The standards of conduct and moral values governing actions and decisions in the work environment. Business also must take a wide range of social issues into account,including how a decision will affects the environment,employees,and customer. Social responsibility is a related term refers to the philosophies, policies,procedure,and actions directed toward the enhancement of societys welfare as a primary objective.
Business Ethics
Businesses must find the delicate balance between doing what is right and doing what is profitable. When that balance is skewed,they can experience serious consequences. In business,as in life,deciding what is right or wrong in a given situation is not always a clear-cut choice. Businesses have many responsibilities to customers,to employees,to investors,and to a society as a whole. Sometimes conflicts arise in trying to serve the divergent needs of separate constituencies.
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ETHICAL Responsibilities
Be ethical. Obligation to do what is right, just and fair; Avoid harm.
LEGAL Responsibilities
Obey the Law Law is societys codification of right and wrong; Play by the rules
ECONOMIC Responsibilities
Be Profitable
Legal
Societal
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The discussion of business ethics begins by focusing on individual ethics. Business ethics are shaped by the ethical climate within an organization. Codes of conduct and ethical standards play increasingly significant roles in businesses where doing the right thing is both supported and applauded.
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Individuals typically develop ethical standards in the three stages . Stage 1:Preconventional Individuals is mainly looking out for his or her own interests.Rules are followed only out of fear of punishment or hope of reward. Stage 2:Conventional: Individual considers the interests and expectations of others in making decisions.Rules are followed because it is a part of belonging to the group.
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Stage 3: Individual follows personal principles for resolving ethical dilemmas.He or she considers personal,group,and societal interests.A persons family,educational,cultural,and religious backgrounds can play a role. We have different styles of deciding ethical dilemmas,no matter what our stage of moral development. One study suggests that men and women tend to use different techniques for resolving ethical situations.
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3-Loyalty versus Truth:Business people expect their employees to be loyal and to act in the best interests of the company.An ethical conflict can arise,however,when individuals must decide between loyalty to the company and truthfulness in business relationships. 4-Whistle-Blowing:When an individual does encounter unethical or illegal actions at work,he or she must decide what action to take.Whistle-blowing is the term for an employees disclosure to the media or government authorities of illegal,immoral,or unethical practices of the organization. Whistle-blowing and other ethical issues arise relatively infrequently in firms with strong organizational climates of ethical behavior.
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INTEGRITY: Doing what you say you will do and accepting responsibility for mistakes
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Ethical Action
Ethical Reasoning
Ethical Awareness
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Regulation of Competition
Competition is the cornerstone of a private enterprise economy. In a regulated industry,competition is either limited or eliminated,and close government control is substituted for free competition. The second form of government regulation is,enactment of statutes,has led to both state and federal laws that affect competition and various commercial practices. Regulated Industry:An Industry in which competition is either limited or eliminated,and government monitoring substitutes for market control.
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Deregulation:the movement toward eliminating legal restraints on competition in various industries,has significantly reshaped the legal environment for many industries in the last two decades.
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Acting Responsibility to satisfy society: An important issue affecting business is the question of social responsibility.In a general sense,social responsibility is management's acceptance of the obligation to consider profit,consumer satisfaction,and societal wellbeing of equal value in evaluating the firms performance.
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Social responsibility is the recognition that business must be concerned with the qualitative dimensions of customer,employee,and societal benefits as well as the quantities measures of sales,revenue,and profit,by which business performance is traditionally measured.
Scientists say that social responsibility is a concept easier to measure than business ethics.
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To the Customer
To the Employee
RESPONSIBILITY OF BUSINESS
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BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC 1-Consideration of Public Health: Smoking-Alcohol 2-Developing the quality of the Work Force On-the Job-Training-Education Benefits 3-Protecting the Environment Avoiding Pollution ,Recycling 4-Corporate Philanthropy Monetary Donations to Charitable and Social Organizations Supporting Employee-Volunteer Efforts-Donating Goods to Charitable and Social Organizations.
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CONSUMERISM
Consumerism is based on the belief that customers have Certain rights. The right to be Safe The right to be Informed The right to choose The right to be heard
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Responsibility To Employees
One of the most important business resources is an organizations work force. Companies that are able to attract skilled and knowledgeable employees are better able to meet the challenges of competing on a global basis.
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Responsibilities To Employees
Workplace Safety: Quality of Life Issues Ensuring Equal Opportunity on the Job
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