What is business ethics? The answer to this question may be as simple as a company that complies with all the relevant rules and regulations. Or it may be more complex detailing the ways in which the corporation interacts with the world at large. The answer may also depend on who is asked the question. Many believe there is always a right thing to do based on moral principles and others believe the right thing to do depends on the situation and ultimately it is up to the individual. A customer may view a safe product as proof of an ethical business. An employee may see ethics evinced in fair wages and full benefits. A stockholder may consider protection from liability to be the corporation's major ethical obligation. In fact, all of these answers are accurate because the ethics of a business is demonstrated through its practices.
Personal values also lead individuals to want to do the right thing. For instance, many people feel that business ethics is only the obvious-- be good, do not lie, cheat or steal. And for these individuals, these principles can go right out the window during times of stress. Yet others only do the right thing because of personal gratification of being praised by others afterwards. Moreover, others, such as myself, want to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. We believe we should show grace and mercy to others as it has been shown to us. Indeed individuals at any level in the corporation must act upon their personal values to do the right thing. This must be relevant outside the workplace as well as inside.
There are also organizational reasons to practice good business ethics. Society assesses the ethics of corporations by their p
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