BUCOT,

Maria Alizah L.
BSA 2A

REACTION:

Business Ethics or Business and Ethics?


Business ethics has always been part of my curriculum since my senior high school days.
It is one of the subjects I found interesting because it tackles about certain issues or dilemmas
that is vital in the operation of a business. I never thought that the two words composing it could
actually be an oxymoron or contradicting. But now that I’ve read this article, a question came to
my mind: is it really contradicting or just conflicting in practical sense yet, complementary in
nature?

As Pope Francis said that we are now in an age where knowledge and information has led
to new and often anonymous kinds of power, by that, it entails a meaning that these powers
have led people to think that greed is actually good because the outcome of it adheres to the
primary goal of most of the businesses in the world — and that’s to earn profit. There are many
instances where people in this industry treat everything as part of their business or a factor to
grow more their business, and with that, several businessmen tend to disregard the true value
of growing business; they often forget about the importance of relationships between them and
the people whom they ought to serve.

By now, business people and ventures seemed to think that applying ethics in business
would hinder or counter their productivity and the chances of being wealthier. Ethics entails
standards that are based in the morals of right and wrong, and if ethics is to be applied in business,
limitations and boundaries are indeed endless when it comes to the business’ strategic plans and
opportunities. And this would eventually result to a lesser or even no chance of having a
profitable business. This was a stereotype or the common depiction of business relating to ethics,
but, as we try to look, step back, and see a wider picture of it, business is actually more than
profit, but it is about the people and the trust built between them. I agree to what Pope Benedict
XVI have said: “The economy needs ethics in order to function correctly — not any ethics
whatsoever, but an ethics which is people-centered.” After all, business is existing not just for the
sake of the owners, but it encompasses a responsibility towards its consumers, clients, and to
the society.

Moreover, if businesses would focus solely on profits and gains, the chances of its success
may be very easy to get but, I guess, it would only be for a short period of time. There is this
series that I’ve watched where the biggest food company in a country has actually committed a
lot of illegal doings to attain its success, but the peak of its success only lasted for a decade, and
when its darkest secrets were revealed, it collapsed and was no longer saved by the owner. On
the other hand, there’s this mere ex-convict who wanted to become successful someday. He
started a very small venture and experienced a lot of difficulties as he go towards his goal. But,
as he encounter those hardships and hindrances, he became a lot stronger. And the main factor
that pushed him harder is his own people; the trust of his people. He did not violate any rules, he
endured everything, and that’s what made me admire his character. That story really inspired me
and made me look this whole business industry in a broader perspective. It made me realize that,
indeed, people are the most important assets in a business.

Now that the world is experiencing a pandemic due to Corona Virus, a contagious disease,
many businesses have temporarily closed and the economy of every country is at the edge of
failing. But, at times like this, should businesses still need to be more concerned on their wealth?
I guess not. Because at times like this, people, regardless of their status in life or power they have,
must prioritize the life of every human. That is the very reason why I feel sad to some of those
politicians who seemed to be very selfish. There’s no point of being a rich businessman, if your
business has already no one to serve.

Laws, regulations, and code of corporate governance have already been established for
so many years to serve as guidelines and basis in decision making for companies. But these would
all be useless if ethical principles are being disregarded by them. The true success of a business
is not solely based by how rich or profitable it is, but by how stable it stands both economically
and socially.

Now, did I answer my question about the true depiction of business and ethics? For now,
I believe that it should be complementary no matter how conflicting it could be. But as time
would pass by, I will surely know why some sees it as contradicting. Nonetheless, I certainly
believe that integrity should prevail over greed, because I also do believe that greed may be good
for now, but let us not forget that is the root of all evil.