Chapter 1 The Foundation of Ethical Thought

Understanding Business Ethics Stanwick and Stanwick 1st Edition

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Ethics
The values an individual uses to interpret whether any particular action or behavior is considered acceptable or appropriate. Questions to ask:
Is the behavior or action consistent with the overall basic duties of the individual in question? Does the behavior or action acknowledge and respect the underlying rights of all the individuals who will be impacted by the action? Would the behavior or action be considered the best practice in that specific set of circumstances? Does the behavior or action match the overall entrenched beliefs of the individual?
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Business Ethics
The collective values of a business organization that can be used to evaluate whether the behavior of the collective members of the organization are considered acceptable and appropriate

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Foundation of Ethical Theory

Initially classified based on what perspective is considered by the reader
Descriptive ethics Analytical ethics Normative ethics

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Descriptive Ethics
The presentation of facts related to the specific ethical actions of an individual or organization Used when an observer wants to understand the course of events that generated the ethical issue No interpretation of the facts or assumptions concerning why that course of action took place
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Analytical Ethics
Understanding the reasons a course of action that may have an ethical impact took place Also called metaethics Moves from the how and when inquiry, which is the basis of the descriptive ethics viewpoint, to asking why Hypotheses can be developed to help understand the relationships among different variables impacting ethical behavior Addresses the motive behind the actions instead of just being satisfied with a description of the actions

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Normative Ethics
A prescribed course of action that attempts to ensure that ethical behavior will be followed in the future Moves the evaluation of ethical behavior from the past to future tense Presents information on what should be done in the future rather than what was done in the past, both part of descriptive and analytical ethics Allows employees and managers to address potential ethical issues before they occur Use of ethical tools (like ethics codes) help direct the normative ethical behavior by presenting what are acceptable and unacceptable types of behavior tolerated within the firm
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Teleological Frameworks
Focus on the results of the conduct of the individual
Ethical Egoism: focusing on each individuals self interest
Based on the belief that every individual should act in a way to promote himself/herself if the net result will generate, on balance, positive rather than negative results

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Teleological Frameworks
Utilitarianism: based on the principle of utility
Each persons actions add to the overall utility of the community impacted by those actions Focus on the net result of their actions instead of the means or motives that generated the reason for their actions

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Teleological Frameworks
Sidgwicks Dualism: attempts to bridge the gap between the two competing ethical frameworks of ethical egoism and utilitarianism
Core of argument was that both theories had elements of cost-benefit analysis to help analyze the actions of individuals Adam Smith presented an argument that could support Sidgwicks dualism argues the greatest good for the greatest number is achieved by individuals pursuing their self-interests in the marketplace
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Deontological Frameworks
Focus on the duty or obligation in determining whether the actions are right or wrong
Existentialism
Based on the underlying belief that the only person who can determine right and wrong is the person making the decisions Each individual determines his or her own actions and is ultimately responsible for the consequences of those actions
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Deontological Frameworks
Contractarianism
Social contract theory Based on the belief that all individuals agree to social contracts to be members within a society

Kants Ethics
Ethical decisions based on the free will of the individual The free will to make decisions that were considered rational needed to be converted into a universal will
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Mixed Frameworks
Seven guiding principles that are considered part of the prima facie obligation an individual has to society:
Fidelity: an individual needs to keep explicit and implicit promises Reparation: an individual must act on repairing the consequences for previous wrongful acts Gratitude: an individual must be able to show gratitude for the kindnesses that others have given him or her
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Mixed Frameworks
Justice: an individual should try to see that any goods are fairly distributed Beneficence: an individual should focus on trying to improve the lives of others Self-Improvement: an individual should improve oneself by focusing on virtue and intelligence Noninjury: an individual should not cause any harm to others
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Global Business Standards Codex

A codex that captures the eight major underlying principles in which ethical behavior can be interpreted and evaluated Eight ethical principles:
Fiduciary Property Reliability Transparency Dignity Fairness Citizenship Responsiveness
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Fiduciary Principle
Each officer has a legal fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the stakeholders and other employees within the firm An implied fiduciary duty for every employee to act in a way that generates positive benefits for the firm
Examples: conflicts of interest, good faith efforts for carrying out responsibilities. Prudence with the companys resources, loyalty
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Property Principle
Based on the belief that every employee should respect property as well as the rights of the owners of the property Expected that the employee should be a good steward to the resource that he/she has access to.
Examples: theft, misappropriation of funds, wasting resources, misappropriation of intellectual property
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Reliability Principle
Based on the belief that it is the employees responsibility to honor the commitments he or she has made to the firm
Examples: breaching a promise or contract, not fulfilling a promised action, ensuring that suppliers and other business partners are paid in a timely manner

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Transparency Principle
Based on the belief that every employee should conduct business in a truthful and open manner. Assumes that employees will not make decisions based on a personal agenda
Examples: keep accurate and current records of business obligations, fraudulent and deceptive actions of the employee, financial information is presented in a truthful and accurate way
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Dignity Principle
Based on the belief that each employee needs to respect the dignity of all individuals Encourages the enhancement of human development not only within the company and the marketplace, but also in the society at large
Examples: ensuring the human rights of health, safety and privacy
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Fairness Principle
Based on the belief that stakeholders who have a vested interest in the firm should be treated fairly Reciprocal fairness, distributive fairness, fair competition, procedural fairness

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Citizenship Principle
Based on the belief that every employee should act as a responsible citizen in the community Expected that employees respect the laws of the community criminal, competition, environmental, corporate social responsibility

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Responsiveness Principle
Based on the belief that employees have a responsibility to respond to the requests for information about the operations from various stakeholders Expected to react in a timely manner

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