Professional/Business

Ethics

Lt Col (Retd) Khalid Hussain Chohan

What would you do?
A neighbor offered you $15 for
picking up her mail. Afterward, she
gives you $20 and refuses change.
She actually gave you two twenties
that were stuck together. What do
you do?
Ethics
In your own words define ethics.

Think about an ethical business

you have read or heard about and
the reasons you consider it to be
ethical.
Ethics
Ethics is derived from the Greek word ‘ethos’,
referring to the philosophical science that
deals with the rightness and wrongness of
human actions.

Ethics refers to the most important values and

beliefs of an individual and/or a society. These
beliefs help to shape the character of the
people in that society, teaching them what is
good and bad.
The Nature of Ethics
• Ethics – moral principles by which people conduct
themselves personally, socially, or professionally.
• Examples: Not cheating on a test, choosing not
to lie to family or friends
• Business ethics – rules based on moral principles
about how businesses and employees ought to
conduct themselves.
List: Think of examples of how people conduct
themselves ethically in their personal, social, and
professional lives.
The Nature of Ethics
• Effects of unethical behavior by customers are not
always obvious.
• Businesses have to charge more; customers then
pay more.
• Unethical businesses may find it difficult to retain
employees, lose customers or be fined.
• Different cultures, businesses, and industries have
different ethical standards.
• Example: bribery/gift giving
Question: In what ways can a business behave
ethically toward its employees?
Values
Value is that which makes actions,
character, traits and objects of any one to
be good or bad. Examining the moral
qualities of people or actions and their non-
moral characters inevitably raises the
qualities of the nature or source of those
values.
 Law and Ethics
• Laws involve rules for conduct that may be used to
punish violators.
• Code of ethics – a set of guidelines for maintaining
ethics in the workplace. (Target)
• Most businesses have their own code of ethics in
place.
• Some unethical behaviors lead to passage of
legislation that makes the behaviors illegal.
• Examples: work-related health and safety issues,
consumer protection, discrimination in the
workplace
Integrity
Integrity is one of the core qualities that the
professional practitioners should possess. It
refers to honesty and open mindedness
either with oneselves or others. Mostly this
involves the discovery of truth and it’s
communication. Very specifically integrity
refers to the capacity to communicate the
truth in proper manner so that it enables
the client and others to make informed-
decisions.
 Work Ethics
Attendence Cooperation
Character Respect
Teamwork
Appearance
Attitude
Productivity
Organisational Skills
Communication
 Self Respect
Self respect means treating oneself with
dignity. Self respect helps a person to act
in a positive manner and to stand against
harmful actions.
It is to be noted that people without self
respect usually never mind being
unethical.
 Commitment
Commitment implies:
 To friends-maintaining confidentiality
 To Customers-Rendering proper service
 To Community-Responsibility

Unkept commitment leads:

 Increase in stress level
 Unfulfilling life
 Isolation and depression
 Feeling of guilt
 Business loss
Ethical Observations by
Employees
• Observed at least one type of misconduct = 52%
• Reported their organizations implement ethics training = 69%
• Indicated their organizations offer ethics advice = 65%
• Observed misconduct at work and reported it = 55%
Discussion Question: Does American business seem to be
becoming more or less concerned about ethical behavior?
Conflicts of Interest
• Conflict of interest – conflict between self-interest and
professional obligation.
• Example: Manager hiring a relative to do work in the
company, but relative is unqualified to do the work.
Ethical Questions
• Is it against the law? Does it violate company or professional
policies?
• Even if everyone is doing it, how would I feel if someone did
this to me?
• Am I sacrificing long-term benefits for short-term gains?
Ethical Decision-Making Process
• Steps to take if you find yourself in an ethical dilemma:
1. Identify the ethical dilemma.
2. Discover alternative actions.
3. Decide who might be affected.
4. List the probable effects of the alternatives.
5. Select the best alternative.
• This process will help you make a more informed ethical
choice.
Review Questions
1. What is the difference between personal and business
ethics?
2. Describe some of the ways that unethical business
practices can affect a business.
3. What is the relationship between illegal behaviors of
business and unethical behaviors of business?