Course work: Business Ethics

Course work: Business Ethics
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Course work: Business Ethics
Question 1
The common factors that influence business ethics in an organization include the following: corporate culture – the culture of an organization has a great influence on business ethics. For instance, an organization culture that fosters high ethical standards has a positive influence on business ethics whereas one that encourages fraud and misconduct has a negative influence on business ethics. Leadership also influences business ethics since leaders who encourage their workers to adhere to high standards of ethics and they themselves act as role models tend to have a very ethical workforce. Other factors include individual characteristics and the environment.
Question 2
After reading Ferrell (2011), it is clear that executive leadership helps to shape both ethical culture as well as ethical conduct within a business organization since the top leadership of a company is of great importance in developing an ethical corporate culture. Ethics and compliance begins from the senior executives of a company. If the board of directors and top executives fail to create effective ethics and compliance programs, then the risks of ethical misconduct disasters are increased (Ferrell, 2011). The company’s board of directors and senior executives are responsible for ethics audit, risk assessment, as well as the development of an ethical culture.
Question 3
Five goals that I would use in writing a code of ethics for an organization include the following: (i) a common framework upon which every decision is based. In other words, this would require the code of ethics to be aligned to an organization’s vision and mission, an aspect that will depict the image of the organization to the society. (ii) Social and environmental protection – the business needs to improve and protect the environment, carry out business affairs in a socially responsible manner, and foster sustainable development. (iii) Ensure and maintain the quality of service/product the company provides. (iv) Fair competition – the company recognizes the significance of discipline and integrity in its operations and pledges to practice to the highest standards of professionalism, fairness and accuracy. (v) To guide ethical business to client conduct for the company.
Question 4
From Somers and Susmanschi articles, the factors which contribute to employees becoming whistle-blowers include the following: the employee is faced with a situation which is morally improper and ethically unacceptable, and wants to seek remedy (Somers & Casal, 2011). Secondly, whistle-blowing is anchored in an ethical or moral imperative which goes beyond infringements of policies and laws. As such, an employee may become a whistle-blower after seeing activities which are considered as wrong (Susmanschi, 2012). Lastly, an employee may become a whistle-blower because he or she expects that the organization or individual to whom wrongdoing is reported would act to rectify the situation (Somers & Casal, 2011). In addition, as a corporate/organizational leader, I can develop culture, procedures, and policies to provide proactive mecha...