Business Ethics Final

Introduction

In western civilization, morals and values are an important part of a person’s daily activities. It is used as a compass to determine what is and is not appropriate conduct as it pertains to a person’s actions. These beliefs have filtered into the business world and the actions of stakeholders. The problem to be investigated is ethics and or the lack there of and its impact on stake holders.

There are many different views on the role of ethics and moral responsibility as it relates to business. While some would implement ethical standards others would simply follow the laws created to help guide business owners. Heath South is a health care system whose poor leadership skills and unethical practices of the executives caused criminal and civil charges to be brought upon senior level staff (Jennings 2012). Mr Scrushy, the CEO at the time falsified documents, manipulated staff, and lied to the public in order to report high profit margins to the public (Jennings 2012). These unethical practices ultimately lead to multiple trials and an array of convictions of chief financial officers, Vice presidents, and Chief executives officers (Jenings 2012).

Initially, Scrushy gained popularity in the public by attracting clientele via his ingenious marketing strategies (Jennings 2012). Various professional athletes such as: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan. Shaquille O Neal, Scottie Pippen, Tara Lipinski, Troy Aikman, Bo Jackson and Terry Bradshaw obtained services from his facilities, so he would market to the public that Health South was futuristic and upscale facility being utilized by the stars (Jennings 2012). Though some consider this marketing strategy questionable, often companies utilizes famous actors, athletes, and musicians to help market their product. Consumers associate the product being purchased with the star utilizing the service or product.

Though his marketing strategy is not considered unethical, Scrushy’s...