Business Ethics
Business Ethics
Business ethics concerns the duties to protect the public from harm, and the obligations to ensure that a company's activities are consistent with those duties. While few goods are made without some risk, consumers are often eager to purchase products that contain some of these risks. Production may affect the environment or lead to urban sprawl, or the company may introduce a new technology without fully understanding its consequences. The precautionary principle might prevent it. Nevertheless, these concerns do not make business ethics unimportant.Standards of business behavior that promote human welfare and the good
Business ethics is a study of the principles and practices that should guide businesses. Essentially, business ethics is about doing what is right for the people and the environment. One of the most common examples of ethical business practices is using software to improve emissions levels in cars. Volkswagen installed software in its diesel cars in the U.S. and worldwide, allowing them to comply with the federal emissions standards. As a result, the company has won numerous awards and is still a top-selling car in the United States.
To become an ethical businessman, you should never engage in unethical activity. It should be free from violence and unethical behavior. This is equivalent to conducting business on universal values, such as non-violence and respect for human rights. The philanthropic businessman must treat everyone with dignity and respect. In addition to money, you should give away your expertise in medicine and health. Moreover, you should donate to charities that help children and the elderly.Six levels of ethical concern
There are six levels of business ethics concern. The first is the normative level, which involves business practices and the moral justification of economic systems. These issues may include marketing practices, corporate governance, worker rights, and environmental protection. The second level addresses ethical concerns within the organization itself, including corporate social responsibility and the issues of global business. The fifth level focuses on the ethical concerns that arise from multinational corporations operating in developing countries. Some of these concerns cannot be resolved at the individual firm level.
The sixth level, or individual ethical concern, is concerned with character development. This level involves the development of the self in the workplace, which includes the appropriate virtues and values. The Aristotelian approach to business ethics emphasizes character development. Moreover, an organization's ethics is rooted in its goals for societal good. Taking a socially responsible position is the best way to ensure a healthy and thriving organization.
In the 1970s, business ethics concern grew. The 1960s had seen the rise of the Civil Rights movement, the environmentalist and consumerist movements, and the Vietnam War. Many protests and reactions against the military-industrial complex resulted. At the same time, the postwar economy saw the growth of American business. As a result, the concept of business ethics emerged. In the 1990s, however, it was considered too conservative by many.
The philosophical approach to business ethics examines the moral justification of private property and the role of government. The empirical approach focuses on ethical issues brought to light by scandals or abuses in business. The latter examines the structure of business and capitalism. Aristotle argues that a company's conduct should be based on virtue, not on its bottom line. If it doesn't, it risks losing customers and trust, eroding trust, and reducing its share price.Aristotelian approach to business ethics
Aristotle's Aristotelian approach to business ethics claims that good corporate policy follows from the virtue and integrity of individual actors. Metaphysical persons are accountable for their actions, while legal persons have rights and responsibilities based on their status. The question is, how do we define a business as a moral person? The answer depends on the definition you use, but in a nutshell, the Aristotelian approach aims to define the character of the business person.
According to Aristotle, there are thirteen moral virtues, seven of which are relevant to business. In addition, the intellectual virtues of wisdom and knowledge are not directly relevant to business. Moreover, Aristotle's doctrine of the mean states that acting rightly requires us to avoid extremes. The following table explains how each virtue affects business behavior:
Aristotle's philosophy of morality began with the idea that the ultimate aim of human activity is to create happiness. For example, someone seeking medical treatment will say that they want to achieve optimal health, a good work life, and a good amount of money. They may not ask themselves why they want this, because they don't question their intrinsic desire. Similarly, a manager may feel he has made a mistake by hiring a person without checking their background and experience.
Business ethics includes the analysis of six levels of ethical concern, including the individual, business, and society. The individual level involves dealing with character issues, self-development on the job, and appropriate virtues for the business world. The individual level focuses on the business, but also on personal values. For example, a business owner may be a socially responsible person and must follow a code of conduct. Similarly, an employee's ethical concern may involve the relationship between work and personal ethics.Market failures approach to business ethics
Among the numerous theories of business ethics, the "stakeholder theory," the stockholder theory, and the stakeholder concept are the least interesting. However, Heath has developed the only viable general theory of business ethics, the "Market Failures Approach." While some casuistical work exists in the field of business ethics, the Market Failures Approach remains the most comprehensive theory available. It contains updated versions of several of Heath's previously published essays and three new ones.
The market failures approach to business ethics is difficult to defend, aside from theoretical reasons. For example, a Pareto-optimal market would produce a better outcome for everyone. Nevertheless, this approach smuggles in values such as justice and fairness. It is difficult to argue with the market failures approach if it does not reexamine the role of state regulation. This article discusses how market failures approach to business ethics may fail to produce the desired results.
The market failures approach to business ethics proposes that the altruistic nature of business ethics is undermined when it is derived from the commitment to a market that functions efficiently. As a result, the market generates obligations beyond our daily morality. Heath argues that such obligations are necessary to ensure that markets are pareto-optimal. Ultimately, the market is a purely consequential force that requires extraordinary candor from its participants.
Another important consideration with this approach is the adequacy of the corporation. Although the market is the ultimate decision-maker, managers still have duties to their employer, even if they are not acting in their own interests. If this theory is a reasonable one, then the obligations of managers would rest on the corporation itself rather than on them. It does, however, require some work to prove that the corporate interests are worthy of a business ethics theory.Normative approach to business ethics
The Normative approach to business ethics focuses on the general ethical values that are implemented into business. Normative considerations include concepts such as fairness and justice, and are positively correlated with ethical decision-making in organizations. In addition, normative considerations are typically associated with moral philosophies. This paper explores the two main theories and their supporting arguments in detail. We will discuss the implications of both theories for ethical decision-making.
The Normative approach to business ethics focuses on values, and is based on the assumption that all humans have the desire to belong to a group, have purpose, and achieve success. This approach is different from virtue ethics or deontological ethics, and can be compared with the latter. Although normative approaches differ from each other, they are often used in business settings. Listed below are the differences. When considering the Normative Approach to Business Ethics
Normative approach: Despite its name, this approach to business ethics is based on what is deemed right and wrong by society. Normative principles are based on what ought to be done, but the exact actions that are done may not be right. These norms can be influenced by personal opinions, or by historical experience. In the end, the Normative Approach is the most comprehensive approach to business ethics.
The Normative Approach to Business Ethics: The Normative Approach to Business Ethics focuses on the responsibilities of economic agents, which may be different from those of corporations. Businesses, such as Target, are often perceived as being morally superior to organizations that don't. Normative ethics is a more positive approach to ethical issues and is therefore generally recommended for all graduate programs in business. This method has some advantages, but many other theories exist that are more conservative.
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