Ethical and Moral Issues in Business

While ethics refers to understanding and adopting moral values such as code of conduct, morals are the beliefs of individuals determining what is right and wrong in behavior. Although organizations may have set rules to standardize a working environment, individuals may follow standard procedures while the morality solely lies in individual behavior. While groups and organizations may provide values of establishment within a working environment, moral issues may obtain examples of lying, stealing and cheating.

Personal ethics may also obtain morality and may affect an individual’s goals which may differ from business ethics. Business ethics have company policy and standards in which employees must follow such as being respectful within the environment. As there are many differences to compare between ethics and morality, common problems do occur in businesses because of the human traits of greed. Why do ethical problems occur in businesses today? The majority of times, invidividuals can be selfish obtaining values of self interest which may lead to unethical conduct (William, 2009).

Whether issues lie in management, work centers or between individuals, the results of the companies may be directed towards poor company performance and bad reputable perceptions from overall consumers. Research has shown that companies with poor and lower in profits are more prone to commit unethical acts (William, 2009). Fixed-pricing is an example of unethical problems which, avoids fair competition between companies. This is an unlawful agreement between manufacturers, which is considered illegal in the United States (William, 2009). Stealing and lying is also one of many common problems within businesses.

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For example, individuals working in IT may take and steal computer parts like HDMI cables rather than going to Fry’s electronics to pick one up for personal use. When it is time to install or troubleshoot a client’s computer or network, missing resourceful products may lead to bad customer service. Software piracy in IT is also considered unethical and many programmers and IT businesses may lose profits. When IT businesses lose profits, so do employee jobs. It is important for individuals to hold ethical personal conduct and hold morals to never steal from any company because it increases the efficiency of work performance and cost benefits.

These company resources are valuable and stealing is unethical within any company. Another example is making personal phone calls on a corporate phone which may cost the company’s bills to increase. It is up to individuals to separate personal ethics such as personal phone calls with business ethics in this situation. These ethics are usually in the majority of all company policies. Also such unethical business practices may include discrimination against protected classes, bribes, sexual harassment and dishonesty.

Ultimately ethical issues require people or organizations to choose actions which may judge their character of right and wrong. While organizations may want preserve customer relationships and employee concerns, business ethics may promote standard policies for diverse individuals. Such examples of unethical and immoral doings within businesses were stealing IT resources for personal use, using company resources for personal use and fixed pricing. Other examples were lying and cheating. These are choices individuals are expected not to commit and hold moral values so that companies and businesses may prosper towards a bright future.

References:

William, P. (2009). Why Ethical Problems Occur in Business. Yahoo! Contributor Network. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1429755/why_ethical_problems_occur_in_business.html?cat=3

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