (10%)Touchstone identifies a company or organization from the list and accurately describes each item on the list. Summaries indicate a thorough review and understanding of the code, using language from the tutorials as appropriate.Touchstone identifies a company or organization from the list and accurately describes each item on the list. Summaries are accurate and consistent with the tutorials.Touchstone identifies a company or organization from the list and accurately describes each item on the list. Summaries may indicate an incomplete or inaccurate understanding of concepts from the tutorials.Touchstone identifies a company or organization from the list and describes each item on the list based on their COE. Some descriptions may be simply copied and pasted, inaccurate, or incomplete.Company identified is not on the list, descriptions are not provided, or so little effort is evident that no credit can be given.
Legal Compliance and Ethical Standards
Touchstone describes the COE in terms of legal compliance vs. a higher ethical standard with supporting evidence from the COE. (20%)Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is clear, supported by evidence from the COE, and shows depth of understanding.Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is given with examples from the COE.Response is accurate but does not use the language from the tutorials. Rationale is given but examples from COE are limited or missing.Response is given but does not use the language from the tutorials and may not be accurate. Rationale is not given.Response does not address the question or so little effort is evident that no credit can be given.
Competing Values Framework
Touchstone describes the organizational culture in the terms of the competing values framework as evident in the COE. (20%)Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is clear, supported by evidence from the COE, and shows depth of understanding.Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is given with examples from the COE.Response is accurate but does not use the language from the tutorials. Rationale is given but examples from the COE are limited or missing.Response is given but does not use the language from the tutorials and may not be accurate. Rationale is not given.Response does not address the question or so little effort is evident that no credit can be given.
Ethical Frameworks
Touchstone addresses how the chosen sentences from the code of ethics tie to an ethical theory. (20%)Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is clear, supported by evidence from the COE, and shows depth of understanding.Response is accurate and uses the appropriate language from the tutorials. Rationale is given with examples from the COE.Response is accurate but does not use the language from the tutorials. Rationale is given but examples from COE are limited or missing.Response is given but does not use the language from the tutorials and may not be accurate. Rationale is not given.Response does not address the question or so little effort is evident that no credit can be given.
Reflection
Touchstone provides thoughtful personal responses to the questions, evaluating the COE as employee-centered, describing any concerns they have, and deciding if they would want to work for the company. (20%)Reflection provides thoughtful responses to all questions, supporting answers with evidence from the COE and using the concepts and language from the tutorials.Reflection provides responses to all questions, supporting answers with evidence from the COE.Reflection provides responses to all questions but may not provide supporting evidence for all responses.Reflection provides minimal responses to all questions without supporting evidence.Response does not address the question or so little effort is evident that no credit can be given.
Conventions
Submission follows conventions for standard written English and meets requirements. (10%)There are almost no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization; all length and formatting requirements are met.There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met.There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that somewhat impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met.There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability; length and formatting requirements are not nearly met.Submission does not meet the minimum threshold for points to be awarded.
C. Check Your Work
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Use a readable 11- or 12-point font.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment, and all writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name and the date.
Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file, using the template provided.