Ethics and Morals

Ethics and Morals

Linda Iacoboni

MGT/216

July/11/2011

Vincent Montanelli

Ethics and Morals

When thinking about ethics and morals one could assume, they retain the same meaning. However, ethics has some different uses that do not apply to morals. The word ethical refers to a code of conduct where as morals are personal, ones values, feelings, and beliefs. For example, lawyers and doctors have to comply with ethics, a legal code of conduct they must adhere to perform their job legally. This is not morality. Morality is belief about what is right and wrong or what is good and bad.

Morality can vary depending upon the person, their family upbringing, and influence of friends. For example, different religions share varying morals. Catholic vs. Baptist differ in their morals on birth control. Ethics are well defined, sets of codes and ideas and can be philosophical.

Business ethics are the code-of-conduct that an organization creates. Leaders expect management and employees to portray these ethics in their daily behavior and business choices. The ethics entail how the organization interacts with their customers, employees, and other businesses. It is possible for one’s business and personal ethics to be the same. They can share similar values, but they are not alike. Personal ethics align with what is right and wrong, in addition to cooperating with the laws. Ethics are further exemplified by many experiences a person has encountered; such as ones religion, schoolteachers, parents, race, and culture. Personal ethics are issues a person can make his or her own choice about concerning a particular situation. A company has an agreed code-of-ethics upheld by the employees and management this is business ethics. Advantages of ethical behavior for businesses entail higher revenues from satisfied customers, improve brand and business recognition, improved employee morale and recruitment (Anonymous, 2011).

Many common ethical...