Toyota Company Shows Dishonest Behavior

Since its creation, Toyota has the reputation of making reliable and beautiful cars. Despite that, Toyota acted unethically. The company disregarded the safety of its customers and employees by delaying the recall of some of its cars that it knew had some brakes and airbags issue. Toyota is a well know car brand. All over the world people drive Toyota’s cars with confidence. Unfortunately, this company dishonest behavior tends to show that the people at his base are immoral. All they seem to care about is profit. It does not matter the consequences even if it means the death of an individual.

Business ethics are moral principles that govern the work environment. According to the book business Law, “Ethics provides values beyond what the law requires or prohibits.”(20) It is “the commitment to what is right and a rejection of what is wrong.”(20) In other words, an ethical conduct is one that is in accordance with the social rules. It is not because something is unethical that it is unlawful. In the Toyota case, even though Toyota acts were unethical, they were not against the law.

According to the lecture, Toyota seems to have adopted Milton Friedman’s vision. It uses the “shareholder model” of ethics. In other words, Toyota follows the law and provides revenue to shareholders. This corporation action goes against the definition of ethics. Ethics are “the standards of moral and conduct governing decisions in the work environment.”(Prezi slide5) Toyota approach of this issue which is the recall of deficient cars is purely about profits. For Toyota, as long as it respects the law nothing else matter not even people’s safety and life. Toyota business approach is based on Friedman’s argument. According to Friedman, “organizations ha...

... middle of paper ...

...e made more profits or that we save money? As a company, Toyota has obligations toward its customers and employees. The company is supposed to guaranty their safety or at least reduce their risk of being in danger. In contrary, informed of the brakes and airbags issues on some of Toyota cars, the company decided that making a recall of those cars was way too expensive. That putting people in danger by letting them drive these cars was cost effective and should be the way to go. Toyota is guilty of unethical behavior that endangered the life of its customers and employees. Toyota case makes me wonder if some unethical acts should not be unlawful. In this case, Toyota unethical act might have cost someone’s life. According to the law, putting someone’s life in danger knowingly and having the opportunity to save that person and choosing not to do so is unlawful.