Leadership, Ethics and values are crucial in business sustainability. In order for a business to be sustainable, it must follow the triple-bottom line approach whilst being innovative, adaptable [due to it being encapsulated in an ever-changing business environment] and have a capable leader who supports sustainable business practices. The triple-bottom line approach focuses on achieving a profit (financial), being social responsible (social) and protecting the environment (environmental) [Financial times lexicon]. A Businesses ethics and values determine the manner in which a business will embrace its financial, social and environmental goals. For the purpose of this essay, one must provide an apt definition to the concept of business sustainability .Business sustainability (corporate sustainability) is achieved when a business is able to manage and coordinate its financial, social and financial aspects whilst ensuring that it is ethical and responsible in its approach to attain continuous success (WhatIs.com).A businesses ethics and values, determine businesses sustainability in its approach to acquire continuous success. A businesses ethics play a major role in influencing the action of its members to contribute towards, or disregard, acts of corporate sustainability .A Business ethics are the moral principles guiding business behavior (Anglo-American).According to an Anglo American case study on business ethics and corporate responsibility (Anglo-American), organizations must be able to differentiate between right and wrong when classifying acts as ethical or unethical. Ethical acts abide to the norms of society, for example: acts against mass deforestations by organizations; in contrast, unethical acts disregard the norms o... ... middle of paper ... ...and information | The Times 100. 2014. What are business ethics? - Business ethics and corporate social responsibility - Anglo American | Anglo American case studies, videos, social media and information | The Times 100. [ONLINE] Available at: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/what-are-business-ethics.html#axzz2zowBvXH8. [Accessed 24 April 2014]. What is the Definition of Sustainability| Business Sustainability . 2014. What is the Definition of Sustainability| Business Sustainability . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.universityofvermontonline.com/what-is-the-definition-of-sustainability/. [Accessed 24 April 2014]. What is Environmental Sustainability?. 2014. What is Environmental Sustainability?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/part/17/86/371. [Accessed 24 April 2014].
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Business ethics simply can be defined as the application of business values in the business practice of a company (Seawell 2010, p. 2). For a multinational company, business ethics is one of the critical aspects need to be taken into account in business decision-making processes. Failure to give attention on ethics may bring consequences on company’s reputation (Meyer & Jebe 2010, p. 159). The company is expected not only to pursue its own profits but also contributing to the environmental and social welfare of the community where it operates (Svensson & Wood 2008, p. 308).
The term “ethical business” is seen, by many people, as an oxymoron. This is because a business’s main objective is to make as much money as possible. Making the most money possible, however, can often lead to unethical actions. Companies like Enron, WorldCom, and Satyam have been the posterchildren for how corporations’ greed lead to unethical practices. In recent times however, companies have been accused of being unethical based on, not how they manage their finances, but on how they treat the society that they operate in. People have started to realize that the damage companies have been doing to the world around them is more impactful and far worse than any financial fraud that these companies might be engaging in. Events like the BP oil
Beschorner, T (2012, Sep 30). What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?. retrieved May 6, 2014, from YouTube Web Site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0NkGtNU_9w
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Ethics in business is a highly important concept, as it can affect a company’s profits, salaries paid to employees and CEOs, and public opinion, among many other aspects of a business. Ethics can be enforced by company policies and guidelines, set a precedent when a company is faced with an important decision, and are also evolving thanks to new technology and situations that arise due to technology usage. Businesses have a duty to maintain their ethical responsibilities and also to help their employees enforce these responsibilities in and out of the workplace. However, ethics and the foundation for them are not always black and white. There are many different ethical theories, however Utilitarianism, Kant’s Deontological ethics, and Virtue ethics are three of the most well known theories in existence. Each theory is distinct in that it has a different quality used to determine ethicality and allows for a person to choose which system of ethics works best with both the situation and his or her personal ethical preferences.
Sustainability could be defined in many ways. It could be defined as the process to sustain a process or develop new technologies to reduce environment pollution. It also means a measurement how badly the environment is being polluted by other factors. I have to admit that sustainability is a great idea related to many fields such as healthy, economy, food, social, and etc. However, I still remember the first day of “Sustainable Business” class, Professor Laverty showed to my class an example of sustainable product with the idea of “produce more with less waste”. This example narrows me down to one idea of “Sustainable Business”, which is producing the product and services in an efficient and sustainable way without causing harms to environment. In this essay, I want to emphasize into impacts of businesses on environments, profitability of sustainable business, and responsibility of business.
In the business world there are many fundamental aspects and situations that can lead to several issues. In order to find an optimal and professional solution, business decision makers need to apply moral and ethical standards. And it is at that moment in which business ethics perform its role. Business ethics, which is in charge of examine how companies and individuals should act in business situations, is very essential in order to reach a common agreement and to work within the laws of business and solve an arisen dilemma. Working of the hand of ethical business companies, employees, investors, directors, and even individual officers can be beneficiated and obtain most favorable outcomes.
Business sustainability consists of three components, these are: social, economic and environmental. The business has to consider these three components as the business must make a maximized profit (economic) but must not in any way damage the environment in the long term (environmental). The business must also take care of social issue and people and communities as they are support the business.
Business ethics are a set of moral rules that govern how a business operates, how people should be treated within an organization, and how business decisions are made. They are a crucial part of employment and in managing a sustainable business, mainly because of the serious consequences that can result from decisions made with a lack of regard to ethics. Even if you don’t believe that good ethics don’t contribute to profit levels, you should realize those poor ethics have a negative effect on your bottom line in the long-run. Every business in every industry has certain guidelines to which its employees must stick to, and regularly outline such aspects in employee handbooks.
Business Ethics are much more than the buzz word stories on late night news. The Corporate Social Responsibility of a company goes well beyond that. “Business Ethics are moral guidelines for the conduct of business based on notions of what is right, wrong and fair.” (Bellow, 2012). Individual backgrounds play a huge role in person by person code of conduct can vary from employee to employer. To help solve some grey areas in what is ethically correct, companies now make a code of conduct that is over everyone in the company. This code of responsibility helps employees have better understanding of what is required of each and every one of them. “Corporate Social Responsibility is a business philosophy which stresses the need for
Business ethics and social responsibility are two concepts many individuals believe go along together for corporations in the business environment. Business ethics are the moral values a company uses to ensure all employees action in a standard manner when completing business functions. Social responsibility is typically a conceptual theory that governments and the general public hold, believing that businesses should not conduct themselves in a manner counter to cultural or societal norms. The connubial of these concepts happens when companies introduce a written code of ethics to demonstrate that the company only acts in its greatest interest so long as it does not damage the company’s social responsibility.
The module has analysed business-society relations through the theories and practices of business ethics and social responsibility and how business ethics has evolved from theoretical frameworks as to how business should be managed.