Business Ethics

The Business Ethics Study Brief is intended as a quick reference for business professionals, including employees, managers, group leaders, team leaders, and students of business or law. This Study Brief provides an introduction to business ethics. It contains a brief history, highlighting the increased interest and emphasis on business ethics in recent years. The importance of studying business ethics is reinforced with key points on the benefits of business ethics, moral philosophies involved in ethical behavior, and the levels of impact business ethics have on society as a whole. Ethical business practices are analyzed. A sample code of ethics for companies is provided as a useful reference, including a list of topics to include. This Study Brief covers ethical core values, corporate social responsibility, Kohlberg’s six stages of moral development, and ideals of organizational justice. A useful comparison of ethical and unethical business practices is outlined with associated consequences and personal and corporate liabilities highlighted. Sections on ethical decision-making processes cover methods of ethical reasoning needed when dealing with ethical problems and dilemmas. Finally, current interest topics of international/global ethics and corporate sustainability are included