Varying Global Ethical Standards in Business

“When in Rome, Do As The Romans Do.” This proverb is generally accepted by many people all around the world. Should this idea of “cultural relativism” be applied in the formation of ethical standards of international business? Or, there is a single list of truths that require exactly the same behavior across the different cultures, as the theory of “ethical imperialism” claim? (Donaldson, P. 477)
Here I am presenting some cases related to core business activities and business relationship between various stakeholders and their expectations in different cultures (especially united states, India, and Nepal). A thorough examination of the context, cultural background (religious, historical, economic, and social), business policy and standards, peoples’ expectations, and the comparison of human behavior in reference to God’s commandment, will help us figure out where one should recline in the “cultural relativism-ethical imperialism” spectrum. The business demeanor of Chitwan Seed Industry, where I worked as a financial manager and “Rapidex Education Center”, a high school where I taught business mathematics will be presented to highlight some ethical issues or to support effective solutions.

1. Business- Customer relation
Customers are the king in the marketplace. They determine what to produce and by whom. To a great extent, success in businesses depends on their ability to create, satisfy, and retain customers. Unfortunately, many businesses, all around the world, are focused on short-term profit from their customers by engaging in various unethical activities such as deception and producing harmful products. In the United States, businesses like car dealers, and other big ticket home appliances sellers purposefully hide their a...

... middle of paper ...

....
Jesus replied, “love your neighbor as yourself, which is one of the two most important commandments. (Mark 12: 29-31)
In the case study “cashew trade” we saw, the exporters in India and retailers in the EU and the US are negligent about the return that the farmers (the main producer) get in the business and their economic situation.
Regardless of the culture or country the business operates in, these manners are socially undesirable and morally wrong. It doesn’t comply with God’s commandment of “love your neighbor as yourself”. The justice, as mentioned by Alexander Hill, is not maintained. One’s greed overshadows God’s commandment to work as the stewards, but not the ultimate owners. It is against the common interest of a larger population (utilitarians) and also ignores one’s social duty (deontologists).

Works Cited

Bible, Alaxzeder Hill, Thomas Donaldson