Ethical and Moral Issues in Business
Michael Connor
MGT/216
January 22, 2011
Sanford Schram
Ethical and Moral Issues in Business
Ethics is a systematic attempt to make sense of our individual and social moral experience…to determine the rules that ought to govern human conduct, the values worth pursing, and the character traits deserving development in life (DeGeorge, 2010). In this essay I will describe the difference between ethical and moral issues, the difference between personal and business ethics and provide examples of common ethical problems in business as it relates to each of them.
When referring to one’s conduct and interaction whether in business or an individual’s personal life, Ethics and morals are often incorporated and influence an individual’s behavior. Although the words are often associated with each other, there are some differences between them in relation to business. Ethics are perceived to be a set of rules set fourth by a company that explains or outlines the behavioral expectations of each employee. Morals are principles or values that an individual live by on a day to day basis usually formed by religion, culture, and family. A key difference between the two is that ethics are actions that an individual perceive to be right and morals is what an individual believes to be right which often influence his or her ethical behavior. Embezzlement and employee theft are common ethical problems that occur in business. When hired by a company an individual is expected to act in the betterment of the company as opposed to stealing from the company. Embezzlement and employee theft would violate a company’s code of ethics.
An individual’s personal ethics related to his or her behavior outside of work. Business ethics related to an individual’s conduct or actions while conducting business transactions. The difference between personal and business ethics are how each is enacted. Take doctors for example. Doctor’s...