What Is Business Ethics

What is Business Ethics?

Ethics is defined as “the principles, norms, and standards of conduct governing an individual or group – focuses on conduct” (Trevino L.K., & Nelson K.A., 2007, p. 13). Ethicist Michael Josephson describes ethics by saying that "Ethics is a moral perspective that asks you to judge your conduct in terms of what's right and wrong, what's decent, what's good, what's honest, what's honorable" (Trevino L.K., & Nelson K.A., 2007, p. 43). Kent Druyvesteyn said, “Ethics is about conduct.” Nonetheless, “good general character doesn’t prepare an individual to deal with the very special ethical problems that are likely to arise in one’s career” (Trevino L.K., & Nelson K.A., 2007, p. 12).

Issues that Impact Business Ethics

In today’s business society there are many issues that impact business ethics. This has become a greater concern as businesses continue to become global and even those that are not; at some point have some sort of interaction with an international firm. Two issues that I find to be of immense concern in business are the issues of “conflict of interest” particularly kickbacks or subtle bribes and the issue of confidentiality or customer confidence.

Conflicts of interest entail many aspects of business ethics but I want to emphasize kickbacks or subtle bribes. An individual’s reputation and that of the company or organization they work for are inextricably tied to how well they can handle relationships with other employees, customers, vendors, family, and friends. A person’s ability to be and appear to be impartial is the key to fulfilling the employer/employee contract (Trevino L.K., & Nelson K.A., 2007). Fundamentally, a conflict of interest occurs when a person’s judgment or objectivity is compromised or when a third party can presume that the person’s judgment has been compromised. Corporations and individuals are naturally intertwined and generally consist of professional and personal relationships we must be...