Business Ethics

The topic of business ethics and ethics in general is one that can be characterized as having many differing and conflicting viewpoints. Something that can be interpreted as unethical by one can very easily be viewed as completely ethical by another. As far as corporations and businesses go their corporate culture, and in turn business practices, is often dictated by the beliefs and morals of their executives and managers. A leading school of ethical thought, the humanist school, defines ethical behavior as being dependant upon “what they contribute to improving inherent human capacities such as intelligence, wisdom, and self-restraint”. While New Gen Health Sciences is clearly a profitable company, the question must be asked as to whether these profits come at a cost to the overall improvement of “human capacities” (Kubasek, Brennan, and Browne 208). The business practices of New Gen may not be illegal per-say but they clearly cross the line of what is ethical behavior. When looking at the current situation of Benji Watson it becomes apparent that New Gen Health Sciences would not be a good situation to begin his career in. The main reasons for this conclusion are the lack of transparency and integrity in the way business is conducted by the organization.

It is apparent when looking at the corporate culture of New Gen that they will do anything to increase the bottom line and maximize profit, even if that means hiding suspect unethical business practices. The system of using coercion and might to force distributors to purchase certain underwhelming products does not align with how an ethical company would operate. Causing many distributors to declare bankruptcy in sluggish economic times clearly shows that New Gen is using unethical practices, when abiding by the humanist school of thought. If New Gen was genuinely concerned about the health of human capacities they would not directly be involved with practices that cause the bankruptcy of their...