Business Ethics
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic: Page:
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
2. INTRODUCTION 3
3. RIMS 4
3.1 EVALUATION OF ALL POINTS OF VIEW 4
3.2 IMPLICATIONS 6
3.3 SOLUTION 6
4. THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO BUSINESS ETHICS 7
4.1 SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC POSITION 7
4.2 MANAGERIAL POSITION 7
4.3 ORGANISATIONAL INTEREST POSITION 8
4.4 ETHICAL GUIDANCE POSITION 9
4.5 ETHICAL CONTROL POSITION 9
4.6 ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT POSITION 10
5. MYTHS 11
5.1 DOG EAT DOG 11
5.2 IT’S NOT SO SERIOUS 11
5.3 IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM JOIN THEM 12
5.4 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 12
5.5 NICE GUYS COME SECOND 13
5.6 ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE BOTTOM LINE 13
6. ETHICAL DIMENSIONS 14
6.1 MACRO 14
6.2 MESO 15
6.3 MICRO 16
7. DESCRIPTIVE ETHICS 17
7.1 IMMORAL MODE 17
7.2 REACTIVE MODE 18
7.3 COMPLIANCE MODE 18
7.4 INTEGRITY MODE 18
7.5 ACHIEVING THE TOTALLY ALIGNED ORGANISATION (TAO) MODE 19
8. CONCLUSION 20
9. REFERENCES 21
1. Executive Summary
Business ethics is the study of conflict, conflict between economics and values, between competition, commerce, and capitalism and between morality, integrity and responsibility. All of these are being experienced in Zimbabwe today as the country grapples with its tyrannical and dictatorial government.
Ethics relates to the science of morals, or a system of principles and rules of conduct and very broadly the whole field of moral social science, incorporating political social science, law and jurisdiction. Robert Mugabe repeatedly demonstrates that he and his government have no respect for humanity or the principles to make a moral u-turn to salvage the country from the brink of disaster. The international communities silence in actively, on the ground level, intervening to save thousands of people from the inhumane onslaught by Robert Mugabe.
We observe that the situation in Zimbabwe needs to be brought in line with value-driven governance, in sync with the management of ethics, offering a crucial starting point for
Topic: Page:
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
2. INTRODUCTION 3
3. RIMS 4
3.1 EVALUATION OF ALL POINTS OF VIEW 4
3.2 IMPLICATIONS 6
3.3 SOLUTION 6
4. THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO BUSINESS ETHICS 7
4.1 SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC POSITION 7
4.2 MANAGERIAL POSITION 7
4.3 ORGANISATIONAL INTEREST POSITION 8
4.4 ETHICAL GUIDANCE POSITION 9
4.5 ETHICAL CONTROL POSITION 9
4.6 ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT POSITION 10
5. MYTHS 11
5.1 DOG EAT DOG 11
5.2 IT’S NOT SO SERIOUS 11
5.3 IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM JOIN THEM 12
5.4 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 12
5.5 NICE GUYS COME SECOND 13
5.6 ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE BOTTOM LINE 13
6. ETHICAL DIMENSIONS 14
6.1 MACRO 14
6.2 MESO 15
6.3 MICRO 16
7. DESCRIPTIVE ETHICS 17
7.1 IMMORAL MODE 17
7.2 REACTIVE MODE 18
7.3 COMPLIANCE MODE 18
7.4 INTEGRITY MODE 18
7.5 ACHIEVING THE TOTALLY ALIGNED ORGANISATION (TAO) MODE 19
8. CONCLUSION 20
9. REFERENCES 21
1. Executive Summary
Business ethics is the study of conflict, conflict between economics and values, between competition, commerce, and capitalism and between morality, integrity and responsibility. All of these are being experienced in Zimbabwe today as the country grapples with its tyrannical and dictatorial government.
Ethics relates to the science of morals, or a system of principles and rules of conduct and very broadly the whole field of moral social science, incorporating political social science, law and jurisdiction. Robert Mugabe repeatedly demonstrates that he and his government have no respect for humanity or the principles to make a moral u-turn to salvage the country from the brink of disaster. The international communities silence in actively, on the ground level, intervening to save thousands of people from the inhumane onslaught by Robert Mugabe.
We observe that the situation in Zimbabwe needs to be brought in line with value-driven governance, in sync with the management of ethics, offering a crucial starting point for
References: Amnesty International (2000): Zimbabwe: Constitutional reform – an opportunity to strengthen human rights protection, Europe Delius, C et al. 2000. The story of Philosophy. Germany: Konemann Verslagsgesellschaft Milpark Business School (2007): Business Ethics ADM courseware – 2007 v.3, Johannesburg Ontibile Kababongwe, OneWorld.net (2006): Zimbabwe – Millennium development goals, United Kingdom Reuters Foundation, AlertNet (2006): Zimbabwe fact file, Europe Rossouw, D. 2002. Business ethics in Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Rossouw, D, with Van Vuuren L. 2004. Business Ethics, Third Edition, Cape Town: Oxford University Press Rossouw, G.J. & Van Vuuren, L.J. 2003a. The strategic importance of business ethics: the business case for ethics. United Nations, OCHA (2007): Humanitarian Situation Zimbabwe, Europe