Business

The title of the article I will be reviewing is Decision Making in Business Ethics by Osmond Vitez, Demand Median. This article gives some overall information about the decision making process within a company as a whole. It summarizes the facts about ethics, different types of ethical standards, why these ethical codes are in place, and also gives some inside perspective from an business ethics professional.

Everyday people are required to make ethical business decisions. Working for a company usually requires one to follow some sort of code of ethics in order to make these decisions. Strong decision making and business ethics can help companies to make best of the business opportunities they come across. Decision making in business can mean different things to different people. New employees may be hired who do not have the same ethical standards as employees who already work in the company. A difference in ethics often changes how people go about the decision-making process. As the book states, business’ have many different roles within the company, including employees, managers, executives, etc. Managers have the ability to influence how the other employees make decisions. In a business setting, one must consider both personal and professional decision making. When making a decision one must be able to separate and consider each of these before coming to a final decision.

There are five types of ethical standards: utilitarian, rights, fairness or justice, common good, and virtue. Not only must one consider both personal and professional decision making but also consider different ethical standards. In my opinion to be most reasonable, a combination of all the types of ethical standards should be used to make a decision while still keeping in balance the personal and professional manner.

As Osmond states, Business ethics is a tool companies use to ensure managers act responsibly in different business situations. Ethical decision making attempts to promote...