Business ethics or International business

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 12:18 PM

ok, I kinda need quick responses to this....

I have a to do a 5 minute speech tomorrow for my business communications class. I have to turn in a works cited page and outline when I do my speech.

only problem is that I'm having hardcore writers block....I just need some ideas for topics. I have to go in depth, and it can only be five minutes long.

The main topics I can choose from are either Business Ethics or International Business...

Thanks for your ideas!

**The Phantom Ghost** · 03-09-2009 12:35 PM

mmm int...

Business ethics or lack off? Thats a good topic. Pick a big brand like mc ds or shell and find some examples of when they treat people like shit...

gl man bowl them over...

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 12:37 PM

good idea, can't believe I didn't think of anything like that, haha.... I'll look into that, in the mean time, keep em coming!

**elle_purchase** · 03-09-2009 12:40 PM

Perhaps you could discuss how the U.S. economic condition has affected countries like China. People seem to be really interested in the economy right now...so anything touching on this issue, would keep people tuned in. You could also discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing, or maybe consumer trends in India.

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 12:52 PM

I've thought about the pros and cons of outsourcing, but I'm not REALLY sure if I can get in depth with that in just five minutes.

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 03:37 PM

would the whole "smart grid" thing be a good topic...or is greener electricity notpart of business ethics, but something else?

**stri8ed** · 03-09-2009 03:48 PM

talk about the use of open source platforms the benefits of collaboration, and how and why is is blowing up tremendously

eg. linux, wordpress, zen cart, android etc..

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 03:54 PM

what does that have to do with Business Ethics or International business though? Would be a pretty good topic if I got to pick any topic though...

**stri8ed** · 03-09-2009 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by brownbob06

what does that have to do with Business Ethics or International business though? Would be a pretty good topic if I got to pick any topic though...

my bad, maybe write about the new sites like 99designs.com and odesk etc.. that allow foreign designers and programmers to make a decent living, amidst living in 3rd world country's without having to come to America

**brownbob06** · 03-09-2009 04:35 PM

good idea, but I think I'm just gonna do the smart grid thing, at least once I figure out what exactly the hell it is, haha

**Doodyps** · 03-09-2009 04:51 PM

I would write about how congress and this administration constantly rip bankers and ceo's for having lavish lifestyles and parties, then go on massive retreats paid for by lobbyists (of those companies) and eat $90 steaks and have martini's on tax payer money. Well, that's not really business oriented enough...

Or how our economy collapsed because 2 GSE's (gov't sponsored enterprises, Freddy and Fannie) encouraged sub-prime lending by trying to be "ethical" (getting low income people in to homes) via the Community Reinvestment act (circa 1979, 1999). Fannie and Freddy sought to buy sub-prime loans issued by large banks thereby inflating the market for them and removing much of the risk for banks that issued them since they could simply sell them after collecting fees to the 2 corporate government guaranteed(taxpayer guaranteed) giants that wouldn't be allowed to fail.

-Point is, an ethical business wouldn't have ever issued loans to people who could not or would not prove their income and couldn't possibly pay it back just to collect the fees for short term gain. Even though the gov't was creating a market for these loans, ethical companies would not get involved knowing the everyone but themselves would be inevitable losers. A severe lack of business ethics allowed huge banks to issue mortgages to risky people when they knew better, but could still make a buck by passing the risk to the tax payer via Fannie and Freddy. You could also make a point that the gov't should never distort market INCENTIVES so as to encourage unethical business practices or you could focus on way government has and continues to incentivize unethical practices.

**Gopal Dev** · 03-10-2009 12:40 AM

Definitely a LACK of business ethics that led us to the current economic disaster...and will surely lead us to future ones. Stay strong in '09 and beyond!

Gopal (The Musical Mad Scientist and Entrepreneur)
The v-Fusion Group

**brownbob06** · 03-15-2009 03:33 PM

just an update. I ended up doing the speech on workplace privacy and if some businesses were taking workplace surveillance too far. Got a 42/50, not bad for something I wrote the night before in about a half hour!

thanks for the ideas though everybody!