...Introduction For this paper I will be discussing Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) using Anglo-American and Primark case studies as examples. First, I will discuss what is meant by ethical business behavior. Second, I will discuss how Anglo-American and Primark apply ethics into their business practices. Third, I will discuss what the costs and benefits are to an organization when they behave ethically. Finally, I will choose one component from Svennson & Woods’ model from “A Model of Business Ethics”, and discuss how it is relevant for Anglo-American. Ethical Business Behavior Ethical business behavior refers to an organizations actions and policies that are synergetic with "doing the right thing" (Sethi, 2003). Similar to the inherent laws of society that man has established that promote specific behaviors and actions that are deemed appropriate to build trust and relationships that last, it is similar in corporations. In order to operate ethically, organizations must also establish a clearly defined set of principles and a culture of ethical compliance that builds trust and confidence with their employees and their customers (Paine, 1994). Ethical business behavior is a combination of values and normative ethics, which drive an organization. Additionally, ethical business behavior is expected by society as a whole. Svennson & Woods write, “Society does have expectations of business and of its business leaders” (Svennson & Woods, 2008). Anglo-American...
Words: 1921 - Pages: 8
...Ethics Paper Mgt/498 July 4, 2012 Ethics Paper Companies must accept responsible for the consequences of the actions and pass these ethics policies to their employees. “A 2007 survey of global executives by The Economist Intelligence Unit found that the percentage of companies given either high or very priority to corporate ethics and social responsibility had risen from less than 40% in 2004 to 50% 2007 and still rising” (Wheelan, 2010 p. 74). The author of this paper will discuss how the role of ethics and social responsibility will effective stakeholders and society. In addition, the author will discuss how the Arthur Andersen Corporation overstepped their ethical boundaries to their stakeholders. Ethics and Social Responsibilities Ethics spells out the important in order to achieve a specific result within the organization in existing or occurring issues. Moreover, the way people as a society make ethical decisions in his or her personal lives, is not necessarily the same way they make decisions in a business environment. Upper management implements ethical policies for all employees, this information should be updated continually through manuals or on the company’s website. Organizations in the United States use two views for business responsibility in the area of ethics Milton Friedman’s and Archie Carroll’s view. Friedman’s view is widely accepted in the business environment...
Words: 1023 - Pages: 5
...Abstract This paper discusses the importance of ethics in the business and the importance of developing ethical leaders. It can be said that in many companies, there are leaders who have not taken ethics seriously. However, it can also be said that many companies have excellent programs and procedures in place to create an open and trusting environment. Developing ethical leaders is key in the success of any company and the success of fellow employees. Many companies have created leadership programs that embrace the importance of ethics in the business environment also it can be said that everyone has good qualities that just need to be enhanced and brought out. These leadership programs are an excellent way to be able to define ethical leaders. Developing Ethical Leaders In developing ethical leadership it is key to understand ethics. Many leaders believe that ethical leadership is a matter of leaders having good character or having the right values. Ethical leadership is far more elaborate than just these few areas. Ethical leadership doesn't only take into account the leader, but also the stakeholders at hand. (Freeman, 2007) Embrace Values of the Organization Ethical leaders embrace the purpose and values that a company has set forth. Far too often leaders speak what is right but fail to do what is right. Ethics is doing the right thing when no one is watching. It's making sure that the company values are being maintained at all times and never been compromised. When times...
Words: 1261 - Pages: 6
...Ethical Organization Profile MGT/216 Larry Henry Phoenix Toys is a toy manufacturer that strives to provide the consumer with superior customer service and merchandise for the entire family. In a workplace, there are several moral and ethical issues that may arise and it is responsibility of management to outline and enforce a code of ethics for employers to follow. Phoenix Toys will ensure that moral, ethical and social issues adhere to the applicable state and federal laws. Phoenix Toys refuses to tolerate discrimination, harassment, and bribery. Each employee should be knowledgeable of these issues and take steps to ensure that such issues do not occur. Phoenix Toys monitoring system is in place and the human resources department will make sure that ethical standards are upheld. The enforcement of the ethical standards will be fair and just. Modern-day toy manufacturers differ from those often portrayed in classic movies with wooden benches and hand-painted dolls. Safety regulations considers the controlling of the types of paint, metal, plastic, size of parts, and removability of parts determining the safety of a toy. Phoenix Toys is under pressure to produce a quality toy, for an affordable price, with top safety standards. If an employee is aware that a violation of the ethical agreement has occurred, the employee must notify a supervisor. Establishing a mandate for employees to enforce the ethical guidelines assures the company that those who are aware...
Words: 2605 - Pages: 11
... Introduction This paper will discuss a few of the key components of an organization. The components include; organizational culture and behavior, diversity, communication, business code of ethics and an efficient and the importance of effective change management. This paper will provide and example of each of these components from an organization I have been employed by or am currently employed with. Organizational culture and behavior Shared values and beliefs influence each organizational member’s behavior and build the organization’s culture. These shared values and beliefs build relationships within an organization. Key concepts of organizational behavior include diversity, communication, and business ethics and planned change management. These concepts vary from organization to organization and each organization has a different culture. The development company I was employed with a last year encouraged each employee to communicate with other employees and departments. An open communication setting allowed employees to voice his or her opinions and present ideas that would be beneficial to the company and the employees Diversity According to Bateman and Snell, diversity can be defined as a characteristic of a group of people suggesting differences among those people on any relevant dimension (Bateman and Snell, 2007.)In today’s business world, an organization’s success relies on the organizations ability to evaluate workplace diversity concerns...
Words: 962 - Pages: 4
...The Responsibility Project Hot Seat ETH/316 Deborah Stevens June 25, 2014 The Responsibility Project Hot Seat http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/hot-seat How many times in the workplace have we passed the buck? No one wants to admit it but more times that often many of us have passed the blame or given the responsibility of something that we should have done to someone else. This paper will discuss the importance of the issues of the Hot Seat film. How the role of external social pressures influence organizational ethics. How the issues are relevant to organizational and personal decisions. The relationship between legal and ethical issues as shown in the film will be addressed. Lastly, I will describe how ethical principles can be used to address organizational issues. The issue in the Hot Seat film was “passing the buck”. Passing the buck is defined as a person who avoids responsibility by shifting it to another. In the film there is a broken chair that keeps getting switched out from one person to another, instead of simply fixing the chair. The chair is literally going from one person to another and each individual knows that the chair is going around. The employees will not leave his or her desk in fear of having their chair swapped out for the broken chair. In the end one person takes his perfectly working chair and swaps it for the broken chair; taking it to his desk and rigging it to work properly. This issue is important because...
Words: 918 - Pages: 4
...Memo: There are three possible alternatives to address this situation. Let us discuss each alternative one by one. The first alternative is that company issues a warning that the toy is unsuitable for the children and thus, the whistle should be used with caution. The major advantage of this alternative is that it does not result in any financial losses as the toys can be shipped immediately. However, this alternative can attract legal consequences as the toy fails to pass the regulatory standards. Further, it is highly unethical for the company to ship the toys even without warning as it could be harmful for children. It is unethical for the company to ship the product which is unacceptable by US standards to another country, even though the regulations are not stringent in that country as it can harm the children in that country as well. The second alternative to address this issue is to reproduce the product and meet the acceptable limits for lead and repackage it at a cost of $100,000. This alternative will result in numerous benefits. First of all, it will be a ethical decision on part of the company. Secondly, this decision will not attract any legal liabilities and will allow the company to maintain its reputation. However, the disadvantage is that this option will result in financial losses of $100,000 for the company. The third alternative is to ship the manufactured product to a country where such product is legally accepted or meets the regulatory standard. This...
Words: 1042 - Pages: 5
...How Personal Can Ethics Get? 1. Discuss how personal differences and preference can impact organizational ethics. Let us start off with the definition of ethics. Ethics are the values and principles that help individuals determine between what is “right” and what is “wrong”. Ethics of an organization determine how the organization ethically responds to an internal or external stimulus. Each person has different attributes, different backgrounds, and different levels of moral intelligence. One of these individual differences is personality. Individuals behave in different ways based on their personalities. Personality is the overall profile or combination of stable psychological attributes that capture the unique nature of a person. There are the physical and mental characteristics that reflect how a person looks, thinks, acts, and feels. An individual difference does not affect the individual alone, but everyone around them in an organization. In an organization, there is no way an individual can be treated the same way as the other employees because everyone’s personality is different. Leaders or groups should not try to change or otherwise directly control employee personality because trying to do so is generally impossible. Personality differences and preferences always impact organizational ethics because each employee in an organization is unique and may or may not act like someone else will act in a similar situation. People have views and beliefs that will...
Words: 1124 - Pages: 5
...process becomes particularly challenging when the ethical standards in the company’s home country are higher than those in host markets. While ethical issues have become a current theme recently, organizations must continue to focus on improvement. Multi-National Enterprises need to make this a high priority within their organization. Ethics include basic human interactions: respect for differences, trust that our counterparts will work with us in a truthful manner, honesty in communication with others, and expectations that each of us will keep our word and maintain credibility (Olaru, 2009). Very few companies were established globally and little attention had not been given to the issue of ethical guidelines in a global setting. Global business ethics and social responsibility have now become a significant problem for many multinational companies. Attitudes toward ethics are rooted in culture and business practices (Caliskan, 2010). Ethical issues have become an interesting part of MNE’s focus. Literature has found that ethics is associated with levels of morality and general conduct of a person or business. Olaru (2009) states that nearly every company will maintain openly that their policies and procedures are ethical, but truth be told, they don’t always. Business exist to create money for the owners and other investors, however it is also beneficial for the host country. Managers need to become ethical leaders by demonstrating a model of responsibility. ...
Words: 2865 - Pages: 12
...Excellence in Business Comm., 10e (Thill) Chapter 1 Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication 1) Communication is the process of A) transferring information and meaning. B) listening actively. C) writing messages. D) speaking to others. E) none of the above. Answer: A Explanation: A) Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between senders and receivers, using one or more written, oral, visual, or electronic media. The other answers are only part of the communication process. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3 Skill: Concept Objective: 1 AACSB: Communication Abilities Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communications. 2) When it comes to communication skills, employers express particular frustration with A) experienced workers who shun new technologies. B) recent college graduates who haven't learned how to adapt to a professional environment. C) employees whose first language is not English. D) male workers. E) employees who believe they are tech-savvy. Answer: B Explanation: B) Not all situations call for the same type of communication skills. If you learn to write well, speak well, listen well, and recognize the appropriate way to communicate in any situation, you will gain a major advantage that will serve you well throughout your career. The other groups of employers are not necessarily going to have trouble communicating in a professional environment at all times. Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3 Skill: ...
Words: 12273 - Pages: 50
...10 Business Ethics/Social Responsibility/Environmental Sustainability 1) Many people consider it unethical for a firm to be socially irresponsible. Answer: TRUE Diff: 1 Page Ref: 310 AACSB: Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities Objective: 10.01 Explain why good ethics is good business in strategic management. Learning Outcome: Discuss the roles of ethics and social responsibility in strategic management 2) Social responsibility refers to actions an organization takes that are legally required to protect or enhance the well-being of living things. Answer: FALSE Diff: 2 Page Ref: 310 AACSB: Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities Objective: 10.01 Explain why good ethics is good business in strategic management. Learning Outcome: Discuss the roles of ethics and social responsibility in strategic management 3) Sustainability refers to the extent that an organization's operations and actions protect, mend, and preserve rather than harm or destroy the natural environment. Answer: TRUE Diff: 1 Page Ref: 310 Objective: 10.05 Discuss specific ways that firms can be good stewards of the natural environment. Learning Outcome: Discuss the roles of ethics and social responsibility in strategic management 4) Good ethics is not a prerequisite for good strategic management. Answer: FALSE Diff: 2 Page Ref: 311 AACSB: Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities Objective: 10.01 Explain why good ethics is good business in strategic...
Words: 9111 - Pages: 37
...become increasingly important for Organizations to be morally correct in the way that they conduct their business and corporate activities. Companies with strong ethics programs have found that these efforts can reduce potential costly fines, decrease vulnerability, improve reputation, provide access to capital, favorably influence their bottom line, positively affect their employees' commitment to work and enhance customer loyalty (The importance of being ethical 2000). One of the most important perks of being ethically correct is the potential avoidance of fines and extra legal costs that the organizations could incur by avoiding their moral and ethical duties towards their customers and also to society at large, which along with the goodwill that comes with being an ethical company boosts the potential of profitability of the organization. Companies and their employees are required to comply with national, international, and local laws governing their operation. Failure to comply with these standards can be costly in terms of time, resources, brand image and employee and customer loyalty. In addition, the development of strong ethics initiatives can greatly reduce the chance of fines resulting from wrongful, fraudulent, discriminatory or illegal activities (The importance of being ethical 2000). Hiring ethical people is one of the most important factors involved in creating and sustaining an ethical organization, if not, the most as ethics is directly concerned with human interaction...
Words: 2359 - Pages: 10
...Excellence in Business Comm., 10e (Thill) Chapter 1 Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication 1) Communication is the process of A) transferring information and meaning. B) listening actively. C) writing messages. D) speaking to others. E) none of the above. Answer: A Explanation: A) Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between senders and receivers, using one or more written, oral, visual, or electronic media. The other answers are only part of the communication process. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3 Skill: Concept Objective: 1 AACSB: Communication Abilities Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communications. 2) When it comes to communication skills, employers express particular frustration with A) experienced workers who shun new technologies. B) recent college graduates who haven't learned how to adapt to a professional environment. C) employees whose first language is not English. D) male workers. E) employees who believe they are tech-savvy. Answer: B Explanation: B) Not all situations call for the same type of communication skills. If you learn to write well, speak well, listen well, and recognize the appropriate way to communicate in any situation, you will gain a major advantage that will serve you well throughout your career. The other groups of employers are not necessarily going to have trouble communicating in a professional environment at all times. Diff:...
Words: 12272 - Pages: 50
...MORAL LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS By: Mary Catherine Miller Why Ethical Leadership is Important: Ethical leadership is the backbone of any successful corporation. When an organization exercises an ethical value frequently, it becomes ingrained in the culture of the business. As a leader of this company you are expected to display the stated core values of the company and uphold the vision of the company overall. The first step in abiding by a code of ethics is understanding the expectations of the company. This section of the handbook, we will discuss the vision of the company as well as the mission statement. We will identify the four core values and define them in regards to the behaviors we expect our employees’ to exhibit. This section of the handbook is not an exhaustive code of conduct; rather it is a guide for the moral and ethical behavior that is expected of our employees at all levels of the company. What it Means to Our Company: The leadership of this company actively engages employees’ in activities in which they can use the stated values. By committing resources that encourage the behaviors of the value and reward the behavior when it is exhibited we believe that all employees will be more engaged and readily exhibit the moral leadership desired by the company (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin, & Cardy, 2010) A strong code of ethics should address the four most common elements that lead to unethical decision-making. They are; the absence of transparency, unwarranted...
Words: 1708 - Pages: 7
...Irony & Ethical Execution: A closer look at nonprofit behavior code Felecia M. Daniels August 24, 2012Fmdaniels7770@yahoo.com Nonprofit Organization Management Professor Jennifer Pryor Irony & Ethical Execution: Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………….Page 3 Why is a Code of Ethics Important?..................................................................Page 4 Important Ingredients in the Code of Ethics………………………………….Page 4 Administration of the Code of Ethics………………………………………….Page 6 Cases of Nonprofit Ethics Issues………………………………………………..Page 6 Minimizing Unethical Behavior…………………………………………………Page 7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...Page 9 References…………………………………………………………………………Page 11 & 12 2|Page Irony & Ethical Execution: Introduction In wake of the Pennsylvania State University recent scandal, the United Way indiscretions, NAACP payout for sexual harassment, Goodwill Industries of Santa Clara, California embezzlements and even the debacle of The American Red Cross’ lack of attention on the donor’s intentions during 9/11 along with a near endless list of other the of quality ethics in nonprofit organizations is illuminated as a topic needing acute attention. The supposed intent of a nonprofit organization is to do something in good faith for the sake of mankind. It seems, though, that increasingly the ethical standards have lessened over time. More and more, there are reports of nonprofit personal albeit staff or members of the administration...
Words: 2717 - Pages: 11
