1.Introduction to Business Ethics

8/11/2019 1.Introduction to Business Ethics

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Ethics


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Ethics is a branch of

Philosophy

Epistemology


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Types of Judgments

Descriptive Judgments in

PsychologySociology


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Types of Judgments

Normative Judgments in

Ethics

Law Aesthetics Religion

Custom


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Ethics is a body of principles or standards of

human conduct that govern the behaviour of

individuals and groups. Ethics arise not simply from man's creation but

from human nature itself thus, making it a

natural body of laws from which man's lawsfollow.

Ethics


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Ethics

Ethics is actually a branch of philosophy

and is considered a normative science

because it is concerned with the norms of

human conduct. As a science ethics mustfollow the same principles of logical

reasoning as other sciences.


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What is?

What ought to be?

How to we get from what is to what ought tobe?

What is our motivation for acting ethically?

Ethics


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Sources of Ethical Norms

Family

Friends

The Law

Regions of Country

Profession

Employer &

Employee

Media and Social

Networks

Fellow Workers

Society at Large

The Individual

Conscience

Religious Beliefs


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Motive Act Consequence

Types of Ethical Theory

Approaches to doing Ethics:


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Ethics and Religion


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Religion gives Ethical views

Explicit commandments

Implicit ideals

Provide models and exemplifies virtues

Divine Command theory

Why do we follow religions authority?

Ethics requires religious grounding or not?


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Ethical Reasoning


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To reason well and make a good case about

questionable ethical matters

Making a good and sound argument about

ethical matters

The Premises

The Conclusions


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Meta Ethics

Normative Ethics


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Meta Ethics

Meta-ethics is concerned primarily with the

meaning of ethical judgments and with the

notion of which properties, if any, are

responsible for the truth or validity thereof

Concerned with analyzing

ethical terms, ethical language,

and ethical statements


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Normative ethics is the study of what makesactions right and wrong

Asks basic questions about the good life,

about what is better and worse, about whetherthere is any objective right or wrong, and howwe know it if there is.

Normative Ethics


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Applied Ethics

Applied ethics is the philosophical

examination, from a moral standpoint, of

particular issues in private and public life that

are matters of moral judgment.

It is thus a term used to describe attempts to

use philosophical methods to identify the

morally correct course of action in variousfields of human life


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Applied Ethics

Decision ethics, or ethical theories and ethical decision

processes

Professional ethics, or ethics to improve professionalism

Clinical ethics, or ethics to improve our basic healthneeds

Business ethics, or individual based morals to improve

ethics in an organization Organizational ethics, or ethics among organizations

Social ethics, or ethics among nations and as one global

unit


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no reason to be ethical--as long as you aremaking money and staying out of jail

should be ethical but identify their ethical dutywith making a legal profit for the firm--no needto be ethical in any further sense-- no need for

any background beyond business and law

No point in studying Ethics as character ismade in childhood

Business Ethics-- why not?

Three approaches


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Business Ethics

The application of general ethical concepts

to the unique situations confronted in

business. It asks what is right or wrong

behavior in business and what principlesor rules can be used as guidance in

business situations.

Tells people what they ought to do

Provides the Set of principles or rules


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Business Ethics

Moral principles concerning acceptableand unacceptable behavior by business

people. Executives are supposed to

maintain a high sense of values and

conduct honest and fair practices with the

public


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Business Ethics

Business ethics is a form of applied ethics that

examines ethical principles and moral or ethical

problems that arise in a business environment.

In the increasingly conscience-focused

marketplaces of the 21st century, the demandfor more ethical business processes and actions,

is increasing.


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a code of principles based on values that

govern an organization's actions and

decisions.

Business Ethics


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Business ethics can be defined as written and

unwritten codes of principles and values thatgovern decisions and actions within a company.

In the business world, the organizations culture

sets standards for determining the difference

between good and bad decision making and

behavior.

Business Ethics


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Knowing the difference between right and

wrong.

Because unless you adhere to your own

personal code of ethics, it will be difficult topractice business ethics. Or to ask othersto follow them

Business Ethics


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Moral Responsibility and Accountability

Are these words interchangeable?

Responsibility can be shared

Accountability cannot be shared


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Accountability is:

A commitment one makes to onescommunities and to each other and affirmed in

ones Mission, Vision, and Core Value

Statements It means that one has an obligation to inform

partners and stakeholders of ones actions and

results


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Being accountable demonstrates:

One upholds not only the letter, but also the

spirit of the law;

One respects the rights and needs of the public

and each individual human being;

One maintains impartiality; and

One responsibly manages resources entrusted

to him/her


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Responsibility is:

an obligation that arises from tasks we assume,to accept the consequences arising from the

results of our decisions, actions, or inactions.

Being responsible involves the capacity todistinguish between right and wrong and to act

accordingly

The sources of moral responsibilityPast actions

Roles

Developed moral agency


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Moral responsibilities change over time and

between agents

They can be shared, and they can be contested.

Given the sometimes-fluid nature of moral

responsibility, identifying who is responsible for

what can be difficult.

Responsibilities are attached to our roles


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If one has the responsibility to commit an act or

to refrain from acting, one can be held toaccount

One can be morally responsible for some purelyself-regarding act without being accountable to

anyone

Moral responsibility assumes a capacity for

making rational decisions


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This justifies holding moral agents accountable for

their actions

Morality gives reasons for action

Moral agents must in principle be capable of

choosing to act morally

People who lack a capacity for rational decision-

making cannot be held morally responsible for their

actions.


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Levels of Responsibility

As team members, we are responsible for:

providing accurate and essential information to

the team leader,

performing tasks to the best of our abilities and

to the professional standard required,

identifying potential or real problems and

solutions, and

accounting for our decisions and actions


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As team leaders, we are responsible for:

clearly defining objectives with team members,

clarifying the extent of the authority of team members,

providing suggestions on how to accomplish a task, if necessary,

identifying skills needed for the job,

providing team members with opportunity for skill development,

building consensus,

removing barriers to successful completion of tasks -- includingteam members who are unwilling or unable to participate,

recognizing the contributions of team members, and

accounting for the decisions and actions of the team.

Levels of Responsibility


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A few conditions that supports

accountability

Everyone is accountable to themselves, each other, andthe communities they serve.

An atmosphere of trust is an essential prerequisite forempowerment.

Responsibility and authority to make decisions and/or toact is clearly understood and accepted.

The capacity and commitment to deliver quality serviceis recognized as an integral component of beingaccountable.

Measurement and evaluation are seen and used inconstructive ways to support continuous learning andquality improvement in our work

Documents

1.Introduction to Business Ethics