Communication ethics business communication subject

1. ETHICS AND
COMMUNICATION

2. ETHICS
The study of moral principles or values that determine
whether actions are right or wrong and outcomes are
good or bad.
ETHICAL SENSITIVITY: A personal characteristic that
enables people to recognize the presence and determine
the relative importance of an ethical issue.

3. CORPORATE ETHICS: Why an Asset??
HEMA RAVICHANDER: Senior VP HR at INFOSYS:
“ We at Infosys have a distinctive work culture and value system.
Our value system anagrammed as C-LIFE, place lot of
importance on customer delight, transparency, integrity,
leadership, fairness & pursuit of excellence”.
At Infosys all new employees go thru “value workshops” led by
senior Infos cions. Case studies, artifacts and standardized
presentations are used. The company has an e-mail id where
employees can send their queries & seek clarifications on
values and their practice.
The company often incurs financial losses on account of expenses
incurred to stay on the right side of the law. However in the
long run, such losses are balanced by non-financial advantages
such as a “good company reputation.”

4. Ethical decision making requires
three qualities of individuals
Ethics and the Individual
Competence to identify ethical issues and
evaluate the consequences of alternate actions.
Self-confidence to seek out different
opinions and decide what is right.
Willingness to make decisions when there
is no unambiguous solution.

5. Ways to Deal with Pressure to Compromise Your
Ethics:
• Consider your personal value system
early.
• Become aware of a tendency to
rationalize.
• Learn to analyze ethical dilemmas.

6. Communicate Ethically & Responsibly
• State information as truthfully and fairly
as possible
• Do not exaggerate facts
• Express ideas understandably
• State ideas with consideration that
preserves receiver’s self-worth
• Make sure information is accurate and
researched.
• Understand that values differ in cultures.
• Maintain and sustain a relationship.

7. NIKE INC,: “JUST DO IT” is just not enough
Nike a global brand leader has been targeted by social activists
&journalists as a symbol of how big business,in its quest for
maximizing profits & minimizing costs , ignores human rights &
working conditions of employees in developing countries, like
South Asia.
The list of allegations against some franchisee outlets are those of
poor wages, pathetic work conditions, child abuse.
Nike shares factory locations with independent 3rd parties where
approx 20% of the employees work on Nike products, claiming
that this enables them to monitor their supply chain efficiently.
However it keeps the names of these factories confidential &
do not allow inspections claiming that this would be unfairly
used by activists to make further attacks rather than start a
dialogue to help the company address the existing problems.

8. Given the uncovering of certain malpractices among franchisee
outlets, Nike has since devised and implemented a code of
conduct for its contract factories.
It also works with Global Alliance to review conditions in 21 of
these factories & to resolve issues as they develop.
However it is difficult to recover a tarnished image, and
notwithstanding all their remedial actions, criticism of Nike’s
policies continues unabated.

9. CHARACTERISTICS OF MORAL PRINCIPLES
• They have potentially serious consequences to human
well-being.
• Their validity rests on the advocacy of the reasons that
are used to support and justify them.
• They override self-interest.
• They are based on impartial considerations.

10. ETHICAL DILEMMAS FACING MANAGERS
• SECRECY
• LEAKS
• RUMOURS AND GOSSIPS
• AMBIGUITY
• WHISTLE BLOWING

11. HOW TO MAKE ETHICAL STATEMENTS WORK??
• WRITE IT
• TAILOR IT
• COMMUNICATE IT
• PROMOTE IT
• REVISE IT
• LIVE IT
• ENFORCE/REINFORCE IT

12. TEST THE ETHICS OF A MESSAGE
• DOES THE MESSAGE COMPLY WITH THE LAW?
• Is it fair to all concerned?
• Who will benefit or harm from it?
• If you received the message, how would you feel?
• Would you be embarrassed if others found about it?
• Does the message make you feel good about yourself?

13. APPROACH TO CORPORATE ETHICS
• CORPORATE CULTURE
• ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY
• “OPEN DOOR POLICY”