Business ethics refers to carrying out business according to one's moral principles and codes of conduct. It concerns decisions about right and wrong from a business perspective. Ethical decisions have implications for employee satisfaction, sales, costs, customers, and reputation. Some key ethical issues businesses face include employee treatment, customer interactions, environmental practices, and product safety. To guide ethical decision making, many businesses implement codes of conduct that establish principles for protecting rights, safety, the environment, truthful advertising, and financial integrity.
2.
It’s personally reflecting on ideas and beliefs associated with behaviours
and actions.
We start with the idea that there are certain things, irrespective of
culture, country, gender, colour or profession, that are...right or wrong.
In the words of Peter.F.Drucker, ―Ethics deals with right actions of
individuals‖ , Ethics includes the following
1. Well based standards: Ethics refers to well based standards of right and
wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do
2. Study and development of one‘s ethical standards: Ethics refers to the
study and development of one‘s ethical standards
3. Business Ethics refers to carrying business as per self-acknowledged moral standards. It
is actually a structure of moral principles and code of conduct applicable to a business.
Business ethics are applicable not only to the manner the business relates to a customer
but also to the society at large. It is the worth of right and wrong things from business
point of view.
Ethics concern an individual's moral judgements about right and wrong. Decisions taken
within an organisation may be made by individuals or groups, but whoever makes them
will be influenced by the culture of the company. The decision to behave ethically is a
moral one; employees must decide what they think is the right course of action. This
may involve rejecting the route that would lead to the biggest short-term profit .
4.
Business ethics not only talk about the code of conduct at workplace but also with the clients and
associates. Companies which present factual information, respect everyone and thoroughly adhere to the
rules and regulations are renowned for high ethical standards. Business ethics implies conducting business
in a manner beneficial to the societal as well as business interests.
Every strategic decision has a moral consequence. The main aim of business ethics is to provide people with
the means for dealing with the moral complications. Ethical decisions in a business have implications such
as satisfied work force, high sales, low regulation cost, more customers and high goodwill.
Some of ethical issues for business are relation of employees and employers, interaction between
organization
and
customers,
interaction
between
organization
and
shareholders,
environment, environmental issues, bribes, employees rights protection, product safety etc.
work
5. Below is a list of some significant ethical principles to be followed for a
successful business-
1. Protect the basic rights of the employees/workers.
2. Follow health, safety and environmental standards.
3. Continuously improvise the products, operations and production facilities to
optimise the resource consumption
4. Do not replicate the packaging style so as to mislead the consumers
5. Indulge in truthful and reliable advertising
6. 6. Strictly adhere to the product safety standards.
7. Accept new ideas. Encourage feedback from both employees as well as
customers.
8. Present factual information. Maintain accurate and true business records.
9. Treat everyone (employees, partners and customers) with respect and
integrity .
10. The mission and vision of the company should be very clear to it.
11. Do not get engaged in business relationships that lead to conflicts of
interest. Discourage black marketing, corruption and hoarding.
12. Meet all the commitments and obligations timely.
7. 13. Encourage free and open competition. Do not ruin
competitors’ image by fraudulent practices.
14. The policies and procedures of the Company should be
updated regularly.
15. Maintain confidentiality of personal data and proprietary
records held by the company.
16. Do not accept child labour, forced labour or any other
human right abuses.
8. While the law imposes some ethical rules, legislation cannot possibly define
business ethics as a whole and cannot address every situation in which ethical
dilemmas may arise.
A code of ethics is a set of principles and rules used by companies, professional
organisations and individuals to govern their decision making in choosing between
right and wrong . Depending on the context of a given code of ethics, penalties
and/or sanctions may result from a violation.
Code of ethics are generally used in the business & professional context to ensure
the public that corporations and members of regulated professions are acting in a
socially and professionally accepted manner. Organisations with an established and
published code of ethics have in place review processes and appeals procedures to
guard against malicious or self-serving use for individual effort.
9. Companies and professional societies set their own ethical standards in an
attempt to provide guidance for difficult choices.
These ethical rules are often referred to as code of conduct or rules of conduct,
by which those in the group abide.
Each group determines their ethical stance based upon different guidelines,
whether it is established principals, religious book, or group agreement.
While members of the group may follow the ethical guidelines as a principal by
which they believe everyone should act , they might also have a set of personal
ethics which also governs their own behaviours .