WHAT IS ETHICS?
- Each society form a set of rules that establishes the boundaries of general accepted behavior. These rules are often expressed in statements about how people should behave, and they fit together to form the MORAL CODE by which a society lives.
- The term MORALITY refers to a social conventions about right and wrong that are so widely shared that they become the basis for an established consensus.
DEFINITION OF ETHICS:
ETHICS – is a set of beliefs about right and wrong behavior within a society. Ethical behavior conforms to generally accepted norms-many of which are almost universal.
VIRTUES – are habits that incline people to do what is acceptable.
VICES – a re habits if Unacceptable behavior.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY:
- Your moral principles are statements of what you believe to be rules of right conduct.
- A person who acts with integrity acts in accordance with a personal code of principles.
- One of the cornerstones of Ethical behavior- is to extend to all people the same respect and consideration that you expect to receive from others.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MORALS, ETHICS, AND LAWS
- MORAL’s are one’s personal beliefs about right and wrong while the term ETHICS describes standards or codes of behavior expected of an individual by a group to which an individual belongs. LAW is a system of rules that tell us what we can and cannot do.
ETHICS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
- Ethics has risen to the top of the business agenda because the risks associated with inappropriate behavior have increased, both in their likelihood and in their potential negative impact.
Several trends have increased the likelihood of unethical behavior.
1st- greater globalization
2nd – in today’s necessionary economic climate, organizations are extremely challenge to maintain profits.
WHY FOSTERING GOOD BUSINESS ETHICS IS IMPORTANT
1. Gaining the good will of the community.
2. Creating an organization that operates consistently.
3.