Bradwell Mhonderwa Business Ethics
Ethics is a community affair and not an individual issue. Ethical behaviour is defined according to the value system of the whole community or society not individuals. Anthropologists and sociologists agree that it is a social construct and biblically, all the great ethical instructions of the scriptures were given to communities, not individuals.
So when we speak of business ethics we must measure it against the organisation, the community, the nation or the universe.
An ethical organisation is one that has set ethical standards to which every member of the organisation must seek guidance and direction with regard to what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
When a company sets in motion a formal ethics management process, it means it has chosen to differentiate itself on the market place by growing a unique ethical culture that will define the “way we do things here” of the firm, forming its competitive advantage.
The firm must, as part of this effort, build in its operations ethical decision making sign posts to direct staff.
Because unethical decisions expose a business to needless risks, ethical decision-making is a key element for business success.
Developing employees’ ethical decision-making skills prepares them to anticipate ethical challenges, recognise ethical dilemmas and resolve ethical issues. The following are simple questions every individual and/or organisation should ask and answer to ensure ethical decision making.
Is the decision I’ve made legal?
Is there a violation of the law, industry rules and regulations, including company policies and procedures?
Does the decision violate other people’s rights and value systems?
Ethics are made complex by the fact that people have diverse cultural backgrounds that inform what they view as ethical and not ethical.
However, considering that we live in a universe with diverse cultural groups and races, the key principle is to be accommodative. This entails acknowledging our diversity and showing respect for that diversity.
Obviously, what may be viewed as ethical in Africa may be taken as unethical in Europe and other parts of the world. For some people the Bible decides what is right and wrong, and for others it’s the Koran, still for some it’s the traditions passed from generation to generation.
However, much as there is this diversity in culture and ethics, there are obviously ethical values that transcend our diverse backgrounds to inform what we ought to do as humans.
Such values are part of the common cultural heritage of all nations and are articulated mostly by international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Charter and regional groupings such as SADC.
These include democracy, good governance, honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, truthfulness, etc.
Diversity should never be a reason to disregard ethics in our conduct as there is always a way of finding common ground in that diversity. Obviously, we will not always agree on some of these values, but we will definitely help each other by honestly sharing our concerns and coalescing to form sound ethical processes that help us to change our lives for the better.
An ethical company therefore does well by respecting the consciences and the deeply held values of its diverse stakeholders who include workers and customers.
When you choose to engage in ethical decision making, it is paramount that you ask yourself the following questions.
Would I like it done to me?
Would I like a bad thing done to myself? Here, the value of respecting the wishes of the person next to you is made clear. Ethical people and ethical organisations should treat others as they would like themselves to be treated.
Would I like the decision published?
Would I mind having my decision splashed on the front page of a daily paper? The book of genesis illustrates the gist of this test in the famous story of Adam and Eve fleeing and hiding from God after they had sinned in the Garden of Eden and so could not withstand the shame that came with it in the eyes of God.
Ethical people should be transparent in their dealings with the stakeholders and should be able to defend themselves in public.
Secrecy and deceitfulness are the hallmarks of the wrong, while transparency and accountability are values that instruct every ethical conduct.
Will the decision not harm someone?
Could someone be seriously harmed by the decision?
Individuals should carefully consider whether their action would harm or not harm others before committing the act.
Ethical employees do not disparage their employers and colleagues to outsiders, and ethical organisations don’t do things that will cause harm to their customers and to the interests of all the other stakeholders.