...Ethics and Culture By Tonya Anderson June 6 2012 BUSN310 Professor Sparks Hello Class and Professor, Cultural differences create understanding between neighbors, friends, family and especially co-workers. This is very evident where I live in Denver. We are a city of many cultures all tossed together for work, shopping and living. When we look at the ethical behaviors in relation to culture, we are viewing two forms of beliefs and attitudes meshed together to create one action or thought. In the work environment this can be difficult due to the nature of the action or communication as it can cause confusion and obstacles. While it is customary to bow when introduced in a business meeting in Asia it is customary to shake hands in America. This may seem like a simple difference but in fact it is disrespectful if a bow or handshake is not performed by either culture. Ethically Asians see bowing as respect and a moral code. Americans find bowing a sense of weakness. So how do we make it work? “In some countries, bribery is part of the fabric of life and no business can be transacted without it. Without knowing whom to pay to grease the wheels, companies face frustration and failure”, (Pitta,Fung, Isburg, 1999). Bribing to grease the wheels is very common in not only Asia but in Eastern Europe as well. In America bribery is very frowned upon and will cause legal actions if discovered. The cultural differences pertaining to bribery stem from a long line of business growing...
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND ETHICS Nehal K Lunawat (Student) Bhavyaruna Chittajallu(Student) Modern Degree College Modern Degree College Krishna University Krishna University Vijayawada. Vijayawada. Email id: nehal.lunawat@gmail.com Email id: chittajallubhavya@gmail.com Contact number:7569070404 Contact no:9032571553 Address: Flat no 237, 4th floor, Address: Old mig 37/1, H.B colony, Lotus towers, Jemmichettu centre, Bhavanipuram, Vijayawada 520010 Vijayawada 520012 Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh. Mohammad Sadiq Khan (Student) Modern Degree College Krishna University Vijayawada. Email id: khans877@gmail.com Contact no: 9291374786 Address: 3-141, Indiranagar-1, Yenmalkuduru, Penamaluru mandal, Vijayawada 520007 Andhra Pradesh. ABSTRACT: For many years, the topic of interrelation between the management and ethics has been a topic of intense scrutiny. It is understood that management is looked to for setting the standards for work culture and shaping ethics and performance in the workplace. When situations go wrong, management looks towards common culture to resolve workplace issues. Management has to ensure that this culture is consistent with the organizational...
Words: 2127 - Pages: 9
...Business Ethics across Cultures Juanita Bates Axia College University of Phoenix Business Ethics across Cultures 1 Ethics is a guideline of knowing what is right or wrong. Ethical perspectives are a moral view of things. Business ethics are a form of professional or applied ethics. These ethics examines ethical principles and ethical or moral problems that may arise in the business world. All aspects of businesses are affected including individuals and organizations. With the growth in industrial population, the rise of consumerism and popular reaction to large numbers of scandals and corruption, there has been a change in perception and attitude. The United States passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977 forbidding the United States companies from giving bribes to high level government officials of other countries. Many business people did not like the act; they felt it was unfair because foreign countries continued to use bribes while the United States companies could not. German companies were allowed to use their bribes as tax deductible expensive until 1998. They felt the foreign countries would have an advantage of the United States companies. The United States government used what pressure it could to encourage other countries to adapt the same type of law. After 20 years, many other countries agreed. By the 1980’s , many companies started using ethical structures by developing code of ethics, providing ethics training for employees, monitoring...
Words: 1495 - Pages: 6
...Business Ethics Across Cultures Globalization has not only moved nations nearer together, but has also generated a single moral perception for nations conducting business together. Management teams are discovering that there are great moral challenges waiting to be found out by the enhanced progress to a global scale. If ethics are an issue inside a country, one can visualize the difficulties that arise when the quantity of people involved grows up to an international scale, cultures are different, and the language is alien. In this report we are going to consider two articles which deal with the moral perceptions of China and India, how these articles add to understanding international ethics, and how China’s and India’s business ethics contrast to that of the United States. Santa Clara University printed an article penned by Stephen Rothlin called Business Ethics in the Chinese Context” that thrashed out some of the growth China achieved in 2006 and 2007 in business ethics. Stephen Rothlin works as the general secretary of the Center for International Business Ethics in Beijing. In January 2008, Rothlin modernized the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Business and Organizational Ethics Partnership with the growth he had seen since his last trip in 2006. Rothlin thrashed out six types including; conditions for moral companies, community role, ecological sustainability, anti-corruption action, and customer privileges. In each of the six types he discussed both developments...
Words: 1637 - Pages: 7
...XMGT/216 Business Ethics Across Cultures In this paper, I will be reviewing the business ethics found in two countries, each from a different continent. The two countries I have chosen are China and Mexico. The articles I have located for this research are both drawn from the University Library, the first one being Business Ethics and Social Responsibility in Contemporary China, by St. Clair and Norris, the second being Introduction to Central America and Mexico: Efforts and obstacles in creating ethical organizations and an ethical economy, by Collins and Whitaker. I will be reviewing China first, followed by Mexico. Chinese Business Ethics In their article, St. Clair and Norris examine the source of Chinese business ethics from multiple angles. Socially, culturally, and politically, the business atmosphere is quite different in China than it is here in the US. There is, really, no formal culture or system of business ethics for the general, private business sector (St Clair & Norris, 2011). Since its induction into the World Trade Order in 2001, China has modified its business regulations quite significantly to ensure that its businesses operate within the WTO guidelines. However, transition and reform aside, centralized decision making, internal bargaining, and bureaucratic red tape still seem to be the norm, despite the decentralization of many industries and the growth of consumerism. This turn towards progressive business ethics could be due to the recent scandals...
Words: 1507 - Pages: 7
...Business Ethics across Cultures Jeff Christison XMGT 216 / Organizational Ethics and social Responsibility (AXIA) Carolyn A. Fuentes December 5th, 2010 The first country I chose to research was Germany. I chose them because the world already knows about their personal morals and ethics in history, and how they could be swayed by one individual. They systematically set their morals aside and allowed one man to dictate the country’s ethical stand. They were subsequently able to recover and even improve what had been so easily given away. When it comes to current ethics in German businesses, they are becoming more and more influenced by American business and international trade. While Germany had, in the past, been recognized as a model for personal and business ethics, it was a little more than fifteen years ago that their clean image began to show signs of wear. It is hard to know for sure, though, if it is a case of new issues with ethics, or if globalization is simply shedding a new light on an age old problem. It seems feasible, to me, that businesses have been dealing with their own issues without allowing the public to have knowledge of what is going on. Even with their clean image they have been allowed to practice behaviors that other countries see as illegal. “For example, insider stock trading became illegal only this year, as the Government and investment community tried to respond to pressure from international investors” (Nash, 1995, para. 15). ...
Words: 1494 - Pages: 6
...Business Ethics across Cultures Etumie Morris January 27, 2013 XMGT/216 Beverly Isaman Business Ethics across Cultures In both The United States and China there have been many ethical dilemmas reported, though some are the same there are numerous difference in which both countries classify as either being ethical or unethical, they to have some things in common. Some of the bigger differences are in their life styles and culture. In this paper I have outlined one of the larger ethical differences and ethical perspectives in relation to business. In china most main ethical concerns are based upon how they live their lives, their goals in life, and also how to conduct themselves if ever they should hold a position of power. However in the business world china has on numerous occasions been found unethical with the way they run their businesses. In plain terms they often violate the essential rights of humans. “During the late 1980s and the early 1990s, China was routinely cited by various international; organizations such as Amnesty International and Freedom Watch for major human rights violations, including torture, beatings, imprisonment, and executions of political dissidents” (Ekonomi, 2007). Despite this, in the late 1990s and early 2000s China received record levels of foreign direct investments, mainly from firms based in democratic societies amongst these was the United States (Ekonomi, 2007). Meanwhile in the United States our ethical issues are of a totally...
Words: 813 - Pages: 4
...Business Ethics across Cultures Dolphinette Williams XMGT/216 December 18, 2011 Shakema Fleming-Sanders If we thing how globalization has not just brought countries closer together, then just how it has created a definite moral view for countries doing business together managing groups are finding out that there are huge moral encounters waiting to be discovered by the enriched growth on a global scale. If ethics are a problem in a nation, imagine the problems that come up when the amount of the population affected matures to global scale, backgrounds are not the same, in addition to the dialect being unknown. At the University of Santa Clara an article wrote by Stephen Rothlin titled “Business Ethics in the Chinese Context” was printed, that tossed out several of the growths china accomplished in Global Business Ethics in 2006 and 2007 in Beijing. 2008 of January, Rothlin updated the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Business and Organizational Ethics Partnership with the development he had seen since his last trip in 2006. Rothlin tossed out six styles counting conditions for moral businesses, community role, ecological sustainability, anti-corruption action, and consumer opportunities. In all of the styles he debated each stage seen along with proposed subjects which necessitated attention for growth (Business Ethics in the Chinese Context, 2008). China’s job values and employee rights have developed throughout the development of their Labor Contract Law which now...
Words: 1596 - Pages: 7
...Business ethics across cultures Karen Lovelist XMGT 216 07/25/2010 Elizabeth Berg Business ethics across cultures Urdu is Pakistan’s official language and most widely spoken but in regard to businesses in the country English is generally used. Communication and building relationships are important to Pakistanis they prefer working with people they already know they believe the relationship they have with people they trust is worth more than trying to develop new ones it provides them with a strong foundation which is necessary for business relationships. In the Pakistan culture third party introductions are needed in the relationship. Pakistanis are hospitable people and are bound to ask some personal questions it is their way of getting to know you better. It is best to answer them because it helps in building trust that is important to any business relationship and all business related commitments. Pakistanis are indirect communicators in a group meeting and usually speak in round about fashion, direct communication only happens with people they know and trust Pakistanis are known for their diplomatic talk and would rather say they will try rather than refusing the business deal so be prepared to flatter and be flattered because Pakistanis go out of their way to praise business partners. Business in Pakistan is like doing business with a friend, businessmen feel that telephone numbers are an impersonal way of maintaining a business relationship. Business meetings...
Words: 1077 - Pages: 5
...There are many differences in the ways that countries other than the United States run their businesses and what effects their decisions. United States has many laws in place to be sure that everyone is treated fairly and corruption is not a factor. These laws make sure that there are consequences when they are broken and are in place to be sure that people are not being taken advantage of. When doing business with other countries we need to be sure that practice ethically which is not always the case. One country where these ethics might not be in place is Mexico. There are many American businesses that are moving their companies to Mexico so they can take advantage of the low cost of labor. The cost of living in Mexico is not as high so these companies can get away with paying less and not having laws against child labor and laws that ensure that the employees are paid properly. Although the companies are saving money they have to be extra careful to be sure that the employees that are hired meet the American guidelines. The Mexican worker does not like to be checked on and does not like when they are given feedback where the Americans expect this type of feedback in order to better themselves at their jobs and get ahead. Where the Americans are motivated by getting ahead in business and proving themselves to the companies that they work for, the Mexican loyalty belongs with their immediate superior. With the society being the way it is in Mexico they are not able...
Words: 712 - Pages: 3
...Business Ethics across cultures The first of the two articles that will be reviewed for this paper is by Tamar Lewin of the New York Times. In August of 2001 thirty Nigerian families sued the large drug company Pfizer in the Federal Court of the United States. The families alleged that Pfizer conducted an unethical trial on their children during the meningitis epidemic of 1996 The Pfizer Company sent a research team to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Kano, Nigerian in 1996 to test an experimental antibiotic, Trovan, on 100 children that had come down with meningitis. Pfizer want to ascertain whether this drug would be effective on the disease; until this point the drug had never been tested on children. For their control group Pfizer administered the very best treatment, ceftriaxone, too 100 other children. The suit states that Pfizer did not even administer the full dose of the ceftriaxone. The results from this trial left 11 children dead and many others brain damaged, paralyzed, or deaf. Pfizer’s only comment on the suit was that the fatality rate was less from the trial, than the overall fatality rate from the epidemic. Their spokeswoman also said that the trial had been a humanitarian mission and not a self-serving action. The suit against the company however, states that the company took opportunity from the chaos caused by the crises. They were able to quickly test a potentially dangerous drug without proper approval. The suit also claims that Pfizer also falsified...
Words: 1437 - Pages: 6
...a rapid pace each day and the increase in interaction leads to more difficulties in globalization. What is globalization? Globalization is the history of our world’s countries interacting with one another in ways that exchanges cultural beliefs and behaviors as well as adapting new ideas and customs through the growth of technology and advancement in evolutionary customs. More and more countries interact with one another and it leads to all types of different results in cultural changes. There is proof of a definite loss in cultural among countries affected by globalization. Alongside this growth there is a need for structure, guidance, and training to accommodate managers and employees involved in globalization. Learning about the new cultures is not the only dilemma at hand. One main concern is dealing with payoffs and bribes. This kind of ethical issue can cause serious problems. Because of the frequency of this issue the US congress passed the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (or FCPA) in hopes of prohibiting the bribery involving US corporations. This brings up another money saving/ethical issue commonly known to globalization, loss of jobs from 1st world countries. It is true that sometimes products cost less to make in other countries. Businesses sometimes utilize the lower costs by moving jobs or entire factories overseas in order to cut labor costs and have a bigger profit. Smaller countries have to deal with the ethical dilemma of the disadvantages of having lesser amounts...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...The two countries I chose to write about are Argentina and the Dominican Republic. Argentina is a country located in South America whereas; the Dominican Republic is located in North America. These two countries seem to be the most interesting and I hear about them quite often. Business ethics are a lot different in these two countries than they are in the United States. It is very interesting to see how much different the jobs are in Argentina and the Dominican Republic when comparing to the United States. Every country conducts business according to their laws and regulations which can also be very different. Argentina is a relationship driven culture, so it is important to build networks and use them. The people of Argentina like to do favors for each other, but if a favor is done for you than you will eventually be called upon. When it comes to business, Argentines only like to do business with people they know. This seems a little close-minded and could have a negative effect on their business relations. In the United States, we do a lot of our business over the phone and face-to-face, but Argentina prefers face-to-face meetings only. Once a relationship is built, Argentines will be loyal to you rather than the company you work for. Argentines focus most on looking good to others and are very judgmental. They do not only judge the way you speak, but the way you present yourself is more important. When dealing with Argentines, one should watch what they say and how...
Words: 1148 - Pages: 5
...Business Ethics Reflection Thomas Sanford XMGT/216 August 28, 2011 George Camposano/Axia Faculty Business Ethics Reflection Several years ago I sold a large Video Security System to an industrial client that did a lot of Government work. This work was considered to be classified in some areas. The system consisted of 128 cameras of various sizes with some being exposed and some being hidden. This was a large task with some unusual specifications for installation such as the wiring had to be encased in plastic conduit and hidden in the rafters as much as possible. This was mainly in the manufacturing area so employees were not aware of the cameras presences. We were allowed to work only certain hours of the day when all employees were gone for the day and they had guards with us at all times. Our crews went in at a specified time and ran the entire conduit and wiring that was needed within 2 days time. The next crew went in and mounted all the cameras, set up all the recording devices within 2 days. The last crew to go in was there to make sure the system was fully operational and performing to the specifications. They would re-aim the cameras if needed, clear the picture up by adjusting the lens and making sure that nothing showing we were even there was left behind. The last night, I went in and instructed the management on the operation of the system. Our problem began when we found out that one of our associates was dating an employee...
Words: 761 - Pages: 4
...Quarterly Published by the Society for Human Resource Management Business Ethics: The Role of Culture and Values for an Ethical Workplace FOURTH QUARTER–2009 Whether in domestic or global companies, ultimately, the commitment to business ethics and the foundation is built through organizational culture, with ethical values reflected in the workplace. Business Ethics: The Role of Culture and Values for an Ethical Workplace Abstract An ethical workplace is established through an organization’s culture, values and leadership. To promote ethical behavior, human resource professionals, people managers and senior management need to be knowledgeable about business ethics—from leadership, codes of conduct and related legislation to compliance training, ethical decisionmaking, and cultural and generational differences around ethics. Transparency, fairness and communication are key for establishing and maintaining an ethical workplace. Introduction In the business world today, issues of trust, respect, fairness, equity and transparency are gaining more attention. Business ethics includes organizational values, guidelines and codes, legal compliance, risk management, and individual and group behavior within the workplace. Effective leadership, with open dialogue and thoughtful deliberation, develops the foundation of an ethical workplace, is woven into the fabric of the organizational culture and is mirrored in ethical decision-making. Toward this end, all organizational...
Words: 5913 - Pages: 24
