Skip to main content

WHAT IS BUSINESS ETHICS

Ethics in general is the study of standards of behavior that promote human welfare and what is often called “the good.”  Business ethics is the study of those standards of business behavior that do the same thing—promote human welfare and the good.

Ethics can really be thought about at three levels: how we act as individuals; how our organizations act; and how we structure our society. Similarly, business ethics can be thought about at those same levels.
At the individual level, we actually can predict what kind of ethical issues we will face in our business careers; a set of unavoidable ethical dilemmas comes with the territory. Once we’ve identified those unavoidable ethical dilemmas, we can prepare for them and deal with them much more effectively.
One way of identifying the unavoidable dilemmas in a particular role is to think about the obligations of the role.  If you're a salesperson, you can ask yourself, for example, “What do I owe to the individual person I'm trying to sell to?”  There are all kinds of predictable dilemmas: When I know something that the customer doesn’t, when do I owe that information to the customer?  If the customer assumes things that aren't true, do I have an obligation to correct that interpretation?  If I know something about their competitor, under what circumstances can I share information about the products their competitor has purchased, or is that confidential?” You can also ask yourself what you owe to the rest of the organization?  To your fellow salespeople?  When does your behavior begin to negatively affect them? What in your behavior might limits their opportunities because you create a bad reputation or get engaged in a set of bad relationships with customers?

Business ethics also operates at the organizational level through how we structure our organizations and therefore the way those organizations direct, guide, and incent people to act.  It’s the responsibility of the company to define its values, which are how the corporation wants its employees to behave in all the kinds of interactions. An employee can always refer back to those values and ask, “Okay, is this is how we want to treat our employees? Is this how we want to treat our customers?  Does this action I propose reflect the company’s values?”
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ETHICS

Finally, business ethics is influenced by how we structure our business society—how we incorporate organizations to participate in commerce, the laws and regulations which bind business organizations.
Obviously, ethics is important for a wide variety of reasons. It creates value through our cooperation, through our seeking together what serves human welfare. That certainly goes for our businesses.  Without a shared sense of what good behavior means, there would be no ability to cooperate, no ability to trust others to act in our interest and not against us.  If ethics was not present, it would be a very cold and cruel world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to dress in Short and Sweet Jackets

  Short and sweet jackets are versatile and stylish additions to your wardrobe, and they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Here are some tips on how to dress in short and sweet jackets: Choose the Right Fit: Fahsion Lady Ensure that the jacket fits you well. It should not be too tight or too loose. The shoulders should align with your natural shoulder line, and the length should end at your waist or slightly below. Select a Complementary Outfit: For a Chic Look: Pair your short and sweet jacket with a fitted blouse or a classic button-down shirt. Add skinny jeans or tailored trousers to complete the chic ensemble. Casual Style: Dress down the jacket by wearing it over a simple T-shirt and your favorite pair of jeans. This combination is perfect for a casual day out. Dressy Occasions: Short and sweet jackets can also be dressed up for formal or semi-formal events. Layer them over a sleek dress or a tailored skirt and blouse combo. Consider the Fabri...

Top 5 Things You Need To Know About Tiktok Before you SignUp

TikTok is a popular social media platform known for its short-form video content. Here are the top five things you need to know about TikTok: 1. Video-Centric Platform:     Man In Space    TikTok is primarily a video-sharing platform where users can create and share short videos, typically ranging from 15 seconds to one minute in length. It's known for its creative and entertaining content, often featuring music, dancing, challenges, and humor. 2. User-Generated Content: TikTok thrives on user-generated content. Anyone can create an account, and the platform provides a range of creative tools, filters, effects, and a vast music library to enhance videos. The "For You Page" (FYP) algorithm helps surface content tailored to individual users' interests. 3. Diverse Userbase: TikTok has a diverse and global userbase, spanning various age groups and demographics. While it gained popularity among younger users initially, it has since attracted users of a...

Whisker's in the Boardroom "OFFICE"

  The Purr-fect Accountant In a bustling metropolis, where steel skyscrapers pierce the sky and business suits flood the sidewalks, a peculiar professional has claimed a spot in the corporate world. Meet Whiskers, the feline accountant who's taking the financial district by storm.                             MEET WHISKER THE ACCOUNTANT A Tail of Talent Whiskers, a sleek black cat with a sparkling collar, spends her days crunching numbers and balancing books from the 23rd floor of a gleaming high-rise. Her employer, Smith & Co., was initially hesitant to hire a non-human candidate, but Whiskers' exceptional skills and certified accounting degree (earned through a special feline program) won them over. Purr-ks and Recreation As the office's resident cat, Whiskers brings a unique set of skills to the table. Her keen senses and agility allow her to navigate the office with ease, often discovering hidden errors in...