...On Business Ethics and Global Dimension of Business Business Ethics and Global Dimension of Business October 19, 2014 Ethical issues have been around for a long time and its association with globalization has been documented. The effects on the association with globalization are similar and closely related to that of international marketing. As a result, the increased globalization over the years has brought an increase in many problems associated with global trading including ethical ones. (WTO, 2011). As indicated by World Trade organization in 2011, there was significant expansion in world trade from 1950 to 2000. This increase was documented to be over twenty-fold with foreign direct investment and exports playing a significant role. This increase in world trade in the middle to late 20th century also saw small businesses increasing their investments in cross border trading. This resulted in an increase in the average yearly outflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from about $25 billion in 1975 to a record $1.3 trillion in 2000. (UN, 2001). This means that there were a great number of business people with different social and cultural backgrounds doing business in other areas of different geographical, political, legal, social and cultural environments. The challenges that confronted these business people working in these different environments with its associated social and cultural problems created a platform for indulgence in ethical problems and other issues. (Dagdelen...
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...Practice of the International Business Ethics Gabriela Dubcová* ABSTRACT The ethics triangle: national law, culture and political economic system. Key factors of current ethics issues in an international environment. The most visible changes in environment dimensions. Principles of international business ethics. Current ethics challenges in international environment. Common issues of the international business ethics. Comparison of ethical standards in different cultures. Accelerating development of globalization and assimilation between Europe and the USA. Differences between Europe, the United States and Asia in the business ethics perspective. Development processes of global business ethics. Levels of global business ethic level. Principle of normative guidelines for business conduct of multinational corporations. Current functioning of institution engaged in the international business ethics. Key words: The ethics triangle; Current ethics issues; International business ethics; Ethical standards; Global business ethics; Institution engaged in the International Business Ethics. JEL classification: K2, M1 Introduction The present economic situation in the globalized world generates very efficient processes in international companies with large profits for managers but with a relevant risk in economic and noneconomic ambit to eliminate any negative impacts of the crisis from one country to another. In this case, it is necessary to enact and apply ethics principles in international...
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...Business Ethics and Global Dimension of Business Ethical issues have been around for a long time and its association with globalization has been documented. The effects on the association with globalization are similar and closely related to that of international marketing. As a result, the increased globalization over the years has brought an increase in many problems associated with global trading including ethical ones. (WTO, 2011). As indicated by World Trade organization in 2011, there was significant expansion in world trade from 1950 to 2000. This increase was documented to be over twenty-fold with foreign direct investment and exports playing a significant role. This increase in world trade in the middle to late 20th century also saw small businesses increasing their investments in cross border trading. This resulted in an increase in the average yearly outflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from about $25 billion in 1975 to a record $1.3 trillion in 2000. (UN, 2001). This means that there were a great number of business people with different social and cultural backgrounds doing business in other areas of different geographical, political, legal, social and cultural environments. The challenges that confronted these business people working in these different environments with its associated social and cultural problems created a platform for indulgence in ethical problems and other issues. (Dagdelen, Elibol & Yucel, 2009). Cross border trade experienced a great...
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...Ethics and Integrity in Multinational Companies Silvia Delia OLARU Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania E-mail:olarudelia@yahoo.com Phone: + 40213169793 Elena GURGU Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania E-mail:elenagurgu@yahoo.com Phone: + 40213169785/88 – ext.151 Abstract The good news for multinationals is that globalization is creating more universal standards of business conduct, and these are becoming more rigorous. As more companies adopt these standards, it becomes increasingly important for every multinational to establish companywide core values, standards of behavior, and relevant policies in tune with the rest of the world's ethics and compliance environment. The benefits of an ethical culture outweigh the costs. Globally ethical companies will be those that maintain a strong reputation in all their markets, experience increased employee commitment and loyalty, garner advantages in attracting and retaining customers, and generate superior levels of performance and success. Keywords: globally ethical companies, business conduct, ethical culture, professional standards, corporate code of conduct Introduction Companies operating in foreign countries find that understanding and complying with variant laws, managing employees far from headquarters, serving customers and relating to suppliers and partners in multiple jurisdictions can introduce significant challenges to developing shared corporate values and realizing a truly global culture. Multinational...
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...What are International Business Ethics? International Business Ethics The importance of international business ethics has been rising steadily along with the growth of international business. Technologies like the Internet have made international business all the more viable, and many companies can only find the desirable growth and profit they seek by expanding into new markets. This means that just as business ethics domestically have grown in importance along with the power and significance of major businesses, so must international business ethics take center stage as a major concern of the modern era. The primary problem of international business ethics lies in the fact that most cultures and nations hold entirely different standards of both law and ethics. In America, business ethics can be employed because, in general, the disagreement between what actions are ethical and what actions are unethical in a single culture will be lesser than the disagreement between two entirely different cultures with different values and cultural practices. As a result, one business might believe it is acting perfectly in accordance with international business ethics, while another would view that first business as acting in a completely unethical fashion. Many businesses adopt the policies of cultural relativism, in which they attempt to take on the business ethics exhibited by the nation in which the business is working a particular deal, as opposed to attempting to carry any...
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...Business Ethics Across Cultures Article Review Ken R. Johnson XMGT 216 May 27, 2012 Instructor: Deborah McCafferty Business Ethics Across Cultures Article Review Globalization has been an ongoing event for many centuries; ever since the first traders and merchants sought out other countries to bring back uniquely different food and goods, countries have been sharing their culture and perspectives with those they visit or those that come to their borders. Today, with the widespread use of Internet, digital information, and focus on international business, the positive effect of globalization is much more apparent as well as the challenges it presents to countries with different ethical cultures. While most would assume that people in another land speaking a different language, following a different religion, and eating different food would more than likely perceive and behave differently from than our own; the truth is that even though these differences may be perceived, very little is done to actually understand them appropriately unless it is deemed necessary. However, what is quickly becoming equally apparent, for international businesses and corporations to deal successfully with a foreign contractor, business, or even government; the proper measures must be taken to understand the differences in ethical perception and to work to accommodate those differences. Failure to do so leave many of these companies and businesses...
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...Purchasing Ethics and how it Changes the Global Marketplace Assignment 3.4 Mike Wooddell ERAU LGMT 536 – Purchasing for Logistics and Supply Chain Management June 17, 2015 Abstract As organizations increase their global footprint, the need for reliable, ethical, and sustainable suppliers also increases. Understanding this need, more businesses are engaging suppliers that are the most cost effective and not necessarily the most ethical. This brings me to the research of purchasing ethics. Specifically how do ethics change the landscape of today’s global market? This paper will look at several factors that include the cross cultural understanding of ethics, the personal and professional responsibility, and several ethical challenges such as environmental responsibility and human rights and the impact it has on the global market. Key Words: business ethics, global market, cultural factors, professional responsibility, ethical challenges I. WHAT IS ETHICS – DEFINITION AND UNDERSTANDING Clearly define what ethics mean in the global market and the domestic market and how it is interpreted in each. II. CULTURAL FACTORS IN GLOBAL MARKETS Identify how cultural factors such as religion, sexual orientation, and accepted standard practices influence or hinder international and domestic business. III. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO BUSINESSES Identify the responsibility and moral obligation when ethical dilemmas occur, your personal...
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...Journal of Business Ethics (2007) 75:273–284 DOI 10.1007/s10551-006-9252-9 Ó Springer 2007 Cultural Values and International Differences Bert Scholtens Lammertjan Dam in Business Ethics ABSTRACT. We analyze ethical policies of firms in industrialized countries and try to find out whether culture is a factor that plays a significant role in explaining country differences. We look into the firm’s human rights policy, its governance of bribery and corruption, and the comprehensiveness, implementation and communication of its codes of ethics. We use a dataset on ethical policies of almost 2,700 firms in 24 countries. We find that there are significant differences among ethical policies of firms headquartered in different countries. When we associate these ethical policies with Hofstede’s cultural indicators, we find that individualism and uncertainty avoidance are positively associated with a firm’s ethical policies, whereas masculinity and power distance are negatively related to these policies. KEYWORDS: business ethics, codes of ethics, cultural values JEL: G300, L210, M140 Introduction Are there differences with respect to the ethical policies of firms that are headquartered in different countries? And are there differences among firms that belong to different industries? Chryssides and Bert Scholtens received his Ph.D. at the Universtiy of Amsterdam. Since 1999 he has been working at the Department of Finance of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. His research...
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...Abstract The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine social and ethical issues within the global market. This document will also review how international management and cultural diversity are pertinent to the success of an organization that is operating in a foreign country. Based upon the above mention, this paper will focus on examining and providing frameworks and strategies that implement the concept of corporate social responsibility and cultural diversity. A number of factors are identified in the study, using literature reviews and numerous online research engines. Introduction Business firms that operate in foreign countries face an assortment of ethical and social challenges. These challenges run from fair treatment of employees, stakeholders, and customers, product safety, plant safety, advertising practices, human resources management, environmental problems, business practices, corruption, bribery, kidnapping, torture, and even murder. Therefore, organizations are increasingly concerned about how their actions affect the environment and social welfare. This in turn creates a demand by employees, consumers, investors, lenders, governmental agencies, and other stakeholder groups for demanding firms to operate in an ethical and socially responsible manner. Nevertheless, organizations cannot wantonly abandon their profit maximization aims while internalizing societal goals. As with other organizational decisions, ethical and social...
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...Culture, Business Ethics, and Leadership: A Managerial View Introduction The world’s economy has developed and changed dramatically throughout the years and continues to do so. We are quickly moving away from a world where each country’s economy is isolated and more towards a world with an interdependent global economic system. This interdependent global economic system is commonly referred to as globalization (Saee 2005). The book written by John Saee, Managing Organizations in a Global Economy: An Intercultural Perspective, suggests that the growth of global trade, cross-border investments, mass migration, large-scale tourism, and much more has turned the world into more of a “global village” (Saee 2005). While globalization has effected nearly every aspect of human civilization, it has created some very serious concerns for managers whose organizations and firms already are or are planning to be involved in business transactions that take place outside of their domestic environment. If companies and corporations want to be successful in today’s economy, then it is important for managers to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of different types of cultures, business ethics, and ways of leadership, and the implications that these differences will have on their businesses. In this paper, we will discuss the effects that globalization has had on managers with respect to culture, business ethics, and leadership. Culture Globalization has caused cultural diversity...
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...2000 © 2000 Elsevier Science, Inc. ISSN 0090-2616/00/$--see frontmatter PII 50090-2616(00)00005-X When Ethics Collide: Managing Conflicts Across Cultures PAUL F. BUllER JOHN J. KOHLS KENNETH S. ANDERSON Nike-one of the fastest-growing companies in the world-has been stymied recently due in part to consumer reaction to conflicts involving management practices in its suppliers' factories in the Far East. Among the accusations-poor working conditions, low wages, enforced over time, and harsh, sometimes brutal, discipline and corporal punishment. Levi Strauss & Co. was recently confronted with the challenge of how to deal with contractors in Bangladesh that employed young children, a legal practice in Bangladesh, but one contrary to Levi's company policy. The fact that these chil dren were often a sole or significant source of their family income further complicated the mat ter. Tony Anderson, Chairman and CEO of H. B. Fuller Company, was faced with a decision re garding the company's responsibility for illegiti mate use of one of its products. Resistol, a tolu ene-based glue, has become an addictive drug of choice for many Central American street chil dren. These "Resistoleros" inhale the glue and often experience violent reactions and serious health problems, including kidney failure and brain damage. ness practices. Ethical conflicts may involve a variety of issues: • bribery and extortion, as in the highly publicized case of Lockheed, which made $12.5 million in...
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...Cultural difference begins with the ethical variations of perspectives or business ethics of each individual international company. Language is a huge barrier when it comes to international or inter-cultural business dealings, but despite the language barrier one must consider business ethics when communicating. The rapid growth of globalization has prompted businesses to develop international codes of ethics that are used world wide as a standard of ethics no matter what culture or country one is dealing with; this has assisted businesses in making sure that all employees are following the same code of ethics and keeps the company running ethically. Two countries that have had many articles written their ethical perspectives are Brazil and China; these articles also give an overview of the study used to compare ethical differences between American and Brazilian MBA graduates working during the study. In the article concerning the ethical perspectives of Brazil and China, the Chinese believe that communication is the key component in business affairs; employees of both domestic and international companies must use communication to complete any business deals or transactions. One influence that sets the Chinese apart from other countries in their way of ethics is that their base ethics teachings are based off the teachings of Confucius. Confucius was known as a political figure, educator, and a thinker; his teachings have become the foundation on how the Chinese perceive education...
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...Global Business Cultural Analysis: China LaTasha Baker GRST 500/501 Abstract Since the beginning of time when Adam and Eve left the garden, people have been increasing the geographic realm of their economics, political, social and ethnicity contacts. People begin connecting with other nationalities all of the world. This relationship provide wealth and progress along with adverse disputes within the relationship of countries (MacEwan, 2001). There are many reasons why companies covet to develop their business to other countries. There are many difficulties and a wide-range of benefits when a company expands globally outside of their cultural. When a company conduct business outside of their zone; research is required, patients, and a learning process. China and the United States has learned how to work international with business over the past years. The alliance between organizations, partnerships and private sectors has been the reason for the growth between the two countries. While concentrating on the customs, culture, language, anti-corruption and economic implications. You will explore the Chinese culture and its impact on local business structures. The comparison of China and the United States in regards to its cultural analysis will be provided, along with the implications for the United States businesses that wish to conduct business in China. Major Elements and Dimensions of Culture in China China Business Ethics Business ethics is the principal...
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...the costs. Discuss the philosophical approaches to ethics. Describe the approaches that are favored by most moral philosophers and form the basis for current models of ethical behavior in international business. Google began to operate in China in 2000, it was two years later that the Chinese authorities blocked the site. Although this came as a surprise for the company’s managers, two weeks later the service was restored. It was clear that China was a strategically important market and Google couldn’t just ignore that. We begin our approach to philosophical ethics by describing what is called straw men. These approaches can be characterized as the Friedman doctrine, cultural relativism, the righteous moralist and the naive immoralist. The Friedman doctrine says that the only responsibility of business is to create profits, as long as the company remains within the rules of law. Yet this argument breaks down because the rules of the game are not well established and differ from country to country, and that may lead to inadequacies in a company’s social responsibility. The basic belief in cultural relativism is that a company should adopt the culture within which it is doing business. But serious contradiction arises from this approach, for example let’s assume that in one country slavery is legal, does that mean that the company should use slave labor? The righteous moralist approach accepts that the home country’s ethics are the appropriate to follow when acting in foreign...
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...guidance from their top management on how to deal with ethical issues such as issues with bribery and corruption within the international markets. The problem for BD is that they are in stuck in a situation that they are feeling pressure to not follow their ethical conduct and participate in these social norms that consist of bribes and scandals in order to guarantee a contract. The US government outlawed any company that participates in international trade to offer gifts or money in order to make deals. This is definitely not the case in countries such as Europe, Asia, and Africa where it is a social norm to offer these gifts to influence a business deal. The problem for BD is that other companies within the international market are going to use such incentives to gain business. BD needs to decide if they are going to have a uniform policy on gifts, or make a region-by-region policy? My recommendations are that the company treats these ethical issues on a region-by-region policy. As we have discussed in prior cases, culture is a large part of how people do business and companies need to respect the culture and their norms when running international businesses. But at the same time, BD should not be chosen because of how great the gifts or bribes are but rather how good of a product they provide. BD is trying to increase their attention onto ethics and ensure that employees are complying with their practices on an international basis. The problem is that in each country or region, social...
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