Reference no: EM133722975

Assignment:

The prompt is: Verses that are often considered in both business and life include the various phrasings of the Golden Rule (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 7:12) and Colossians 3:23-24 (Whatever you do . . .). For this first discussion, consider another verse:

"He who walks purely walks securely, but he who walks in crooked ways will be found out" (CJB, 1998, Prov. 10:9).

First, explain what this verse means as a basis for business ethics; then, provide another verse (not one of those listed above) on which you will also base your decisions about ethical business behavior.

How can I respond to whom discussed:

To fully understand the role that ethics play in a business setting, one must first understand the meaning of the core term, ethics. Ethics can be described as the conscious decision to pursue actions that are good, or right. The concept of making correct ethical decisions may vary depending on who you ask, but the general idea is to attempt to pursue actions that will have the least negative effect on others. Within business settings, various difficult situations arise where the line between right and wrong could be blurred, but this is where ethical guidelines can steer business leaders towards actions that will have optimal impact on the stakeholders of that company.

The Bible offers various pieces of scripture that serve to guide and deter individuals away from making poor ethical decisions. For example, Proverbs 10:9 states, "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out" (New International Bible, 1978/2011). This verse stands out in relation to business ethics as it warns of the consequences of partaking in unethical actions. This piece of scripture in particular can be closely related to modern day legality scenarios. For example, in modern day there are consistent updates to laws regarding issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (Dacin et al., 2022). This is one way that our government aims to negate unethical practices, and over time those who neglect to follow these laws are eventually "found out" just as the scripture insists.

An example from scripture that gives me a base to how I personally intend to guide my ethical business decisions can be found in Proberbs 11:1, which states, "The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with Him" (New International Bible, 1978/2011). To me this verse bolsters the importance of prioritizing honesty and transparency when I partake in business endeavors. Honesty is something I believe to be an invaluable trait that translates across all areas of an individual's life. In fact, numerous studies have shown that individuals who indulge in unethical practices within an academic setting, such as violations of their school's integrity policy, are highly likely to eventually engage in unethical workplace activities as well (Bratton and Strittmatter, 2013).

That being said, I use this piece of scripture as the foundation of my ethical decision making. I believe that businesses who prioritize honesty, foster a culture of trust and transparency that aids tremendously in improving and maintaining a good ethical standing amongst shareholders of that company.