Unit 3. Business Ethics Introduction

2. Read the following text.

3. Say what is ethics. What is the difference in the meanings of the terms ‘ethics and ‘law’? What is social responsibility?

Ethics is difficult to define in a precise way. In a general sense, ethics is the code of moral principles and values that govern the behaviours of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong. The source of these principles and values may be tradition, religion, or reasoned judgments about what is best for the individual and society as a whole. Ethics sets standards as to what is good or bad in conduct and decision-making. An ethical issue is present in a situation when the actions of a person or organization may harm or benefit others. Business ethics is the group of rules of conduct applied specifically to business activities.

Ethics is not the same as law. Many ethical beliefs are formally reinforced by law, but many are not. In practice, ethics is expressed and felt as a combination of pressures that direct one to take or not to take certain actions. Decisions must be acceptable to many different elements of society. An ethically acceptable decision is both legally and morally acceptable to the larger community.

Social responsibility is management’s obligation to make decisions and take actions that will contribute to the welfare and interests of society as well as to the organisation’s. Total corporate social responsibility can be subdivided into four criteria – economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary responsibilities.

Because ethical standards are not codified, disagreements and dilemmas about proper behaviour often occur. An ethical dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative choice or behaviour is undesirable because of potentially harmful ethical consequences. Right or wrong cannot be clearly identified. Most ethical dilemmas involve a conflict between the individual versus the organization, or the organization versus society as a whole.

The individual who must take an ethical choice in an organization is the moral agent.

Most people believe that individuals make ethical choices because of individual integrity, which is true, but it is not the whole story. The values held in the larger organisation also shape ethical behaviour. Personal needs, family influence, and religious background all shape a manager’s value system. Corporate culture can exert a powerful influence on behaviour in organizations. In most companies, employees believe that if they do not go along with the ethical values expressed, their jobs will be in jeopardy or they will not fit in.

Managers must take active steps to ensure that the company stays on an ethical footing. Management methods for helping organizations be more responsible include leadership by example, codes of ethics, ethical structures, and supporting whistle-blowers.

Leadership by example. The chief executive officer and senior managers must give constant leadership in renewing the ethical values of the organization.

Codes of ethics. They state the values or behaviours that are expected and those that will not be tolerated, backed up by management’s action.

Vocabulary Focus

4. a) Study the meaning of the following easily confused words.

ethics (n): the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct (takes a singular verb ), and a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for an individual or group (takes a plural verb )

ethical (adj.): consistent with agreed and more objectively defined principles of correct moral conduct (e.g. the conduct of doctors, lawyers, and people in business).

moral (adj.): suggests a rather subjective code of right and wrong.

morale (n): the general level of confidence or optimism felt by a person or group of people, especially as it affects discipline and willingness.

morals (n pl): principles of right and wrong as they govern standards of general or sexual behaviour.

b) Complete the following sentences with the appropriate word from the list below.

1. The whole issue of ____ is a very complex one. As we are all different and belong to different cultures and nationalities.

2. As a result of their training in a highly ____ family, the children were brought up with a strong sense of responsibility.

3. I always knew she was a person with no ____.

4. I can’t leave her in such a deplorable situation. This is my ____ duty to give her my hand.

5. Nowadays we are witnessing a great depreciation of the standard of ____ among the people.

6. Christianity can never be reduced to a mere code of ____.

7. ____ in the modern society is at rock bottom.

8. Nowadays we observe a complete dissolution of the ____ principles by which society coheres.

words for reference: ethics, ethical, moral, morale, morals

5. Match the definitions below to words in the text. Then use the words in sentences of your own.

1. a social, religious, or civil code of behaviour considered correct, esp. that of a particular group, profession, or individual (paragraph 1)

2. a set of moral rules (paragraph 1)

3. a set of principles that businessmen should follow in their activities (paragraph 1)

4. a rule or set of rules regulating the relationship between the organs of government and the subjects of the state, and the relationship or conduct of subjects towards each other (paragraph 2)

5. a set of rules of good conduct concerning certain activities and may exist in a written form (paragraph 8)

6. a person that takes or has the power to take an ethical choice (paragraph 9)

6. Use the words given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

1. Legal documents give the present … a legitimate hold on the property.	OWN
2. The criterion of repeatability of experiments is not … .	FULFILMENT
3. Jim's father was respected for his … .	FAIR
4. So take a long, hard look at your … to the company before you go throwing around ultimatums.	CONTRIBUTE
5. Where the employee refuses suitable … employment unreasonably he will lose all rights to redundancy monies.	ALTER
6. The director thinks that the firm can charge off its success to his … .	LEADER
7. MPs called for public … of the committee's findings.	DISCLOSE
8. The workplace is usually the most … place to rehabilitate injured workers.	EFFECT

7. a) Match the following words with the correct definitions.

a) community	1 disaffection, disinterestedness, fairness, neutrality
b) welfare	2 the owner of one or more shares in a company
c) shareholder	3 performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being asked
d) equity	4 a problem that seems incapable of a solution
e) impartiality	5 the public in general; society
f) voluntary	6 a person who informs on someone or puts a stop to something
g) dilemma	7 the moral principles and beliefs or accepted standards of a person or social group
h) values	8 adherence to moral principles; honesty
i) integrity	9 health, happiness, prosperity, and well-being in general
j) whistle-blower	10 the quality of being impartial or reasonable; fairness

b) Use the words above to complete the sentences.

1. A situation that arises when all alternative choices or behaviours have been deemed undesirable because of potentially negative ethical consequences is called an ethical …. .

2. Many acts of corruption are discovered thanks to denouncements from …. .

3. The company has a responsibility to its …. .

4. The target demographics for this marketing plan includes current members and non-members of this …. .

5. This was a good response rate, considering that the survey was …. in nature and conducted through a mail questionnaire method.

6. The story was told …. and objectively.

7. Social responsibility can be a difficult concept to grasp because different people have different beliefs as to which actions improve society’s …. .

8. The candidate's …. and strength led the voters to support him.

9. The Parties therefore endorse the principle of …. in employment and promotion of women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and other categories.

10. The Code of Ethics does not specify which …., principles, and standards are most important and ought to outweigh others in instances when they conflict.

8. a) Match the English and Russian equivalents.

a) reasoned judgments	1 добровольные обязательства
b) corporate social responsibility	2 индивидуальная честность
c) discretionary responsibilities	3 этическая гарантия
d) legal framework	4 корпоративная культура
e) corporate culture	5 быть в опасности
g) individual integrity	6 соблюдать этические нормы
h) social contributions	7 мотивированные решения
i) ethical safeguard	8 социальные пожертвования
j) be in jeopardy	9 правовые рамки
k) be on an ethical footing	10 незаконные поступки, приемы
l) illegitimate practices	11 корпоративная социальная ответственность, ответствен-ность бизнеса перед обществом

b) Work in pairs. Using these words make up the sentences of your own for your partner to translate.

9. Form the opposites of these words using the negative prefixes given below. The negative prefixes to be used: dis-, im-, un- , il-.

agreement, desirable, legal, moral, ethical, legitimate

10. Match words from each box to make word partnerships. Make sure you can translate them.

rules	ethical	profits	consequences
ethically	decision	value	conduct
maximize	of	codes	system
legal	manager’s	acceptable	activities
ethics	illegal	of	responsibilities

Comprehension

11. Are the following statements true or false?

1. Ethics is the same as law.

2. An ethically acceptable decision is both legally and morally acceptable only to the person concerned.

3. If management makes decisions and takes actions that will contribute to the welfare and interests of society as well as to the organisation’s, one may speak about socially responsible management.

4. Ethical standards are not codified

5. Most people believe that individuals make ethical choices only because of individual integrity.

6. Corporate culture doesn’t have any influence on behaviour in organizations.

7. Whistle-blowers shouldn’t be protected because their actions are immoral.

12. Match the words and word-combinations to the criteria of total corporate responsibility.

	Economic	Legal	Ethical	Discretionary
to produce goods and services
to act with equity
not to be mandated by economics, law, or ethics
to fulfil economic goals
fairness
to maximize profits
to make social contributions
to be guided by a company’s desire
impartiality
the legal framework
to provide different treatment of individuals
to respect the rights of individuals
to be voluntary

13. Answer the questions about the text.

1. 
   What is ethics?
   
2. 
   What is there in common between law and ethics? What is the difference?
   
3. 
   What is an ethically acceptable decision?
   
4. 
   What is social responsibility? What are the criteria of total corporate social responsibility?
   
5. 
   Why do most ethical dilemmas involve a conflict?
   
6. 
   What do individuals rely on to make ethical choices?
   
7. 
   Which methods are used to help organizations be more responsible? What are they?
   

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