Transcript Business Ethics

Business Ethics
structure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Roleplay
Film
Bhopal information
Business Ethics – change in business
Ethics, Business Ethics, CSR
Is CSR possible?
10 commandments for business
Why should we change?
3. Bhopal information











US company called Union Carbide Corporation moved to Bhopal
(India)
They produced fertilizers and other chemical products
They moved to India to reduce their production costs
Disaster happened on 3rd December 1984 (at night)
The catastrophe happened because water got into a big tank of waste
which produced a chemical reaction resulting in releasing toxic gas
The gas can cause death, blindness, cancer and other diseases
3787 people died immediately
8.000-10.000 died within the next 72 hours
25.000 during the next weeks
40.000 were disabled
Recent findings show that over 500.000 people have suffered in
different way because of this catastrophe
traditional business

greed (fault)

money (value)
maximal profit
polluted environment
 the growing gap between the poor
and the rich
socially reponsible business

(virtue)

(value)
thirst of knowledge
moderation
generosity
JUSTICE
stakeholders
enougth profit
human rights

•
•
clear environment
growing middle class
5. Ethics, Business Ethics, CSR

ETHIC is the study of morality.
Morality consist of: ethical principles, values and
personal examples.
BUSINESS ETHICS is " ethics as it applies to
business. Business ethics is the study of what
constitutes right and wrong, or good and bad, human
conduct in a business context." (William H. Shaw)

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) most commonly known
concept of business ethics.
"CSR is about all the ways in which a company relates to society: from
purchasing to product disposal, from human resources to human
rights. Philanthropy and image are therefore peripheral- social
responsibility is about how companies operate, how they exploit
resources and markets, how they make money and even how much
money they make. It is about how employees are treated, the extent to
which a company insist on standards in the supply chain, the way
directors behave with governments around the world, and how
seriously they are striving to reduce their company's impact on climate
change and other environmental issues." (Roger Cowe)
6. Is CSR possible?

Most companies realize that they should act in a
socially responsible way. Unfortunately, they
treat it very superficially, mainly as a part of PR.
Ethical Activities
Unethical activities
Employees
• “fair company”
• further education programmes
• health programmes
Employees
• very low wages
• discrimination against coloured
people
Society
• Sport programmes in schools
• Partnership with soccer
organisation
• Coca Cola Foundation
Society
• several scandals
Example: poisoned water from the
tap
7. 10 commandments for business
people
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Be honest, trustful and sincere!
Money is not your God! Profit is not your only aim!
You shall respect everyone’s dignity!
Love your employees, your customers and all stakeholders!
Always be fair: Demonstrate a commitment to justice, with equal treatment
of all!
Care for others when you are in charge!
All humans are equal no matter of their gender, race, sexual orientation or
beliefs!
Be responsible for natural environment!
Don’t cheat on your company!
Always act to protect sustainability!
8. Why should we change?

environmental pollution
clearing of rainforest climate change
 globalization makes it dangerous to all of us

polluted rivers
 save living spaces for animals protect
animals from die-off
 save humans and their health


growing poverty
 about 30,000 people die daily from causes
that are related to poverty
 the gap between rich and poor is increasing rapidly
Defence of Socrates by Plato:
“Virtue doesn´t come from money but money
comes from virtue as well as other goods
both public and private.”