Deontological Perspective In Business Ethics

Deontology is defined as

“certain underlying principles are right or wrong regardless of any pleasure or pain calculations. Believing that actions cannot be measured simply by their results but must be judged by means and motives as well, deontologists judge the morality of acts not so much by their consequences but by the motives that lead to them.” (Mann & Roberts, 2014, p. 17).

Deontological ethic is considered an ethic of duty and considers behaviors in accordance to the manner everyone should act in a similar situation without singling out individuals over others or exceptions to the rule. It highly comparable to the Golden Rule. In a business perspective, deontology focuses on the duty and behaviors of a profession. Stephen, as a Chief Executive Officer of a public US corporation, has certain duties and ethical behaviors to abide by US business ethical standards (Dina, 2013).

From a deontological perspective, Stephen should analyze questionable behaviors concerning his entities, ventures and officers. For example, many interactions and transactions concerning Stephen’s entities are questionable

behaviors that are high-risk factors prone to ethical implications. Stephen’s entities are adhered to a higher standard, specifically corporate governance, because he is the CEO of a public corporation. A public corporation, in essence, not only follows business regulation and laws, but considers the effects of organizational objectives and social responsibility. Even though Stephen’s entities abide by different laws, including contrasting differences in business transactions and workers’ rights, the moral implications are taken into consideration and eliminated despite the consequences (Dina, 2013).
A deontology perspective does not involve questioning of how to approach or finagle a situation.

A deontology perspective involves direct determination that eliminates questionable behaviors, transactions and financial maleficence. Many of the ethical implication Stephen faces are eliminated through a deontological perspective that enables the concentration towards higher standards and other developments beneficial to his organizations. For example, transfer pricing would be approached in accordance to its regulations, bribery and labor issues would be completed eliminated and outsourcing would consider other risk factors besides reducing labor costs. Many of Stephen’s worries would be eliminated allowing Stephen to create a positive organizational culture that focuses on development and morality, which automatically deviates the contrary (Dina,

2013).