Task 1-The meaning and importance of business ethics
P1 Describe the ethical issues a business needs to consider in its operation activities
Defining Business Ethics
Business ethics can be defined as the accepted set of moral values and corporate standards of conduct in a business organization (business.lovetoknow.com)
Ethical activities carried out by Vodafone
One ethical activity that is carried out by Vodafone would be the introduction of its content bar which prohibits access any content rated 18 which would be otherwise accessible by children and young people automatically until proof is provided by customers that they are 18 or over. Another such ethical activity performed by Vodafone would be the company deciding against sending bulk unsolicited SMS messages and e-mails for the purpose of advertising.
Ethical values held by Vodafone
Vodafone believe that young people’s chat rooms are to be a safe environment for communication and thus introduced regulators, in spite of the unpopularity from chat users that followed. Vodafone also that the environment needs to be taken care and therefore monitors its impact on the environment and subsequently actively works towards reducing it e.g. recycling phones.
Explanation of professional ethics and how Vodafone incorporates them into daily activities
Professional ethics can be defined as the professionally accepted standards of personal and business behaviour, values and guiding principles. (businessdictionary.com) Per The Sale of Goods Act 1974, Vodafone incorporates this act every day when selling mobile phones to its customers as they know that the mobile phone must work and perform every task that its specifications dictate that it carry out.
What an individual employee at Vodafone can do to demonstrate ethical behaviour
One task an individual employee may perform to demonstrate ethical behaviour would be turning off the lights at the end of the day in store.