|
|
 |
|
|
Ethics in business: How to make the right decision? by Murad Abel
|
|
|
Ethics in business: How to make the right decision? |
|
|
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Ethical questions have plagued business owners ever since they have developed a conscious. The standards of ethics have changed over time and vary from culture to culture. For example, it was acceptable a hundred years ago to employ children in the mining companies of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. However, today this practice would be considered immoral, illegal and any company engaging in it would surely suffer scrutiny. The fluid nature of ethical standards leaves business owners confused. Let us say that your business is faced with an important decision regarding kickbacks in the country of China. A local politician is looking for a kickback in order to grant your company the opportunity to do business in his province. Should you give the kickback with is nothing more than a monetary bribe? The first place you would look to find out if this behavior is acceptable is through local laws and available international standards. Does the law prohibit it? Is there an international business standards that frown upon the practice? Assuming, that the behavior has no legal injunction against it the second place to look is within the Chinese country itself. Is giving a kickback part of the culture of the country of China? If it is, then you are almost home free in making a decision. The final question that should be answered is how the practice is perceived within your home country (i.e. the United States)? If the behavior is considered illegal, immoral and can draw criticism from your customers then it better not to engage in this practice. We must remember that simply because a practice isn’t illegal doesn’t mean that it isn’t immoral. If giving this kickback is going to adversely impact a great number of people one should make their ethical decisions based upon the harm that could be caused. Sometimes changing a kickback to a consultant fee changes the nature and perception of the behavior. Other times one might consider giving concessions within legal business practices in order to avoid the kickback situation.Murad Ali is a three time book author, a Ph.d. candidate and a human resource professional. http://www.thenewbusinessworld.blogspot.com
Related Articles -
Business, ethics, morals, values,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
DONNIE LEWIS
I'm an avid consumer of a smoothie a day living, herbs, vitamins and daily dose of exercise. I'm 60...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
SUSAN FRIESEN
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, ...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Steve Bye is currently a fiction writer, who published his first novel, ‘Looking Forward Through the...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEVE BURGESS
Steve Burgess is a freelance technology writer, a practicing computer forensics specialist as the pr...more
|
|
|
|
