Business Ethics
Business Ethics
"Like Nailing Jell-O to the Wall"
What are ethics?
A simple definition for "ethics" is those standards or morals a person sets for himself or herself regarding what is good and bad and right and wrong. If something is "ethical", it does not necessarily mean that it is legal, and vice-versa. This is partially because ethics are "subjective" – that is, each person's ethics are unique to that individual. For example, Sally, who works at Becker's, may give a carton of milk to a young mother with a baby who has no money for food. Though Sally believes this action is ethical, it is not legal. Another employee may not see Sally's action as ethical.
Where do ethics come from?
The most common factors that form a person's individual ethics are:
Family Influences. People tend to develop beliefs about ethics and morals from their parents, brothers, and sisters based on observing their behaviour, and punishment for doing things that the family perceives as "unethical".
Peer Influences. Classmates and others in a person's social network can shape ethics. Peer pressure, for example, can help determine how much a person is willing to engage in questionable activities like shoplifting, lying, etc.
Past Experiences. Often, the consequences of previous behaviour condition a person to feel comfortable with certain ethical standards. For instance, if a sales person lies to a customer to make a sale and then is reprimanded by the manager, he or she would likely perceive lying as undesirable behaviour and unethical. On the other hand, if the person makes the sale, and is rewarded by the manager, lying may become perceived as a desirable and ethical behaviour.
Religious Affiliation. Generally, a person's religious affiliation (if one exists), will shape what that person perceives as right and wrong.
Situational Factors. People adjust their ethics to suit certain circumstances. For instance, Sally in the example above, would probably have changed her
"Like Nailing Jell-O to the Wall"
What are ethics?
A simple definition for "ethics" is those standards or morals a person sets for himself or herself regarding what is good and bad and right and wrong. If something is "ethical", it does not necessarily mean that it is legal, and vice-versa. This is partially because ethics are "subjective" – that is, each person's ethics are unique to that individual. For example, Sally, who works at Becker's, may give a carton of milk to a young mother with a baby who has no money for food. Though Sally believes this action is ethical, it is not legal. Another employee may not see Sally's action as ethical.
Where do ethics come from?
The most common factors that form a person's individual ethics are:
Family Influences. People tend to develop beliefs about ethics and morals from their parents, brothers, and sisters based on observing their behaviour, and punishment for doing things that the family perceives as "unethical".
Peer Influences. Classmates and others in a person's social network can shape ethics. Peer pressure, for example, can help determine how much a person is willing to engage in questionable activities like shoplifting, lying, etc.
Past Experiences. Often, the consequences of previous behaviour condition a person to feel comfortable with certain ethical standards. For instance, if a sales person lies to a customer to make a sale and then is reprimanded by the manager, he or she would likely perceive lying as undesirable behaviour and unethical. On the other hand, if the person makes the sale, and is rewarded by the manager, lying may become perceived as a desirable and ethical behaviour.
Religious Affiliation. Generally, a person's religious affiliation (if one exists), will shape what that person perceives as right and wrong.
Situational Factors. People adjust their ethics to suit certain circumstances. For instance, Sally in the example above, would probably have changed her