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Ethics in the corporate world
Ethics in the corporate world
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“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...
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... 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
Ethical behavior cannot be successfully shaped and maintained in isolation. Therefore, the internal controls characterized by individual attributes must be usually consistent with organizational structure, organizational culture and societal expectations. These four components are key elements for designing an environment supportive of theses ethical conducts (Cooper, 2012 pg. 164).
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
Unlike, the Practitioner’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making, the Intercultural Model of Ethical Decision Making, is modern and takes the more subjective approach advocated for by modern theorists. It promotes a rather holistic than rational approach. Instead of focusing solely on facts, the Intercultural Model of Ethical Decision Making incorporates the culture, religion and different beliefs in the analysis and resolution of the ethical problem.
When travelling for business between different countries it’s very important to understand the different ethical practices. When looking into the different ethical business practices in organizations we will look at the four largest and fastest developing countries which are commonly known as BRIC; Brazil, Russia, India, and China. There are many similarities between these countries; however India and Brazil seem to have a more favorable ethics rating than China and Russia. While there are similar perceptions on ethical business practices, these ideas are not shared globally. As these four countries grow economically, it’s becoming more important for business leaders to understand their ethical differences.
Generally, worldview gives us the insight to see the world around us. Grudem and Ruddell explains different principles in business ethics are moral principles that guides the way a business prosper. It’s all about making right choices distinguishing between “right” and “wrong”. Ethics derive from personal morals and standards, and also, we view other ethics. According to Ruddell (2003, PG. 42) he states the Christian foundation to business ethics, however, is different because it is a distinctive worldview. Business have to set standards and goals on how they would like see their business in the future. One day, I would like to own my own business. I think setting goals for yourself will help you to achieve and growth in life. It is very important. It is very important to have business ethics, rather than everything be about profit.
From a researcher or policymaker's point of view and on an international scale, policy analysis and management professor Andrea Parrot stresses that ethics are culturally and historically determined. When members of one culture try to impose their ethics and values on another culture, the situation is inherently complex.
Brannigan, M. C. (2005). Ethics across cultures: an introductory text with readings. Boston : McGraw-Hill.
Cultures differ by agency that shapes their cultures that either dominates a professional ethical environment to those that encourage misconduct and adventure
Cultural diversity is extremely important, and business managers cannot overlook the challenges of a multi-cultural workplace. What is ethical in one culture may not be ethical in another. Believing all cultures are the same ethically can create big problems in the workplace. When you force one’s ethics on a group of employees, it can lead to moral relativism (p. 682). Some managers opt to accept relativism in the workplace, while others do not. Melé and Sánchez-Runde (2013) add the opposition of moral relativism, which is moral universalism, supports Kant’s deontology, whereas right or wrong actions are objective, in that they do not depend on values or opinions (p. 684). A multi-cultural workplace can have many ethical differences and can be competitive in decision-making. It is critical to respect the rights of each culture and to work together to appreciate and understand each other. Melé and Sánchez-Runde (2013) conclude the respect of human rights is a perfect moral duty, and relationships, business and personal, are built upon one common human family (p.
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).
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 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.
“Upholding a stable and harmonious society has been viewed as the most important role of ethics (Werth, 2013).” China is a high context culture. “In high context cultures, information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person (Iowa State University, 2015).” In China they depend more on understanding each other’s meanings rather than having to speak to communicate. “In these cultures, members tend to use a more indirect style of communication (Iowa State University, 2015).”
Alexander Prokhorov and his discoveries have greatly impacted our lives. He discovered masers and lasers. What are maser and a laser? Maser is stands for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. When he was inventing masers and lasers the environment around him was area that has been through a world wars 2 and he just joined the red army and he came out to continue his studying and discovering this he discovered this with a fellow. His invention has a really great impact on our lives now a day
Building an ethical culture and culture. Associations Now, vol. 78, no. 1. 3, Retrieved May 26, 2007, from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=6&sid=68201a70-4f78-496b-8a74-485b87b4e78e%40sessionmgr7. Gaye-Anderson, K. (2007, March). Doing the right thing. Black Enterprise, vol. 78, no. 1. 37, Retrieved