Introduction

Business ethics are moral principles that determine how business activities should be conducted. The same principles define the way how individual actions apply to business. Acting ethically entails differentiating between right and wrong and then making the right choices. Most companies have their code of behavior or principles that set out their standards and core values. A business should always follow the set codes of practice that covers its sector. The set code of business practice is often drawn up in consultation with employees, governments, local communities, and other stakeholders. Business ethics applies to all aspects of business conduct and relevant to the behavior of individuals and the organization as a whole. Ethics often help businesses maintain a positive connection with the stakeholders, customers, and the government. Business ethics plays a crucial role in supporting the reputation of the organization. Ethical people tend to recognize the difference between the right and wrong and consistently try to set an example of good behavior in business. An ethical business practice often helps build customer loyalty, enhances the reputation of the company, helps retain excellent and talented employees, creates a positive work environment, and helps the company avoid legal issues. With the advancement in technology, several cases of ethical violations have been reported. Breaches to the code of business ethics can have tremendous impacts on the business and the individuals found guilty of allowing or undertaking such violations.Organizations must ensure that their business practices and individual conducts do not violate the set code of ethics. This paper is going to address the concept of business ethics and violation. One of the articles I have chosen to examine isMore CEOs are getting forced out for ethics violationsby Jena McGregor on the Washington Post in 2017(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/05/15/more-ceos-are-getting-forced-out-for-ethics-violations/?utm_term=.e251e674e727). Another article I will review is Leading with Ethicsby Janine Schindlerfrom Forbes in 2019 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/01/07/leading-with-ethics/#7b6e1963568a). I have chosen these posts because they effectively talk about the concept of business ethics, the value of adhering to the set code and the impacts of violating business ethics.

Summary of the Articles

The article More CEOs are getting forced out for ethics violations by Jena McGregor in the Washington Post talks about the reasons why many CEOs today are getting forced out of their jobs amid ethical blunders or corporate scandals. The article reports that the number of ethical violations cases has increased in the past five years. The percentage of CEOs that get pushed out of their jobs due to questionable behaviors such as environmental disasters, sexual misconduct, accounting scandals, resume fraud, among others have increased. In the article, many CEOs who have lost their jobs to failure to follow the company’s ethical code of conduct are accused of instilling a culture of dishonesty and unethical practices in the organization. From a general perspective, it is noted that taking part in unethical business practices does not only have an impact on the business itself but also to the individuals who are culprits of the same. Many people have lost their jobs today because of the failure to adhere to the code of ethics of the organization where they work. It should be noted that most organizations today focus much on their reputational image to the public hence try to do everything possible to avoid activities that may tarnish that good image. Therefore, when found taking part in unethical business conduct, you risk losing your jobs and facing legal charges.

In the other article, Leading with Ethics by Janine Schindler on Forbes, the main point that the author wants to send is the value of leading with ethics. Leaders have a considerable role to play in instilling ethical conducts within their organization. Adherence to the moral code of conduct begins from the top leadership. Anyone within a company can talk, but if the leaders do not indeed walk their talk and show the ethical code of conduct, it will become apparent to the employees and peers that the code of business ethics is not essential and can be broken at times. The article stresses on why leaders should act ethically to create an environment that nurtures trust, accountability, and respect in the workplace. All these begin with ethical leadership. Leaders must demonstrate ethical behavior all the time to set an example to the rest of the workforce. The article also discusses the negative impacts of failing to uphold the aspect of ethics-based behavior and leadership. It also reiterates the value of modeling ethical behavior in effecting positivity in an organization. Through moral leadership, trust, and this would enable incorporation of the culture of respect, integrity, and transparency be instilled.

Connection to Course Concepts

From the course concept, we have learned the value of business ethics and the effects that violation of the code of ethics has on the reputation and functioning of a business. From these articles, we learn the value of developing and maintaining an ethical work environment. It should be clear that a moral climate supports the reputation of the organization and at the same time improves the morale of employees. Violation of the basic ethics can have significant impacts on the operations of the business and can be costly due to actions such as theft of goods and lawsuits. At the same time, those who are involved in unethical behaviors may end up losing their jobs or facing legal charges. The article “More CEOs are getting forced out for ethics violations” reiterates the significance of better leadership. Without ethical leadership, the organization in questions risks losing its otherwise good reputation to the public because the culture of unethical conduct may have been set, killing the work environment. It connects to the concepts in the course since it discusses the consequences that individual leaders face when they engage in unethical behaviors. It, therefore, serves to remind readers of the value of leading ethically, not only for the success of the organization but also for individual safety. A strict ethics policy is very crucial for any business that intends to maintain a good reputation.

The article Leading with Ethics also has a massive connection with the course concept. In the course, we learn the significance of ethical leadership in an organization. This article comes as a reminder to business leaders that leading from a moral perspective has a lot of positivity to individual self and the organization in general. It also serves as a reminder of the concepts contained in our course that reiterates what it entails to be an ethical leader. As a leader, it is essential to design ethics policies that establish your expectations for all the employees. Clearly define what you expect from the employees, particularly on matters such as theft, proper use of resources, intellectual property protection, and adequate treatment of the fellows. From the course concepts, we learn that to be an ethical leader; one need to define the specific characteristics they want the company to represent such as honesty, respect, and integrity. To add on top of the course content, the article discusses the value of instilling a culture of ethical behaviors from the top leadership. Leaders that value and act in an ethical manner serves a role model to the subordinates. When one expects the employees to act ethically but fails to make moral business decisions sends mixed messages. As a result, the employees will also develop a feeling that they can also make unethical decisions if that is what it would take to make the business get better. Creating a double standard for behavior can be confusing for employees and can result in resentment. The article reiterates that leaders need to create an environment that encourages ethical conducts and a reporting system that supports employees to report any possible ethical violations reinforces the commitment to building a reputable behavior. Employees should know they can report a breach of the company’s ethics without suffering retaliation. These elements are a clear connection between the contents of these articles to the course concepts.

Conclusion

Business has become a significant component of organizational management. It plays a vital role in the success of companies. Failure to adhere to the ethical code of conduct may lead to reputational damages to the organization and lose customer loyalty. These can profoundly impact on the growth of the business. Therefore, ethics violation should be avoided as much as possible. The articles I examined, concerning this topic, clearly reiterate the value of the ethical code of conduct and moral leadership approach. The articles also shed more light into our course concept of ethical behavior and impacts of ethical violations in a business. The two articles provide an in-depth explanation of the implications of ethics in business and the value of ethical leadership. With the increasing reports on the rates of unethical business behaviors, I feel that these articles have been written at the right time to help guide employees and business leaders on how to best instill a culture of honesty, integrity, and transparency.

References

Frederic, R. E. (2014). A Companion to Business Ethics. Massachusetts: Blackwell.

Janine Schindler (2019) Leading with Ethics. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/01/07/leading-with-ethics/#7b6e1963568a

Jena McGregor (2017) More CEOs are getting forced out for ethics violations. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/05/15/more-ceos-are-getting-forced-out-for-ethics-violations/?utm_term=.e251e674e727

Weiss, J. W. (2009). Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach With Cases (5 Ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.

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