Ethical Moral Issues in Business

Ethical and Moral Issues in Business

Week One Assignment

Debra Grisamer

MGT/216 – Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility

December 18, 2012

This paper will answer and demonstrate the following two questions

1. What are the differences between ethical issues and moral issues?

2. What are the differences between personal ethics and business ethics?

Once these two questions are thoroughly answered then examples of common ethical problems in business for each of the questions above will be demonstrated.

What are the differences between ethical issues and moral issues?

Morals demonstrate and express our character. Ethics guide a social system such as a country or an organization. Ethics is where the tire hits the road and where the pen touches the page. The country we live in, the church we attend on Sunday and the company we report to for work on Monday morning have a system of ethics that are based on the moral convictions of the citizens, members and employees of the respective group. Ethics establishes implicit and explicit rules the members that particular group must follow. Ethics are associated with groups and interactions of people within the groups. Morals are individual choices between doing what our conscious wants us to do and what our conscious doesn’t want us to do. Often people with little training ethics and morals seem similar. However, in reality they are different. A moral is a term used to describe a notion of right behavior and conduct. Ethics are guidelines that outline acceptable standards and behaviors for a group of people.

What are the differences between personal ethics and business ethics?

Business Ethics

Business Ethics influence business decisions relating to such issues as harassment and discrimination and many others as well. Business Ethics are a set of activities and guidelines that a business uses to guide its activities. Everyone sets out to do what is right and fair but a...