About Us ~ Business Ethics

Business ethics is the study of proper business policies and practices regarding potentially controversial issues, such as corporate governance , insider trading , bribery, discrimination, corporate social responsibility and fiduciary responsibilities. As worker-bees, we have a responsibility to our customers, our staff, our Boards and shareholders, to serve them with respect and care and make money. How many articles do we have to read about people posting embarrassing pictures or comments about themselves or others before it sinks in that the Internet is forever. Companies which conduct business in an unethical manner run the risk of harming not only its stakeholders, but also the general public.

It would seem a safe conclusion that the mission statement, like any other professed set of values, is unreliable, and that the actions of the business must be evaluated to determine the ethics of the organization, as derivative of its actions. Smith, J. & W. Dubbink, 2011, Understanding the Role of Moral Principles in Business Ethics: A Kantian Perspective”, Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(2): 205-231.

While ethics deals in generalization, with the intention of application in specific situations, it applies to the decision making process – which itself may bear further consideration – which is done on the level of an individual firm. Doing business ethics well means being familiar with results in these disciplines, or at least being aware of gaps in one’s own knowledge.

From accounting scandals to pollution to executive compensation, Business Ethics has always been a hot topic. And public image is important to success in most cases, which is one of the reasons as to why business ethics are important to a company’s overall success. While corporate issues in business ethics are ethical questions about morality of the activities, policies, practices of an individual company. The general public, as well as company stakeholders, have come to expect that corporations will conduct business ethically and with the highest regard for social accountability.

If MGT 373 International Management is taken to fulfill the global business requirement and also as a major elective, the management major must take three business electives. According to the National Labor Relations Board, that was a violation of workers’ rights: your right to complain about your boss does indeed extend to social media sites. Therefore it must be understood that the application of business ethics to any situation is entirely subjective.