The Importance Of Personal Ethics

Personal ethics operate as an individual’s moral compass; a barometer from which their choices are measured and their actions gauged relative to the potential impact those choices may have on themselves and others alike. Personal ethics are the standards of conduct that an individual can adopt and adhere to in dealing with a variety of circumstances or situations, accepting the consequences of, and responsibility for, the actions they choose to execute. Personal ethics influence the individual’s choice between what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad, and the individual’s ability to make a proper choice and do what is best for all who may be involved or affected, including the organizations in which they are employed,

However, the impact of an employee’s choices made from the standpoint of their own personal ethics, can have just as significant an impact on the reputation and operation of the business as do the corporate decisions themselves. It is imperative then, that organizational structures integrate codes of ethics designed to underscore an individual employee’s personal ethics in the corporate context. Poor choices by any one individual in the organization could, for example, result in reputation-damaging exposure, cause loss of valuable intellectual property, and could lead to legal implications with subsequent fines and potential legal costs or worse (Global

Corporate codes of ethics are established to guide and govern the personal ethics of the individuals that comprise the organization. Like the individuals it seeks to govern, a code of ethics is itself a living document that must be periodically reviewed, revised, and renewed, in an effort to remain current with the needs and priorities of an organization, least they become outdated (BOMI n.d.). The way that organizational structures integrate and embody the code of ethics clearly demonstrates the importance of personal ethics in the organizational context. Organizational structures then provide the platform from which managers can work in shaping the corporate ethical climate that in turn, serves to influence the personal ethics of the individual employees throughout the organization. Ethics are as much a personal issue as they are an organizational issue and they have everything to do with management. If management does not exhibit proper leadership and institute the organizational structures that promote ethical conduct at the personal level, then they can ultimately bear the responsibility for those in the corporation that tread into the realm of corporate misconduct.