2. Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you?" Among their replies were the following: 1."Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong." 2."Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs." 3."Being ethical is doing what the law requires." 4."Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts." 5."I don't know what the word means." These replies might be typical of our own. The meaning of "ethics" is hard to pin down, and the views many people have about ethics are shaky. MEANING OF ETHICS : T he word “ethics” is derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which refers to character.
3. 1. Like Baumhart's first respondent, many people tend to equate ethics with their feelings. But being ethical is clearly not a matter of following one's feelings. A person following his or her feelings may recoil from doing what is right. In fact, feelings frequently deviate from what is ethical. 2. Nor should one identify ethics with religion. Most religions, of course, advocate high ethical standards. Yet if ethics were confined to religion, then ethics would apply only to religious people. But ethics applies as much to the behavior of the atheist as to that of the saint. Religion can set high ethical standards and can provide intense motivations for ethical behavior. Ethics, however, cannot be confined to religion nor is it the same as religion.
4. Finally, being ethical is not the same as doing "whatever society accepts." In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical. But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. Nazi Germany is a good example of a morally corrupt society.
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7. DEFINITION: The study and examination of moral and social responsibility in relation to business practice and decision making in business is known as “Business Ethics”. The term “business” is commonly referred to the commercial activities achieved at making profit. But gradually there is a substantial change in the way in which people viewed the business. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this study is to identify the vital few concerns of business which influence the ethical status of a business and to identify the necessary measures.
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10. Ethics and law : law is concerned with the minimum regulation necessary for public order while ethics examines both the individual and the social good in all dimensions. Ethics and morality In brief ethics is the code of conduct developed by proper testing to guide the human behaviour, whereas morality is concerned with generally accepted conducts and conventions of the society.
11. “ Good ethics promotes good business” Arguments in favour : Robert day has said that good ethics not only promotes professionalism in management, but purity the inner mind of every businessman.
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14. 9. A universal philosophy 10.Harmony between different roles 11.Good intention 12.Business ethics is not affected by social approval or disapproval
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19. Ethics and related concepts Ethics and morality : the terms ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’ are not synonymous terms. Ethics is the principle that guide the human behaviour. Morals are related with the traditional believes,norms,moral judgments, ideas and existing social formalities by which the man regulates and guides his social behaviour. Ethics do not accept these things.
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31. Unethical practices relating to products - Examples 1.Selling goods abroad which are banned at home 2.Omitting to provide information on side effects 3.Unsafe products 4.Built in obsolescence 5.Wasteful and unnecessary packaging 6.Deception on size and content 7.Inaccurate and incomplete testing of products 8.Treatment of animals in product testing
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33. HOW TO IMPLEMENT BUSINESS ETHICS 1.Trade associations can be formed by the business users which should bloster the efforts of running any business with ethics Trade association can promote business ethics in business user by – Educating the members of the association and by consistent persuasion. – Formulation a code of conduct for their members which should contain code of ethics. – Praising and rewarding those firms and business users who keep up the ethics in business & by publishing.
34. 2. A managers must be a professional who possesses systematic knowledge and skill to perform certain responsible functions with authority and who is bound by certain ethics in the use of his knowledge and skill. 3. A professional has to have autonomy
