Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
ethics in the corporate world
ethics in the corporate world
role of ethics in international business
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: ethics in the corporate world
“The more one knows ethics, the more it is used and the more useful it becomes”-Plato, The quote by Plato is a reminder on just how important ethics is and how important it is to educate yourself on proper ethical practices. In the following paper I would like to look at the topic of global business ethics. Recent studies in business ethics have shown both remarkable similarities and differences across cultures with respect to attitudes toward questionable business practices. First I would like to talk about the affect that culture has on ethical behavior. Next, I would like to talk about ethical complexities and challenges facing businesses that operate internationally, mainly focusing in on multinational corporations and the ethical problems they face. As recently as a decade ago, many companies viewed business ethics only in terms of administrative compliance with legal standards and adherence to internal rules and regulations. Today the situation is different. Attention to business ethics is on the rise across the world and many companies realize that in order to succeed, they must earn the respect and confidence of their customers. Like never before, corporations are being asked, encouraged and prodded to improve their business practices to emphasize legal and ethical behavior. Companies, professional firms and individuals alike are being held increasingly accountable for their actions, as demand grows for higher standards of corporate social responsibility (http://www.enterweb.org/ethics.htm).
First, the affect that culture has on ethical behavior. Corporations and individuals, especially corporations doing business globally, must understand and evaluate the cultures of the people with which it wishes to do business in ord...
... middle of paper ...
... face when conducting business globally. Thank you
Work Cited Page:
1. No Author, May 19th, 2005: Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Found at: http://www.enterweb.org/ethics.htm
2. Pitta, Dennis A, Fung, Hung-Gay, Isberg, Steven: Ethical Issues across cultures: Managing the different perspectives of China and the U.S., (Schien 1985).
Found at: http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbpitt/ethics.pdf
3. Kohls, J. and Buller, P. (1994), ``Resolving cross-cultural ethical
Strategies’'
Found in: Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 13, pp. 31-8.
4. Ferrell, O.C., Fraedrich, John, Ferrell, Linda: Business Ethics-Ethical decision
making and cases, 7th Edition, Copyright 2008
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Company
5. Storm, Brad, May 2007: Ethics as defined by business leaders
Found at: http://www.managerwise.com/article.phtml?id=523
In business, creating a culture of ethical behavior and productivity are two of the most important elements in daily operations. There are deferring opinions on how to establish those standards. One standard is universal in which human rights are general and should apply to every human being or having a one-size fits all standard of practice (Hugh, M.C., 2002). For example, an organization could great a set of ethical standards that universal and standard to apply to its members. However, the opposing view is cultural relativism, where the view that all values are meaningful only within specific cultures (Hugh, M.C., 2002). In other words, each culture defines what is right and what is wrong. Applying this to business, an organization can create ethical standards that are specific to their service line and provide specificity to members about their services, behavior, and social
In today’s global society, a Code of Ethics policy is used to label established, acceptable behaviors among that industry’s business associates, potential investors, and the corporation’s executive officers and employees, and most important, the consumer (Ethics Resource Center, 2003). In an attempt to promote an increased efficiency and productivity potential level, among employees and prospective clients, a corporation’s standard Code of Ethics should guide its members toward a more in-depth examination of their personal moral activity, and how these actions affect the people or acquaintances they encounter. A company should utilize this strategy as a model for the professional behaviors and responsibilities of its constituents, and proves the occupational advancement of that business. Ethics are important in every level of a corporation, but specifically in the day-to-day actions of its members, and the image the company broadcasts to its associates is fundamental in building a stable business foundation. These pledges are a vital communication tool used to covey the firm’s standards for business operations, and predominantly, its relationships with the surrounding communities (Ethics Resource Center, 2003).
Brannigan, M. C. (2005). Ethics across cultures: an introductory text with readings. Boston : McGraw-Hill.
“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened” (Kennedy, 1963). Continuous improvements in technology capabilities have provided companies with tools to more easily conduct business on a global scale. However, when conducting business with different cultures, you risk different ethical standards. Companies should be accountable for ensuring their product or services can be received by the consumer in good conscience, void of human ethics violations, regardless of where the product or service originates; and consumers should not patronize companies that cannot ensure this trust.
Cultures differ by agency that shapes their cultures that either dominates a professional ethical environment to those that encourage misconduct and adventure
Business ethics simply can be defined as the application of business values in the business practice of a company (Seawell 2010, p. 2). For a multinational company, business ethics is one of the critical aspects need to be taken into account in business decision-making processes. Failure to give attention on ethics may bring consequences on company’s reputation (Meyer & Jebe 2010, p. 159). The company is expected not only to pursue its own profits but also contributing to the environmental and social welfare of the community where it operates (Svensson & Wood 2008, p. 308).
Ethical cultures in large business organizations in Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Journal of Business Ethics, 105, 415-428.
In this paper, I will attempt to discuss what should be the norm for international business and optimal resolution for ethical dilemmas that all multinational organizations should adhere to as part of its normal conduct of business. Furthermore, I will discuss how to resolve the dilemma around fair wages paid to its employees, keeping the organization sensitive to various international cultures it operates in and to not let any local corruption and bribery shadow the good efforts and image of the organization.
Svensson, G., & Wood, G. (2003). The dynamics of business ethics: a function of time and culture-cases and models. Management Decision, 41(4),
Ethical standards that evolved over the history of Western civilization deal with interpersonal relationships. What is right or wrong? What one should do and not do when dealing with other people. Ethical behavior in a business environment has not been as clearly defined. When businesses were small and the property of a few individuals, traditional ethical standards were applied to meet different situations. However, as businesses became larger, the interpersonal ethical relations did not provide any clear behavioral guidelines. Likewise, the principles of ethical relationships were even less pertinent to the corporate environments.
9. If the business Multinational builds dangerous factories, there must be adequate safeguards. Procedures and system safeguards should be clear to those who run / operate the plant. Systems and procedures should also be socialized. Security tools should be available and be monitored.
When one wants to know what is the study of proper business policies and practices regarding potentially controversial issues than I would give them business ethics (ACG, 2009-15). Although, policy and practices are just part of what is business ethic, addressing controversial issues remains a key principle of business ethics. Daft (2015) believes that building relationships require more intelligence and the more intelligence available the simpler we can identify business ethics. For example, Manoj Bhargava, CEO, founder and inventor of the five hour energy drink, got it right. Manoj believes, building relationships require more intelligence and the simpler the innovation the more defined is business ethics (Koch, 1996-2015). Every company, organization, firm, rather for-profit or
In conclusion, companies that seek to integrate into global markets usually encounter several problems because of the effect of globalization on business practices. The challenges originating from such integration is attributed to the differences in cultures in various societies across the globe. As evident in Google’s dilemma in China, there is no single set of universal ethics that are applicable to all settings and societies across the globe. Companies such as Google need to develop varying ethical standards that are relevant and appropriate to various nations and cultures in the world. This would enable the companies that are integrating into global markets to avoid ethical issues while maintaining effective business practices.
Ethical awareness has and continues to be a debated concept in the business community. The notion of what motivates ethnical awareness is at the core of the debate. In other words, are decisions made about business practices motivated by an obligation to the community, sense of corporate responsibility, a leader’s view of right and wrong or political influences. Although the perspectives on what motivates ethical awareness differ among business leaders, ethnical awareness is fundamental in the decision making process. This essay outlines the ethnical awareness principles of Drucker, Alahmad, Friedman, and Murphy and how business decisions are influenced by such principles.
As globalization has increased there has been a growing ethics gap between the United States and the rest of the developed world. The United States conducts more research both academically and in an organizational setting than any other country in the world. Also the ethics gap has not decreased in the wake of globalization, rather it has only grown