Corporate Machiavellianism.

It is an interesting story as to how the Machiavellian analogy to “deceiving, self-centered, ends justify the means” came in to general use. Or as the Oxford English Dictionary defines, “the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct".
Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian historian, diplomat, philosopher, politician and a humanist writer based in Florence during Renaissance. He was Secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, during which the Medici were out of power. Before which he was responsible for the diplomatic and military affairs in the Florentine Republic. He penned the greatest work of his life; “The Price” after the Medici had regained power and, held no obligatory responsibilities towards the Florentine Republic.
In this seminal work he elaborated an ideology, which has been often interpreted as, “Ends justify the means”. Machiavelli prosed to the prince- the ruler of the state, that the prince has to always focus on achieving the objectives towards the welfare of the state (has to be result driven, for the output any action can be justified), even to the extent of suspending the rights, liberties of its populace.
In the current context, this seems to be the hidden agenda of some of major corporations. Like the example of a major American burger franchisee which did not hesitate to include a highly carcinogenic ingredient in their products. Or like a few corporations who wish to use cloned meat without having to disclose about it to its customers. Or like another major global accounting firm which was in hot soup a few years back- for tax irregularities in India.
All these incidents put the spotlight on the corporate/ business ethics-practices, accountability of corporations towards its stakeholders and corporate social responsibility. Business ethics is an integral part of business philosophy. Ethics has both normative and descriptive dimensions of which the corporate practice is of primarily normative in nature. This provides a formal framework for all the parties involved in a situation or transaction. This framework could range from the mode and method in which a business activity is executed to the final objectives and its impact on the company’s vision, mission, stakeholders and society within the boundaries of which corporations function.
But one of the main goals and purpose of existence for all corporations regardless of its size or location is to make profits. So, if a corporation is highly profit oriented albeit within the rules, laws and regulations of the state, its stakeholders are satisfied, so is the law. So do corporations really need any ethical framework to begin with? This is one of the arguments put across by Nobel laureate Milton Friedman against principles of business ethics.
In this report we discuss and elaborate on the myriad of issues and dilemma’s faced by corporations in forming, implementing ethics and views, ideas put forth both in favor and against business ethics in the present corporate environment. With the help of real world cases and incidents of corporations.
“Do present day corporations need an ethical benchmark. Is their ends justify the means-but within the legal framework, attitude optimal for their growth and societies wellbeing?”
Reference
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/6cca2bec-19d6-11e2-a379-00144feabdc0.html
http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2012-12-03/corporate-ethics-improve-your-wealth