Solomon It's Good Business Summary

Sarah Kruzinski

Ethics & Management

Argument Paper- “It’s Good Business”

09/15/2015

Throughout the article Solomon discusses how ethics plays a key role in how businesses are run. He mentions several ideas about what ethics and morals businesses should follow and how they should deal with their customers. After reading this article I would say that I mostly agree with what Solomon is saying.

Solomon says that “business ethics is nothing less than the full awareness of what one is doing, its consequences and complications” (Shaw 39). I would have to say that I agree with this statement. Someone has to know that what they are doing is either “right” or “wrong” and they must be willing to take responsibility for the outcomes of their actions.

While something may be right for business it does not necessarily make it right for society. Solomon mentions the company Brake Breakers and how they deal with customers. What I find wrong is how Brake Breakers will tell someone that their brakes need to be fixed even if they don’t. I find that this is not only bad business but immoral. If I were a customer and I went to get my car fixed, I would put full trust in the company, knowing that they should have my best interest in mind. However, this is not the case for this company. They have more of an egoism perspective. “Egoists use personal advantage (both short-term and long-term) as the standard for measuring actions rightness” (Shaw 59). They are more concerned with their self-interest than with their customers. In fact they say that “in the long run, we’re all dead” (Shaw 41), which shows that they will just do and say what they have to in order to be successful.
I also agree with Solomon’s 3C’s, compliance, contribution, and consequences. Everyone should be aware of these facts. An individual in business, as well as a larger business should contemplate and carefully consider if what they’re doing will benefit just their business only or if it will benefit society as a whole. I believe that a business should be aware of “ the need for compliance with the rules; the contributions business can make through society through the value and quality of ones products and services; and the consequences of business activity, both inside and outside the company” (Shaw 39).
Also after looking at “The Rules of the Game”, I would have to say that they are pretty accurate. But the one rule that I feel is the most important would be “Rule No. 1: Consider other people’s well-being, including the well-being of non-participants” (Shaw 43). While it is important to look at your own self-interest and for the self-interest of the business, I feel that it is also necessary to look out for others. However, as Solomon said “it is impossible to take everyone into account” (Shaw 43), which is very true but when you can it is better to do so.
After reading this article I feel that businesses should take the utilitarianism approach. “Utilitarianism is the moral doctrine that we should always act to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions” (Shaw 62). This is about creating maximum happiness for everyone involved and because “business is ultimately about relationships between people” (Shaw 39) it is important for them to be happy and satisfied. I believe that a business should establish clear policies and ethics for all, including employees and managers; and whether or not someone follows them is mostly up to them.

Works Cited:
Shaw, William H., and Vincent E. Barry. Moral Issues in Business. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.