1. In an organization’s efforts to maintain ethical standards, how important is it to encourage and support employees who report possible incidents of ethical wrongdoing (i.e., engage in whistle blowing)? Why? What can companies do to support whistle-blowers?
2. What actions are described in this case study that companies have taken to improve ethical standards in their organizations? Are these actions substantive changes or mostly symbolic? Why?

Business ethics may have risen to the top of most executive agendas, but Wal-Mart Stores has learned that practicing ethics can also present ethical dilemmas. A few months after going through a new employee training session with a heavy emphasis on ethics, Chalace Epley Lowry acted on the guidance to report any activity that seemed the least bit suspicious. Lowry told the company’s ethics office about possible insider trading by one of her supervisors. Wal-Mart’s investigation concluded that the supervisor had done nothing wrong, but Lowry soon discovered that her identity as the whistleblower had been revealed to the supervisor she accused of wrongdoing. Now Lowry is looking for another job, but there’s no guarantee she’ll get transferred at Wal-Mart.