Mgt610 solution

EVOLUTION OF BUSINESS ETHICS

The history of the evolution of ethics is essentially the history of sensibility

and intelligence coming to life. To move toward the ethical and legal is to move away from the primitive. There is a dynamic relationship between the evolution of rules, concern for human survival, and the need for increasing systemic efficiency. The evolution of ethical systems is a natural result of this relationship.

Ethical issues and society - examples

· Involvement in the community

· Honesty, truthfulness and fairness in marketing

· Use of animals in product testing

· Agricultural practices e.g. intensive faming

· The degree of safety built into product design

· Donation to good causes

· The extent to which a business accepts its alleged responsibilities for mishaps, spillages and

· leaks

· The selling of addictive products e.g. tobacco

· Involvement in the arms trade

· Trading with repressive regimes

Institute of Business Ethics Suggestions for Good Practice

The Institute recommends that organizations issue statements of ethical practice in respect of:

· Relations with customers

· Relations with shareholders and other investors

· Relations with employees

· Relations with suppliers

· Relations with the government and the local community

· The environment

· Relations with competitors

· Issues relating to international business

· Behavior in relations to mergers and takeovers

· Ethical issues concerning directors and managers