...BUSINESS ETHICS 'COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEMS' IN PARTICULAR HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY DOES AN INDIVIDUAL MANAGER HAVE FOR THE ETHICAL CULTURE OF HIS/HER ORGANISATION? Ram Visvanathan Business Ethics May 28, 2014 Introduction. Ethics is very important for the prosperity of any organization. Every employee or stakeholder of an organization has got an important role to play in nurturing an ethical culture in an organization. This research paper discusses the level of responsibility that an individual manager has in the ethical culture of his or her organization. This is done with close attention to academic journals and research. The paper will derive its arguments from veteran theories like the Utilitarian and the Kantian theories. The paper will also relate its discussions with the case study about Enron a USA company that collapsed as a result of unethical behavior in the management. Some of the components that will be highlighted in the paper include; the importance of an ethical culture in an organization, the dangers of lack of ethics in an organization and the strategies that can be used to promote ethics in an organization. Justification of the research. The study of the role of individual managers in the ethical culture of an organization is a justified venture. This is because of the increased calls for ethical behaviors in organizations. The expectations of the staff and the society at large on ethical behaviors have increased tremendously...
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...Organizational Design & Business Ethics: A Literature Review Abstract A review of the current literature regarding business ethics was conducted analyzing scholarly peer-reviewed articles about business ethics and their relation to leadership, managerial decision making, corporate social responsibility and overall corporate structure. Increased corporate scandals and the discovery of a rise in unethical business practices have thrown the topic of business ethics into the spotlight. Organizations are expected by their stakeholders to implement strong ethics within their corporate structure and culture. This expectation could be accomplished through strong ethical leadership, formal structures and regulations that place emphasis on ethics, and by making a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Using these guidelines will help organizations overcome the various challenges allowing the business to build a strong ethical foundation that will ultimately benefit the company through increased customer and employee satisfaction, which could result in increased profits, organizational sustainability and social status. The review of the literature reveals that there is still plenty of room for exploration on the topic of business ethics and particularly with the topic of ethical leadership. It is recommended that more focus be placed on understanding the influence of strong ethical leadership within an organization and how this influence flows down the organizational...
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...The Importance Of Corporate Ethics and Values: Building a Sustainable Strategy Model for Effective Implementation of Good Corporate Governance within a State-Owned Enterprise in South Africa. A Research Study Presented to the Graduate school of Business Leadership University of South Africa In Fulfillment of the Requirements for the MASTERS DEGREE IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA Prepared by Lazarus Docter Mokoena (called Bonga) [Student No: 0555-418-7] Tel: 011-217 1187 (Work); 011-679 5486 (Home) Cell: 082 466 6896 SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR M.H. CROSBIE FINAL RESEARCH REPORT November 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................... 8 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 8 ESKOM’s COMPANY BACKGROUND ................................................ 8 ESKOM’s BUSINESS CONDUCT POLICY .......................................10 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH .......................................................12 PROBLEM STATEMENT .................................................................14 IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF STUDY .....................................17 RESEARCH PROPOSITIONS AND HYPOTHESIS ...........................18 1.6.1 Propositions ...................................
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...Project Paper The Role of Cultural Values in Business Ethics: the case of ICT companies Muhammad Fikri Bin Ahmad (1022133) (Email:fikriahmad91@gmail.com) Mohamad Amali Bin Maulan (1013901) (Email: aku_amali@yahoo.com) Muhammad Muslim Bin Samsudin(1012545) (Email: aim_messi@yahoo.com) Tengku Muhammad Ihsan bin Tengku Hishamuddin (1027923) (Email: ihsan_libra@hotmail.com) MGT 3020 Business Ethics Section 1 IIUM Gombak 15th June 2011 The Role of Cultural Values in Business Ethics: the case of ICT companies Tengku Muhammad Ihsan Bin Tengku Hishamuddin, Mohamad Amali bin Maulan, Muhammad Muslim Bin Samsudin, Muhammad Fikri Bin Ahmad Kuliyyah of Economics And Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Purpose-This paper aims to obtain views in ICT company regarding the role of cultural values in company performance in terms of customer satisfaction, skills in solving problems and capability in adopting new technologies and its influence to people behavior in terms of innovativeness and motivation. This paper also contributes to the discussion of cultural values in business ethics. Methodology-Data are collected through one on one interviewing process with 15 managers. Findings-The two main findings are firstly identified the moderating effects association between cultures in Malaysia with ICT company performance in terms of profit, customer satisfaction and capability in solving problems and adopting...
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...Ethics and Organizational Design- A Literature Review Abstract This literature review observes the views of organizational design and business ethics as they relate to one another in business. The first portion of this paper defines organizational design and business ethics to establish their importance and also examines managerial ethics and corporate social responsibility, sources of ethical principles. The second portion pursues to explain the relationship between business ethics and organizational design and how managers shape ethics through use of value-based leadership and formal structure systems. The third portion pursues to review the importance of ethics to organizational design and the structures that support or enforce ethical behavior in organizations. The fourth portion links literature reviewed and published over the past few years together based on their reference to ethics and organizational design. The literatures are linked together based on commonalities found in the opinions of the authors relating to a spiritual perspective, ethics and corporate structure, organizational and ethical theories, and ethical strategy. Last but not least, the review concludes with a summary of the important role that ethics plays in the organizational design and structure of a business and how it applies to members of management. Keywords: business ethics, organizational design, corporate social responsibility Outline INTRODUCTION I. Organizational Design/Business...
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...Ethics KEY TERM and WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN IT Ethics is the key term chosen this week to research, secondary to the significant relevance ethics plays in all aspects of life. As a child, it was emphasized what was right and wrong, good and bad, to be the best one can be, and to make sure the decisions that are made are based on a common set of values and principles. As an adult, the adherence to these values has played a fundamental role in my own success as a business leader in my profession. EXPLANATION OF KEY TERM The general definition of ethics is ”the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation” (Satterlee, 2009, p. 48). Every culture in the world will have some form of ethics and the society would have a set of values or moral duties and obligations. In some instances, these values may become law. Many of these moral values are based on a religion; for example, Christianity refers to the Ten Commandments, which forms a set of values. Some ethics are secular in nature. In business, ethics plays a major role on how companies act in relation to their core values. A world viewpoint would look at international business ethics as compared to domestic business ethics. The international business ethics would focus on the culture of that society along with their values and core beliefs. With our growing global economy, it is important to understand the ethical duties and obligations for businesses wishing to conduct business...
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...TERM PAPER Deteriorating Ethics and Values in Organizations: In the face of Indian Reality - VATSAL DUSAD 2010TT10971 ”Integrity has no need of rules.” --Albert Camus Ethics and Values in the context of organizational culture have been a topic of intense research and arguments over a long period of time, and it has also been recognized as a very important aspect of organizational behavior. In this paper, I would be discussing the deteriorating ethics and values in organizations. I would begin with elaborating what ethical culture means, then taking it over to highlighting its need, pondering over the reasons -‐ so as to why unethical culture prevails and then study about ethical leadership. I would like to conclude by, bringing it to Indian context and laying down a discussion -‐ on how prominent and prevalent is this issue in our own land. There has been a sudden rash of corporate scandals and the...
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...Evaluation of a Business Code of Ethics Evaluation of a Business Code of Ethics Business codes of ethics are written guidelines use by an organization to set the standards for employees and management conduct and behavior ("Businessdictionary.com," 2013). Business code of ethics is important to deal with ethical the rules and principles needed for a successful business. Also known as code of conduct a business code of ethics reflect an organization values, ethics, objective, and responsibilities ensuring corporate responsibility, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction creating excellence, accountability, and transparency. In this paper an explanation and description of some general information concerning Starbucks mission, and ethical system uses with examples of their uses. The essay will also identify how the code of ethics affects employees, managers, and board of directors within the organization. An explanation of the organization need to modify the existing code of ethics and the best method to implement these changes will be discussed. Furthermore, a discussion of the possible reactions from employees, managers, and the effects the code may have on the organization will be provided. Starbucks general information general information, mission statement, and code of ethics Starbucks first opened in 1971 in Seattle historic Pike Place Market owned by three partners Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel, and Gordon Bowker. During the first decade,...
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...BUSINESS ETHICS Student’s Name: Ce Wang Student’s ID: 1226656 Instructor’s Name: Peter Goalby Course Name: New Advances In Business University Of Bedfordshire Date Assignment is due: 20/03/2015 Abstract Business ethics looks at whether the company is heading in the right course by adhering to the various factors such as integrity, fairness and reliability. The ethics set up by the organization plays a vital role in the hiring process and the business management practices. Running an ethical organization is vital in financial matters and in creating the morale and loyalty of the personnel. Ethics are also relevant to the business as it ensures that there is ethical behavior among the workers in the organization. Ethics are also relevant to the business as it aids in creation of an ethical organizational culture. Most of the organizations when posed this question believe that it is the employees who are chiefly responsible for ensuring that their work meet the ethical considerations. However, the employees are not the only ones responsible for business ethics, the employees need support from the management or from the employer. This paper has a look at the ethical issues surrounding the steel manufacturing industry and the Healthcare industry. It also looks at the relevance that ethics have on business, sustainability and corporate responsibility. The paper also looks critically at the connection of business ethics to the organizational culture. Lastly, it...
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...Business Ethics Ines Romero College of the Southwest ECO 2213 Freedom, Ethics, and Free Enterprise Professor Tom Wilson 9 April 2009 Business Ethics Business ethics is a process of responsible decision making that we cannot run from. Perfect example, in reality of decision making gone totally bad can change all that are connected. Such as, Enron’s collapse came about by decision making that lead to scandals and eventually to ruins. This multi-billion dollar company disobeyed the rules of business ethics and would later pay which brought about their collapse by ethical failure. To avoid future failures towards business and personal tragedies we must understand that ethics failures equal business failures. The fall of Enron in an ethical standpoint affected stockholders, workers, families and about one billion in stock value for stockholders. Business ethics is basically concerned more towards how business institutions ought to be structured. Furthermore business ethics evaluate business institutions from a social perspective rather than an individual stand point. An ethical decision is one that is both legal and meets the shared ethical standards of the community. Ethics In a business aspect, ethics is very important in order for a business to run its course in a professional fashion. Ethics gives the business moral principles that govern the right and wrong of human conduct. These principles set the line set for right and wrong accepted...
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...Global Business Cultural Analysis: China LaTasha Baker GRST 500/501 Abstract Since the beginning of time when Adam and Eve left the garden, people have been increasing the geographic realm of their economics, political, social and ethnicity contacts. People begin connecting with other nationalities all of the world. This relationship provide wealth and progress along with adverse disputes within the relationship of countries (MacEwan, 2001). There are many reasons why companies covet to develop their business to other countries. There are many difficulties and a wide-range of benefits when a company expands globally outside of their cultural. When a company conduct business outside of their zone; research is required, patients, and a learning process. China and the United States has learned how to work international with business over the past years. The alliance between organizations, partnerships and private sectors has been the reason for the growth between the two countries. While concentrating on the customs, culture, language, anti-corruption and economic implications. You will explore the Chinese culture and its impact on local business structures. The comparison of China and the United States in regards to its cultural analysis will be provided, along with the implications for the United States businesses that wish to conduct business in China. Major Elements and Dimensions of Culture in China China Business Ethics Business ethics is the principal...
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...prominent firms, globalization of organizations and the introduction of a strategic approach. In all of this, HR professionals and in some companies, ethics officers have and continue to play a vital role in ethics for human resource management. Research suggests that successful ethics management depends more on employees' perceptions of fairness, ethical leadership at all levels, and the alignment of multiple formal and informal cultural systems to support ethical conduct than it does on formal ethics programmes. HR professionals must play a key role in ethics management using HR systems to invoke fairness and ensure organizational harmony. Definitions Ethics as defined by the Webster Dictionary is a branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct with respect to the rightness or wrongness of certain action. A useful definition advanced by the writer is that ethics is a standard of right and wrong driven to an extent by what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, benefits to society, fairness or specific virtues. The Role of the Ethics Officer Typically an ethics officer is responsible for developing an organization's ethics policies, creating communication related to the organization's code, planning ethics training programmes, and overseeing the ethics reporting function. An effective ethics officer knows that it is also critical to operate as part of a team that brings together many different partners: finance, marketing, operations, and...
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...Business Ethics: The Responsibilities of Employees and Employers Debra J. Scott Columbia Southern University Business Ethics: The Responsibilities of Employees and Employers Ethics are an extremely important aspect of every successful business; they are crucial on the end of the employer as well as every employee. Employees and executives need a clear definition of business ethics and a clear explanation of the significance of ethics in relation to the position and to the business as well. It is shown to be beneficial to employees and executives to use a decision making process in the development of making important decisions; there are many approaches as well as many consequences to making ethical decisions. Good ethics start with the employer and how they handle and execute their ethics and provide a good working example for their employees. There are many viewpoints on what ethics are, especially in relation to business, “Ethical obligations are a set of “ought to” standards that define a moral course of action and draw a line between right and wrong” (Lohrey). Business ethics can be comprised of written and formal guidelines in relation to an organization’s morals. Many businesses use their code of conduct or credo as their guidelines to communicating their organizational ethics, “Business ethics manifests both as written and unwritten codes of moral standards that are critical to the current activities and future aspirations of a business organization. They can differ...
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...“HORIZON” Role of HR in Fostering an Ethical Work Place by ANANDITA THAKUR SYMBIOSIS INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES CONTACT DETAILS MOBILE: +91-9890074166 E Mail: anandita.thakur2012@sims.edu Role of HR in Fostering an Ethical Work Place “Corporate leaders have a duty to build and foster a values-based culture that thrives on high ethical standards. Only by instilling these values in our respective organizations will we be able to bestow a promising future to the next generation.” Sharon L. Allen Chairman of the Board Deloitte & Touche USA LLP The number and significance of challenges facing organizations are unprecedented. Growing financial pressures, rising public and payor expectations, consolidations and mergers, quality improvement issues, have placed organizations under great stress—thus potentially intensifying ethics questions and issues. Indian managers experience a clash between the values acquired from their education and professional training and those drawn from Indian culture and society. Values drawn by Indian managers from their training emphasize on western instrumental rationality and rule following, whereas the values drawn from family and community emphasize affiliation and social obligation. Western management assumes a preference for the ethical puzzle stance. Accountants, for example, have been trained to work in a rule governed manner. Within their job roles, Indian managers may express Indian social values. Inherent...
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...Honest Corporations A book report We have seen in recent corporate history a litany of corporate scandals that rocked the foundations of the business world. Huge corporations whose economic outputs are larger than most of the developing countries have suddenly imploded under the weight of stock manipulation, unscrupulous accounting procedures and deliberate enculturation of business competitiveness anchored on ‘doing whatever it takes to win’. Small ethical cracks in the business foundation had gone too many and had been widely ignored by all of their stakeholders – employees, board of directors, stockholders, regulators, auditors and analysts. In the aftermath, we are faced with a realization of how fragile our economic system is and how much of it depends on values that are both difficult to measure and, in the current world, even more difficult to acquire. These are not mere economic values of profitability; but values of integrity, of truth, and of plain and simple honesty. It is in this context that the three authors - Patrizia Porrini, Ph.D., Lorrin Hiris, D.P.S., and Gina Poncini, Ph.D. - wrote this book. They do not seek to expound on the voluminous literature available discussing why and how these corporate scandals happened. They seek to provide answers to how effective CEOs build an ethical culture within an organization by providing actual cases of ethical companies that had passed the test of time. This book review is divided into two parts. ...
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