Reference no: EM132171906

Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and morals or ethical problems that can arise in business organizations. The principles ethics that determine an individual’s actions apply to businesses as well. Companies should not use child labor, unlawfully use copyrighted materials and processes. They should not engage in bribery. Companies also have wider responsibilities. They should minimize any harm to the environment and work in ways that do not damage the communities in which it operates. This is known as corporate social responsibility. Business establishments should follow relevant codes of practice that cover their sector. Many organizations have created voluntary codes of practice that regulate practices in their industrial sector. These are often drawn up in consultation with governments, employees, local communities and other stakeholders. Organizations can manage ethics in their workplaces by establishing an ethics management program. Brian Schrag, Executive Secretary of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, clarifies. "Typically, ethics programs convey corporate values, often using codes and policies to guide decisions and behavior, and can include extensive training and evaluating, depending on the organization. They provide guidance in ethical dilemmas." The ethics program is essentially useless unless all staff members are trained about what it is, how it works and their roles in it. The nature of the system may invite suspicion if not handled openly and honestly. In addition, no matter how fair and up-to-date is a set of policies, the legal system will often interpret employee behavior as de facto policy. Therefore, all staff must be aware of and act in full accordance with policies and procedures. This full accordance requires training about policies and procedures.

1. Examine the ethical implications of business practices in any organization / company of your choice from a stakeholder perspective and discuss corporate responsibility in the context of the organization / company.

2. How would you formulate a practical framework for decision making and assess the influence of leadership on ethical cultures?