Ethics in Consulting
ETHICS IN CONSULTING
Ethics is not just a vague theory but a working concept that can have an important and real effect on your consulting practice. Ethics is not simply a matter of obeying the law; it goes much beyond this. You will also see that the ethical problem is not simple, and yet it is one you will face frequently during your work as a consultant.
Ethics defined
Ethics are about moral evaluations of decisions as to whether they are right or wrong on the basis of socially/culturally accepted principles of behaviour. Ethics are moral principles that define appropriate behaviour.
The most basic and common ethical issues have been formalised through laws and regulations to ensure conformity to the standards of society. At the most basic level, practitioners are expected to conform to these laws and regulations. However, it is important to realise that ethics go beyond legal issues.
Organisations need to operate in accordance with sound moral principles based on ideals such as fairness, justice, and trust. Clients will generally regard unethical marketing activities as unacceptable and often refuse to do business with practitioners who engage in such practices.
Thus when practitioners deviate from accepted moral principles to further their own interests at the expense of others, continued exchanges become difficult, if not impossible. Good ethical decisions make good business sense as they foster mutual trust between the organisation and its clients (as well as other stakeholders) and build good relationships.
When an organisation engages in unethical business activities, it may not only lose sales as dissatisfied clients refuse to deal with it, but it may also face lawsuits, fines, and even prison for its executives.
Regardless of how a person or an organisation views the acceptability of a particular activity, if society judges that activity to be wrong or unethical, then this view directly affects the organisation’s ability to achieve its
Ethics is not just a vague theory but a working concept that can have an important and real effect on your consulting practice. Ethics is not simply a matter of obeying the law; it goes much beyond this. You will also see that the ethical problem is not simple, and yet it is one you will face frequently during your work as a consultant.
Ethics defined
Ethics are about moral evaluations of decisions as to whether they are right or wrong on the basis of socially/culturally accepted principles of behaviour. Ethics are moral principles that define appropriate behaviour.
The most basic and common ethical issues have been formalised through laws and regulations to ensure conformity to the standards of society. At the most basic level, practitioners are expected to conform to these laws and regulations. However, it is important to realise that ethics go beyond legal issues.
Organisations need to operate in accordance with sound moral principles based on ideals such as fairness, justice, and trust. Clients will generally regard unethical marketing activities as unacceptable and often refuse to do business with practitioners who engage in such practices.
Thus when practitioners deviate from accepted moral principles to further their own interests at the expense of others, continued exchanges become difficult, if not impossible. Good ethical decisions make good business sense as they foster mutual trust between the organisation and its clients (as well as other stakeholders) and build good relationships.
When an organisation engages in unethical business activities, it may not only lose sales as dissatisfied clients refuse to deal with it, but it may also face lawsuits, fines, and even prison for its executives.
Regardless of how a person or an organisation views the acceptability of a particular activity, if society judges that activity to be wrong or unethical, then this view directly affects the organisation’s ability to achieve its