Learn More: Examining Socially Responsible Companies
One of Fortune magazine's annual features is its list of "America's Most Admired Companies." Eight criteria, including "Social Responsibility," are used to screen candidates for the list. Our purpose here is to learn more about the top ten socially responsible companies in America. What makes them stand out from the crowd? To find out, go to Fortune's home page and click on "America's Most Admired" in the main menu. Select the heading "Key Attributes" and then choose "Social Responsibility."

Next, pick one of the top ten companies and search the Web for more information on that company. (See the Internet Exercises for Chapter 1, "Before You Begin," for some ideas to help you get started.) Be sure to make notes of the company's social responsibility and ethics initiatives.

1. What does your company do to earn its top ranking?
2. Is it a profitable company?
3. Does its high ranking in this category make you want to work for or buy products from the company? Why or why not?

Check It Out
Look at a web site that promotes applied ethics in organizations, at www.ethics.ubc.ca/resources/business. Follow the links to information about corporate codes of ethics and examine the information there. Choose a company that you are interested in and look at it its corporate code of ethics, either from this Web site or from a corporate-sponsored site.

1. What values are held by this organization?
2. Do you have confidence that this code of ethics is acted upon by the organization? Why or why not?