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    Business value & Character Ethics of HDFC Bank 2011

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    Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

    for the award of the Degree of

    (BBA)GENTo

    GURU GOBIND SINGH INDRAPRASTHA

    UNIVERSITY, DELHI

    Under Guidance Submitted By

    MS. NEELAM DASGUPTA RAKESH KUMAR SAGAR

    BBA 3RD SEM

    08614201710

    Jagannath International Management School,

    Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

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    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    The successful completion of the project would have been far from reality without

    mentioning the people who made an indelible impression while making the project.

    All the very outset thanks to Ms. NEELAM DASGUPTA for instructing me and

    providing me the opportunity to participate in the project and sharing her invaluable

    knowledge and experience with me. Her innovative ideas provided me clarity of thoughts

    which helped me to think in the right way.

    Without her help and guidance completion of the project report would have been very

    difficult. I would also like to give gratitude to all the other faculties who helped me in

    making the project worth wile and successful.

    Due to the proper guidance the making of project report became an enjoyable experience

    and easy to workout.

    ( )

    RAKESH KUMAR SAGAR

    BBA III- B (Morning)

    08614201710

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    CERTIFICATE

    This is to certify that the project titled BUSINESS VALUES AND CHARACTER

    ETHICS is a bonafide work carried out by Rakesh Kumar Sagar, a student of

    JAGANNATHINTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT SCHOOL. It is submitted in partial

    fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of BBA under our guidance

    and direction.

    To the best of our Knowledge, it is an original piece of work.

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    Date- Ms. NEELAM DASGUPTA

    PREFACE

    Initial in the one module of the project, which is allotted to me, BUSINESS

    VALUES AND CHARACTER ETHICS is covered in this project report.

    The report contains very nice and well arranged topics related to the subject

    BUSINESS VALUES AND CHARACTER ETHICS. The main contents of this project

    describes that That what are ethics, Code of Ethics, Business Ethics and many other

    topics which is countable in the BUSINESS VALUES AND CHARACTER ETHICS.

    The project report also contains a description of Business Ethics which is very

    important for an organization to work fairly in an environment.

    Overall this reports my work like a guide for the subject BUSINESS VALUES AND

    CHARACTER ETHICS.

    OBJECTIVES

    The main objectives of the project were:

    To gain more information about values and character ethics To know the importance of values in business. To study and evaluate human conduct in the light of moral principles. To collect information about the involvement of ethics in human activities

    including business.

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    CONTENTS

    TOPICS PAGE NO.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,CERTIFICATE ,PREFACE & OBJECTIVES 2-4

    CONTENTS 5

    CHAPTER 1-VALUES

    a)BUSINESS VALUES

    b)CRITICISMS

    6-13

    CHAPTER 2-ETHICS,VALUES AND MORALS 14

    CHAPTER 3-INTRODUCTION ON ETHICS

    a)DEFINITONS ON ETHICS

    b)FEATURES OF ETHICS

    c)BUSINESS ETHICS AND ITS TYPES

    15-26

    CHAPTER 4- RELATIONSHIP B/W BUSINESS ETHICS AND

    MANAGERIAL VALUES AND UNETHICAL BUSINESS ETHICS

    27-28

    CHAPTER 5- CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF BUSINESS ETHICS 29

    CHAPTER 6- LEVELS OF ETHICAL DECISIONS IN

    BUSINESS

    30-31

    CHAPTER 7- NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS

    ETHICS

    32-33

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    CHAPTER 8-ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS ETHICS 33-34

    CHAPTER 9-APPROACHES TO BUSINESS ETHICS 34

    STUDY QUESTIONS FOR APPROACHES TO BUSINESSETHICS 43

    CASE STUDY ON HDFC BANK 45

    CONCLUSION 53

    REFERENCES 54

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    Values

    Values are convictions and a framework of philosophy of an individual on the basis of

    which he judges what is good or bad, desirable or undesirable, ethical or unethical.

    Rokeach defines values as

    Values represent basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct is personally or

    socially preferable to an opposite mode of conduct

    It has some characteristics like

    1. Part of culture2. Learned Responses3. Inculcated4. Social Phenomenon5. Gratifying Responses6. Adaptive Process

    Values are even classified into various categories that are

    1. Allports Values Classification2. Graves Classification3. Englands Classification4. Rokechs Classification

    Values System is even adopted by Indian Managers in their own way. Various

    researchers have attempted to identify the value systems of Indian managers. These

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    researchers have used Allport Vernom Lindzey model, Gravess model and

    Englands model. The major findings are given below

    1. Managers tend to have value orientation towards economic, theoretic,political, social, aesthetic and religious in that order.

    2. Managerial Values tend to be existential, conformistic, manipulative,sociocentric, tribalistic and egocentric.

    3. Indian managers are more pragmatist than moralist. There are generally someacceptable unethical practices in business.

    4. In term of work values, Indian managers tend to money orientation duringearly days of their career and later shifts to matters like job satisfaction.

    5. Indian mangers give importance to various occupational values in the order tobe free from supervision.

    Business values

    Physical Values

    Accuracy

    The precision, exactness, and conforming to fact in details of work.

    Cleanliness

    of offices, production and warehouse facilities, equipment, customer service areas, raw

    material and finished product inventory, closets, bathrooms, and so on

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    Maximum Utilization of Resources

    The desire and ability of the company to improve its performance by full utilization of its

    current resources (i.e. as time, money, equipment, materials, space, people, etc.).

    Punctuality and Timeliness

    in arriving on time to work, from breaks, from lunch, to meetings, in replying to letters

    and phone calls, in paying bills on time, etc. Occurring at the most suitable or opportune

    time.

    Quality of Products and Services

    in terms of presentation, functionality, choice, value, speed, timeliness, suitability,

    repeatability, reliability, life span, repeatability, courtesy, friendliness, etc.

    Regularity

    of meetings, reports, sales calls, performance reviews, and so forth

    Reliability

    The way system or persons consistently produce the same results, preferably meeting or

    exceeding its specifications. Dependability.

    Responsiveness

    The way people, the organization, systems, etc. react to a need coming from within or

    without.

    Speed of Operations

    The measurement of whether actions occur in the fastest time.

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    Organizational Values

    Accountability

    of individuals, departments and divisions for performance, results, problems, and so on

    Communications

    up, down, and sideways within the company, with customers and vendors, in terms of

    openness, frankness, clarity, frequency, accuracy, timeliness, and brevity

    Cooperation (Teamwork)

    among individuals, departments, divisions, branches, and so on

    Coordination

    horizontally between departments in terms of plans, activities, and systems

    Psychological Values

    Continuous Improvement

    The desire and ability of the company to develop and incorporate ways to improve itself.

    Creativity

    in terms of new products, new ideas, new systems, new production methods, new

    applications of technology, new methods of financing, new marketing strategies

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    Customer Delight

    The positive emotional response and joy that the customer feels from interaction with our

    people and our products and services.

    Decisiveness

    in solving problems, planning, executing plans, in terms of speed and commitment to

    decisions once made

    Develop People

    The desire and ability of the company to improve the lot of its employees, including,

    ultimately, their personal growth.

    Harmony

    The overall atmosphere and interaction between people, departments, divisions, systems,

    activities, rules, and policies within the company and between these elements and the

    external environment, customers, vendors, community laws, and so on.

    Innovation

    The desire and ability of the company to venture into new, breakthrough areas of

    opportunity. (e.g. in the industry, in emerging trends in society, etc.)

    Integrity

    Keeping to one's word, promises, agreements, being truthful, non-deceitful etc. with

    employees, customers, vendors, government, etc.

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    Loyalty

    to and from suppliers, customers, and employees

    Resourcefulness

    The ability to deal resourcefully, i.e. creatively, imaginatively, self-reliably with unusual

    problems, difficult situations, or unanticipated opportunities.

    Respect for the Individual

    in establishing rules and policies, design of systems, making decisions, executing

    instructions, and so on in terms of people's health, safety, self-esteem, feelings, and

    opinions

    Service to Society

    Community welfare, environmental protection, development of products and services that

    meet real physical, social, or psychological needs.

    (A Will to) Succeed

    in any aspect of work.

    Criticisms

    Business value is an informal concept and there is no consensus, either in academic

    circles or among management professionals, on its meaning or role in effective decision-

    making. The term could even be described as a "buzz word" used by various consultants,

    analyst firms, executives, authors, and academics.

    Some critics believe that measuring economic value, economic profit, orshareholder

    value is sufficiently complete to guide decision-making. Their logic is that all other forms

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_profithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_profit
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    of value are essentially intermediate to the ultimate goal of economic profit. Furthermore,

    if they do not contribute to economic profit, they are actually a distraction for the firm.

    Other critics believe that extensive efforts to measure business value will be more of a

    distraction than a boon. For example, there is a fear that decision-makers will be confused

    if there are too many goals and measures that need to be accommodated.

    Ethics, Values and Morals

    Values are our fundamental beliefs. They are the principles we use to define what is right,

    good and just. Values provide guidance in determining the right versus the wrong, the

    good versus bad. They are our standards. Another way to characterize values is that they

    are what an individual believes to be having worth and importance to their life. Values do

    not encompass all beliefs, but only those beliefs that define importance.

    Morals are values that we attribute to a system of beliefs that help the individual define

    right versus wrong, good versus bad. These values typically get their authority from

    something outside the individuala higher authority.

    In business world we often find ourselves avoiding framing our ethical choices in moral

    terms for fear that doing so might prove offensive to someone whose moral frame of

    reference might be different. The moral concept of justice has one meaning concerned

    with developing rational normative claims and theories.

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    Ethics is the study of what we understand to be good and right behavior and how people

    make those judgments. When ones action are not congruent with our moral values our

    sense of right, good and justwe will view that are acting unethically. Defining what is

    ethical is not an individual exercise. However, if it were then one could have argued that

    what Hitler did was ethical since his action conformed to his definition of right, wrong or

    just.

    Ethics is the discipline that examines ones moral standards or the moral standards of the

    society. It asks how these moral standards apply to our lives and whether these standards

    are reasonable or unreasonable. Ethics is not the only way to study morality. The social

    sciencessuch as anthropology, sociology and psychologyalso study morality, but do

    so in a quite different way from the approach to morality that is characteristics of ethics.

    A descriptive study is one that does try to attain any conclusions about what things are

    truly good or bad.

    Introduction on Ethics

    The term ethics refers to value oriented decisions and behavior. It comes from the Greek

    word Ethos which means character, guiding beliefs, standards or ideals that pervade a

    group, community or people. Today, ethics is considered as the study of morals behavior.

    Terms such as business ethics, corporate ethics, medical ethics or legal ethics are used to

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    indicate the particular area of application. Ethics involved in such area must still refer to

    valueoriented decisions and behavior of individuals. A famous saying is there

    If a man violates some rules he is wrong according to law, but in ethics he is wrong only

    if he thinks of doing so.

    Some Definitions of Ethics

    1. Ethics are kind of like morals and common sense. it is what you think is right orwrong. Being "ethical" means trying to be reasonable and doing what you think is

    right.

    2. Ethics can be considered as moral philosophy. It deals with critical analysis ofmorality. Ethics searches a reasonable ground to our moral standards. It deals with

    answering questions such as `what ought to be`, not `what is`.

    3. The science of moral obligation; a system of moral principles, quality, or practice.The moral obligation to render to the patient the best possible quality of dental

    service and to maintain an honest relationship with other members of the

    profession and mankind in general.

    4. Ethics is the science of morality or the systematic study of moral rules andprinciples. The term "morality" refers to rules which prescribe the way people

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    ought to behave and principles which reflect what is ultimately good or desirable

    for human beings.

    5. .The study and evaluation of human conduct in the light of moral principles.Moral principles may be viewed either as the standard of conduct that individuals

    have constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that a

    particular society requires of its members.

    Features of Ethics

    It contains principles of personnel and professional conduct.

    Existing norms and judgments may contain valuable insights but ethics sets out to

    criticize and test them in terms of ultimate norms.

    It does not rest on feelings of approval or disapproval but in the careful examination

    of the reality around us.

    It is not a law. Even though law enshrines many ethical judgments. It criticizes law

    and customs to obtain more perfect rules for the conduct of life. Law may permit things

    which are unethical.

    What constitutes ethical behaviors in one society may be unethical in others.

    Ethics is involved in all human activities including business. There is need for a

    science of ethics in every human Endeavour.

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    Business Ethics

    In business, ethics can be defined as the capacity to reflect on values in the corporate

    decision making process, to determine how these values and decision affect various

    stakeholders groups, and to establish how managers can use these observations in day to

    day company management. Ethical managers strive for success within the confines of

    sound management practices that are characterized by fairness and justice.

    Business Ethics refers to the moral principles which should govern business activities. It

    provides a code of conduct for the managers. The purpose of business ethics is to guide

    managers and employees in performing their jobs. Ethics are concerned with what is right

    and what is wrong in human behavior. They lay down norms of human behavior by the

    business. A few examples of ethics are:

    1. To charge fair prices.2. To use fair weights for measurement of commodities.3. To pay taxes to government.4. To earn reasonable profits.5. To give fair treatment to workers.

    The purpose of business ethics is to regulate both objectives of business and the means

    adopted to achieve these objectives. Ethics covers all possible areas of business ends and

    means must be justifiable as per norms of the society.

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    A business is an integral part of the society. It is in fact, a trustee of the resources of the

    society. So the business must observe the ethical standards of the society while using the

    resources. If a business fails to observe the social norms it will loose its public image.

    Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. As a corporate

    practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. In academia

    descriptive approaches are also taken. The range and quantity of business ethical issues

    reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds with non-economic social

    values.

    Types of Business Ethics

    General business ethics

    This part of business ethics overlaps with the philosophy of business, one of theaims of which is to determine the fundamental purposes of a company. If a

    company's main purpose is to maximize the returns to its shareholders, then it

    could be seen as unethical for a company to consider the interests and rights of

    anyone else.

    Corporate social responsibility or CSR: an umbrella term under which the ethicalrights and duties existing between companies and society is debated.

    Issues regarding the moral rights and duties between a company and itsshareholders: fiduciary responsibility, stakeholder concept v. shareholder concept.

    Ethical issues concerning relations between different companies: e.g. hostile take-overs, industrial espionage.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_(philosophy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descriptivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_businesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiduciaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakeholder_concepthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_concepthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeoverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeoverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_espionagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_espionagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeoverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeoverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholder_concepthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakeholder_concepthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiduciaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_businesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descriptivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_(philosophy)
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    Leadership issues: corporate governance. Political contributions made by corporations. Law reform, such as the ethical debate over introducing a crime of corporate

    manslaughter.

    The misuse of corporate ethics policies as marketing instruments.

    Professional ethics

    Professional ethics covers the myriad practical ethical problems and phenomena which

    arise out of specific functional areas of companies or in relation to recognized business

    professions.

    Ethics of accounting information

    Creative accounting, earnings management, misleading financial analysis. Insider trading, securities fraud, bucket shops, forex scams: concerns (criminal)

    manipulation of the financial markets.

    Executive compensation: concerns excessive payments made to corporate CEO'sand top management.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_governancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_reformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_manslaughterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_manslaughterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_accountinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnings_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misleading_financial_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insider_tradinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_fraudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucket_shop_(stock_market)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forex_scamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_compensationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_compensationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forex_scamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucket_shop_(stock_market)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_fraudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insider_tradinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misleading_financial_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnings_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_accountinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_manslaughterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_manslaughterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_reformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_governance
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    Bribery, kickbacks, and facilitation payments: while these may be in the (short-term) interests of the company and its shareholders, these practices may be anti-

    competitive or offend against the values of society.

    Ethics of human resource management

    The ethics of human resource management (HRM) covers those ethical issues arising

    around the employer-employee relationship, such as the rights and duties owed between

    employer and employee.

    Discrimination issues include discrimination on the bases of age (ageism), gender,race, religion, disabilities, weight and attractiveness. See also: affirmative action,

    sexual harassment.

    Issues surrounding the representation of employees and the democratization of theworkplace: union busting, strike breaking.

    Issues affecting the privacy of the employee: workplace surveillance, drug testing.See also: privacy.

    Issues affecting the privacy of the employer: whistle-blowing. Issues relating to the fairness of the employment contract and the balance of

    power between employer and employee: slavery,[4]

    indentured servitude,

    employment law.

    Occupational safety and health.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickbackhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facilitation_paymenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabilitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_actionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_bustinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_breakinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_surveillancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle-blowinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaveryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethics#cite_note-3#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethics#cite_note-3#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethics#cite_note-3#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servitudehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_safety_and_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_safety_and_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servitudehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethics#cite_note-3#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaveryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle-blowinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_surveillancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_breakinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_bustinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_actionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabilitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facilitation_paymenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickbackhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribe
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    Ethics of sales and marketing

    Marketing which goes beyond the mere provision of information about (and access to) a

    product may seek to manipulate our values and behavior. To some extent society regards

    this as acceptable, but where is the ethical line to be drawn? Marketing ethics overlaps

    strongly with media ethics, because marketing makes heavy use of media. However,

    media ethics is a much larger topic and extends outside business ethics.

    Pricing: price fixing, price discrimination, price skimming. Anti-competitive practices: these include but go beyond pricing tactics to cover

    issues such as manipulation of loyalty and supply chains. See: anti-competitive

    practices, antitrust law.

    Specific marketing strategies: green wash, bait and switch, shill, viral marketing,spam (electronic), pyramid scheme, planned obsolescence.

    Content of advertisements: attack ads, subliminal messages, sex in advertising,products regarded as immoral or harmful

    Children and marketing: marketing in schools. Black markets, grey markets.

    Ethics of production

    This area of business ethics deals with the duties of a company to ensure that products

    and production processes do not cause harm. Some of the more acute dilemmas in this

    area arise out of the fact that there is usually a degree of danger in any product or

    production process and it is difficult to define a degree of permissibility, or the degree of

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_fixinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discriminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_skimminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence_(business)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_adhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subliminal_messagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_in_advertisinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_in_schoolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_in_schoolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_in_advertisinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subliminal_messagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_adhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence_(business)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_skimminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discriminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_fixinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethics
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    permissibility may depend on the changing state of preventative technologies or changing

    social perceptions of acceptable risk.

    Defective, addictive and inherently dangerous products and services (e.g. tobacco,alcohol, weapons, motor vehicles, chemical manufacturing, bungee jumping).

    Ethical relations between the company and the environment: pollution,environmental ethics, carbon emissions trading

    Ethical problems arising out of new technologies: genetically modified food,mobile phone radiation and health.

    Product testing ethics: animal rights and animal testing, use of economicallydisadvantaged groups (such as students) as test objects.

    Ethics of intellectual property, knowledge and skills

    Knowledge and skills are valuable but not easily "own able" as objects. Nor is it obvious

    that has the greater rights to an idea: the company who trained the employee or the

    employee themselves? The country in which the plant grew or the company which

    discovered and developed the plant's medicinal potential? As a result, attempts to assert

    ownership and ethical disputes over ownership arise.

    Patent infringement, copyright infringement, trademark infringement. Misuse of the intellectual property systems to stifle competition: patent misuse,

    copyright misuse, patent troll, submarine patent.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungee_jumpinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_emissions_tradinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_misusehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_misusehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_trollhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_patenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_patenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_trollhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_misusehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_misusehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_emissions_tradinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungee_jumping
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    Even the notion of intellectual property itself has been criticized on ethicalgrounds: see intellectual property.

    International business ethics

    While business ethics emerged as a field in the 1970s, international business ethics did

    not emerge until the late 1990s, looking back on the international developments of that

    decade. Many new practical issues arose out of the international context of business.

    Theoretical issues such as cultural relativity of ethical values receive more emphasis in

    this field. Other, older issues can be grouped here as well. Issues and subfields include:

    The search for universal values as a basis for international commercial behavior. Comparison of business ethical traditions in different countries. Comparison of business ethical traditions from various religious perspectives. Ethical issues arising out of international business transactions; e.g.

    bioprospecting and biopiracy in the pharmaceutical industry; the fair trade

    movement; transfer pricing.

    Issues such as globalization and cultural imperialism. Varying global standards - e.g. the use ofchild labor.

    Ethics of economic systems

    This vaguely defined area, perhaps not part of but only related to business ethics, is

    where business ethicists venture into the fields of political economy and political

    philosophy, focusing on the rights and wrongs of various systems for the distribution of

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_propertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospectinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biopiracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_tradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_pricinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_imperialismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_imperialismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_pricinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_tradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biopiracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospectinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property
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    economic benefits. The work of John Rawls and Robert Nozick are both notable

    contributors.

    Conflicting interests

    Business ethics can be examined from various perspectives, including the perspective of

    the employee, the commercial enterprise, and society as a whole. Very often, situations

    arise in which there is conflict between one and more of the parties, such that serving the

    interest of one party is a detriment to the other(s). For example, a particular outcome

    might be good for the employee, whereas, it would be bad for the company, society, or

    vice versa. Some ethicists (e.g., Henry Sedgwick) see the principal role of ethics as the

    harmonization and reconciliation of conflicting interests.

    Corporate ethics policies

    As part of more comprehensive compliance and ethics programs, many companies have

    formulated internal policies pertaining to the ethical conduct of employees. These

    policies can be simple exhortations in broad, highly-generalized language (typically

    called a corporate ethics statement), or they can be more detailed policies, containing

    specific behavioral requirements (typically called corporate ethics codes). They are

    generally meant to identify the company's expectations of workers and to offer guidance

    on handling some of the more common ethical problems that might arise in the course of

    doing business. It is hoped that having such a policy will lead to greater ethical

    awareness, consistency in application, and the avoidance of ethical disasters.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rawlshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nozickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Sidgwickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compliance_and_ethics_programhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compliance_and_ethics_programhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Sidgwickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nozickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rawls
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    An increasing number of companies also requires employees to attend seminars regarding

    business conduct, which often include discussion of the company's policies, specific case

    studies, and legal requirements. Some companies even require their employees to sign

    agreements stating that they will abide by the company's rules of conduct.

    Many companies are assessing the environmental factors that can lead employees to

    engage in unethical conduct.

    Not everyone supports corporate policies that govern ethical conduct. Some claim that

    ethical problems are better dealt with by depending upon employees to use their own

    judgment.

    To be successful, most ethicists would suggest that an ethics policy should be:

    Given the unequivocal support of top management, by both word and example. Explained in writing and orally, with periodic reinforcement. Doable....something employees can both understand and perform. Monitored by top management, with routine inspections for compliance and

    improvement.

    Backed up by clearly stated consequences in the case of disobedience. Remain neutral and nonsexist.

    Religious views on business ethics

    The historical and global importance of religious views on business ethics is sometimes

    underestimated in standard introductions to business ethics. Particularly in Asia and the

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    Middle East, religious and cultural perspectives have a strong influence on the conduct of

    business and the creation of business values.

    Examples include:

    Islamic banking, associated with the avoidance of charging interest on loans. Traditional Confucian disapproval of the profit-seeking motive. Quakertestimony on fair dealing

    Relationship between business ethics and managerial values

    Ethics refers to the entire body of moral values that society attaches to the actions of

    human being. Ethics are interrelated with values. In fact values are considered the

    language of ethics. Ethics in business emanate from the values of top management which

    are in turn shaped by social, cultural and national values.

    Values can be moral, immoral or amoral, depending upon whether they conform to, go

    against or are different towards certain norms of morality. But ethics represent only moral

    values. The value judgments do have ethical content when they are linked with the

    element of morality. Values help to establish proper relationship between ends and

    means. If the management of a business is pursuing sound values, and it will follow those

    business practices that are ethical and socially justifiable. And in absence of sound value

    system, the management of a business may be tempted to pursue unethical business

    practices.

    Unethical behaviors constitutes of

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    1. Bribing public officials to obtain undue favors.2. Using false claims in advertisements.3. Keeping two sets of books to evade taxes.4. Using co. property for personal use.5. Overlooking safety violations to get the job done.6. Revealing confidential information or trade secrets to competitors.7. Artificially inflating profits to get re- elected as directors.

    Unethical Business Practices

    Against Employees1. Paying salaries lower than those fixed by the government to the employees.2. Poor working conditions like dirty water, poor lightning.3. Lack of safety measures for workers. Against Government1. Evasion of excise duty, sales tax, income tax etc.2. Smuggling of goods.3. Offering bribes to government officials and politicians for getting favors. Against consumers and society1. Adulteration of goods like mixing of papaya seed with black pepper.2. Sale of spurious goods3. Sale of duplicate products under popular brand names.4. Sale of products injurious to public health like charas, heroine.

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    5. Pollution of environment.6. Deceptive advertisements and false claims in advertisements.

    Conceptual model of Business ethics

    Business Ethics

    Managerial Moral problems that

    Beliefs manager face in decision making

    Managerial beliefs concerning:

    1. Illegal acts2. Unethical or questionable practices

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    Examples:

    1. Fraud, Bribery2. Dumping of pesticides

    Micro level problems:

    1. Fairness in performance appraisal2. Accepting Gifts3. Confidentiality of company4. Treatment of problem employees5. Confronting expense account

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    Levels of Ethical Decisions in business

    1. Societal level2. Stakeholders level3. Internal policy4. Individual Level

    Level 4

    Individual

    Level 3

    Internal policy

    Level 2

    Stakeholders

    Level 1Society

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    1. Societal Level:At this level, ethical questions about the basic institutions in society are asked.

    These represent an ongoing debate among major competing institutions

    including business.

    2. Stakeholders Level:In a business enterprise include employees, suppliers etc. Here they ask about

    how they deal with external groups. For example, should a company inform

    its customers about the potential dangers of its product?

    3. Internal Policy Level:At this level we ask questions about the nature of enterprise relations with

    employee both managers and workers. So also questions of motivation

    techniques, leadership roles, work rules etc. are involved at this level.

    4. Individual Level:At this level, we ask questions concerning how individual person should treat

    one another within the firm. These questions deal with day to day issues of

    life in any enterprise but in the ultimate analysis, they set the tone of ethical

    behavior of business at higher levels.

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    Need and Importance of Business Ethics

    More important is the fact that today a businessman is pressurized by various

    environmental factors to follow a business practice which is ethical from societys point

    of view irrespective of its impact on business profits. Such a significance of business

    ethics is attributable to following reasons:

    1. Environmental Pressures:As apart of overall economic system, a business organization is pressurized by

    various environmental factors to act credibly and behave ethically. Thus a

    business enterprise may have no option but to desist from undesirable trade

    practices like hoarding and profiteering due to pressure from consumer

    forums.

    2. Enlightened self interest:

    Todays businessman firmly believes that business ethics are in their own self

    interest. That is if business enterprise follows business practices, it will lead to

    higher profits and prosperity in the long run.

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    3. Moral consciousness:It would not be an exaggeration to say that most business people behave

    ethically because of their moral consciousness. Like any other member of the

    society business people also believe that ethical business conduct is good

    business as well as good citizenship.

    4. Legal Requirements:In almost every sphere of business activity laws have been enacted which

    declare certain business practices. In short, obedience to such laws is ethical.

    Elements of business ethics

    Business Managers must come to appreciate the key elements that comprise making

    ethical judgments. There are six major elements that are essential ethical judgments:

    1. Ethical Imagination:

    Developing ethical imagination means being sensitive to ethical issues in business

    decision making and the ability to identify those situations where people are likely

    to be detrimentally effected by decision making.

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    2. Ethical Identification and Ordering:

    It refers to the ability to judge the relevance or non relevance of ethical factors in

    decision making situations. In addition to their identification, ethical issues must be

    ranked.

    3. Ethical Evaluation:

    To evaluate ethical factors business persons have to develop clear principles, basis

    of weighing those factors and the ability to make out the likely ethical as well as

    economic outcomes of a decision.

    4. Sense of Ethical Obligation:

    This refers to the intuitive or learned understanding that ethical fibersa concern

    for fairness, justice and due process to people, groups and communities should be

    woven into the fabric of managerial decision making.

    APPROACHES TO BUSINESS ETHICS

    When business people speak about business ethics they usually mean one of three

    things:

    (1) Avoidbreaking the criminal law in ones work-related activity;

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    (2) Avoid action that may result in civil law suits against the company; and

    (3) Avoid actions that are bad for the company image.

    Businesses are especially concerned with these three things since they involve

    loss of money and company reputation. In theory, a business could address these three

    concerns by assigning corporate attorneys and public relations experts to escort

    employees on their daily activities. Anytime an employee might stray from the straight

    and narrow path of acceptable conduct, the experts would guide him back. Obviously this

    solution would be a financial disaster if carried out in practice since it would cost a

    business more in attorney and public relations fees than they would save from proper

    employee conduct. Perhaps reluctantly, businesses turn to philosophers to instruct

    employees on becoming moral. For over 2,000 years philosophers have systematically

    addressed the issue of right and wrong conduct. Presumably, then, philosophers can teach

    employees a basic understanding of morality will keep them out of trouble.

    Deriving Business Ethics from the Profit Motive

    Some businesspeople argue that there is a symbiotic relation between ethics and business

    in which ethics naturally emerges from a profit-oriented business. There are both weak

    and strong versions of this approach. The weak version is often expressed in the dictum

    that good ethics results in good business, which simply means that moral businesses

    practices are profitable. For example, it is profitable to make safe products since this will

    reduce product liability lawsuits. Similarly, it may be in the best financial interests of

    businesses to respect employee privacy, since this will improve morale and thus improve

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    work efficiency. Robert F. Hartley's book, Business Ethics, takes this approach. Using 20

    case studies as illustrations, Hartley argues that the long-term best interests of businesses

    are served by seeking a trusting relation with the public (Hartley, 1993). This weak

    version, however, has problems. First, many moral business practices will have an

    economic advantage only in the long run. This provides little incentive for businesses that

    are designed to exclusively to seek short-term profits.

    As more and more businesses compete for the same market, short-term profits

    will dictate the decisions of many companies simply as a matter of survival. Second,

    some moral business practices may not be economically viable even in the long run. For

    example, this might be the case with retaining older workers who are inefficient, as

    opposed to replacing them with younger and more efficient workers. Third, and most

    importantly, those moral business practices that are good for business depend upon what

    at that time will produce a profit. In a different market, the same practices might not be

    economically viable. Thus, any overlap that exists between morality and profit is both

    limited and incidental.

    The strong version of this profit approach takes a reverse strategy and maintains

    that, in a competitive and free market, the profit motive will in fact bring about a morally

    proper environment. That is, if customers demand safe products, or workers demand

    privacy, then they will buy from or work for only those businesses that meet their

    demands. Businesses that do not heed these demands will not survive. Since this view

    maintains that the drive for profit will create morality, the strong version can be

    expressed in the dictum that good business results in good ethics, which is the converse

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    of the above dictum. Proponents of this view, such as Milton Friedman, argue that this

    would happen in the United States if the government would allow a truly competitive and

    free market. But this strong view also has problems, since it assumes that consumers or

    workers will demand the morally proper thing. In fact, consumers may opt for less safe

    products if they know they will be saving money. For example, consumers might prefer a

    cheaper car without air bags, even though doing so places their own lives and the lives of

    their passengers at greater risk, which is morally irresponsible. Similarly, workers may

    forego demands of privacy at work if they are compensated with high enough wages. In

    short, not every moral business practice will simply emerge from the profit principle as

    suggested by either the weak or strong views.

    Business Ethics Restricted to Following the Law

    A second approach to business ethics is that moral obligations in business are

    restricted to what the law requires. The most universal aspects of Western morality have

    already been put into our legal system, such as with laws against killing, stealing, fraud,

    harassment, or reckless endangerment. Moral principles beyond what the law requires

    or supra-legal principles -- appear to be optional since philosophers dispute about their

    validity and society wavers about its acceptance. For any specific issue under

    consideration, such as determining what counts as responsible marketing or adequate

    privacy in the workplace, we will find opposing positions on our supra-legal moral

    obligations. It is, therefore, unreasonable to expect businesses to perform duties about

    which there is so much disagreement and which appear to be optional.

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    The unreasonableness of such a moral requirement in our society becomes all the

    more evident when we consider societies that do have a strong external source of

    morality. Islam, for example, contains a broad range of moral requirements such as an

    alms mandate, prohibitions against sleeping partners that collect unearned money, and

    restrictions on charging interest for certain types of loans, particularly for relief aid. Thus,

    in Muslim countries that are not necessarily ruled by Islamic law, there is a strong source

    of external morality that would be binding on Muslim businesses apart from what their

    laws would require. Similarly, Confucianism has a strong emphasis on filial piety; thus,

    in Chinese and other Confucian societies, it is reasonable to expect their businesses to

    maintain a respect for elders even if it is not part of the legal system. In Western culture,

    or at least in the United States, we lack a counterpart to an external source of morality as

    is present in Muslim or Confucian societies. One reason is because of our cultural

    pluralism and the presence of a wide range of belief systems. Even within Christianity,

    the diversity of denominations and beliefs prevents it from being a homogeneous source

    of Christian values. In short, without a widely recognized system of ethics that is external

    to the law, supra-legal moral obligations in our society appear to be optional; and, it is

    unreasonable to expect business people to be obligated to principles which appear to be

    optional.

    In our culturally pluralistic society, the only business-related moral obligations

    that are majority-endorsed by our national social group are those obligations that are

    already contained in the law. These include a range of guidelines for honesty in

    advertising, product safety, safe working conditions, and fair hiring and firing practices.

    In fact, the unifying moral force of businesses within our diverse society is the law itself.

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    Beyond the law we find that the moral obligations of businesses are contextually bound

    by subgroups, such as with a business that is operated by traditional Muslims or

    environmental activists. In these cases, the individual businesses may be bound by the

    obligations of their subgroups, but such obligations are contingent upon one's association

    with these social subgroups. And, clearly, the obligations within those subgroups are not

    binding on those outside the subgroups. If a business does not belong to any subgroup,

    then its only moral obligations will be those within the context of society at large, and

    these obligations are in the law.

    Corporations that assume an obligation beyond the law, either in their corporate codes or

    in practice, take on responsibilities that most outsiders would designate as optional. A

    good example is found in the mission statement of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, which

    includes the following:

    Social Mission -- To operate the company in a way that actively recognizes thecentral role that business plays in the structure of society by initiating innovative

    ways to improve the quality of life of a broad community -- local, national, and

    international.

    Consistent with this mission, the highest paid employees of Ben & Jerry's would not

    earn more than seven times more than the lowest paid full-time employees. "We do this,"

    they explain, "because we believe that most American corporations overpay top

    management, and underpay entry-level employees -- and because everyone who works at

    Ben & Jerry's is a major contributor to our success." In spite of the merits of this pay

    scale policy, it clearly lacks majority endorsement in our national social group, and

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    would not be a binding obligation. In fact, it is not even binding on Ben & Jerrys itself

    since, in recent years, Ben & Jerrys had to abandon its own ideal pay scale in an effort to

    attract a CEO with the right skills to expand their company.

    Strictly following this legal approach to business ethics may indeed prompt businesses to

    do the right thing, as prescribed by law. Nevertheless, there are two key problems with

    restricting morality solely to what the law requires. First, even in the best legal context,

    the law will lag behind our moral condemnation of certain unscrupulous, yet legal

    business practices.

    Deriving Business Ethics from General Moral Obligations

    The third approach to business ethics is that morality must be introduced as a

    factor that is external from both the profit motive and the law. This is the approach taken

    by most philosophers who write on business ethics, and is expressed most clearly in the

    following from a well known business ethics essay:

    Proper ethical behavior exists on a plane above the law. The law merely specifies

    the lowest common denominator of acceptable behavior. (Gene Laczniak, "Business

    Ethics: A Manager's Primer," 1983)

    The most convenient way to explore this approach is to consider the supra-legal

    moral principles that philosophers commonly offer. Five fairly broad moral principles

    suggested by philosophers are as follows:

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    Harm principle: businesses should avoid causing unwarranted harm. Fairness principle: business should be fair in all of their practices. Human rights principle: businesses should respect human rights. Autonomy principle: businesses should not infringe on the rationally reflective

    choices of people.

    Veracity principle: businesses should not be deceptive in their practices.

    The attraction of these principles is that they appeal to universal moral notions that no

    one would reasonably reject. But, the problem with these principles is that they are too

    general. These principles do not tell us specifically what counts as harm, unfairness, or a

    violation of human rights. Does all damage to the environment constitute harm? Does it

    violate an employee's right to privacy if an employer places hidden surveillance cameras

    in an employee lounge area? Does child-oriented advertising mislead children and thus

    violate the principle of veracity?

    The above principles are abstract in nature. That is, they broadly mandate against

    harm, and broadly endorse autonomy. Because they are abstract, they will be difficult to

    apply to concrete situations and consequently not give clear guidance in complex

    situations. An alternative approach is to forget the abstract, and focus instead on concrete

    situations that affect the particular interests of consumers, workers, stockholders, or the

    community. The recent stakeholder approach to business ethics attempts to do this

    systematically. It may be expressed in the following:

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    Stakeholder principle: businesses should consider all stakeholders' interests thatare affected by a business practice.

    A stakeholder is any party affected by a business practice, including employees,

    suppliers, customers, creditors, competitors, governments, and communities.

    Accordingly, the stakeholder approach to business ethics emphasizes that we should map

    out of the various parties affected by a business practice. But this approach is limited

    since proponents of this view give us no clear formula for how to prioritize the various

    interests once we map them out. Should all stakeholders' interests be treated equally

    from the largest stockholder down to the garbage man who empties the factory dumpster?

    Probably no defenders of the stakeholder approach would advocate treating all interests

    equally. Alternatively, should the stockholders' interests have special priority? If we take

    this route, then the stakeholder principle is merely a revision of the profit principle.

    Another way of looking at concrete moral obligations in business is to list them issue by

    issue. This is the strategy behind corporate codes of ethics that address specific topics

    such as confidentiality of corporate information, conflicts of interest, bribes, and political

    contributions. Consider the following issues from Johnson and Johnson's Credo:

    Code of Conduct

    Characteristics

    The codes of conduct or codes of practice adopted by a number of mainly multinational

    enterprises include a variable number of principles which define the ethical standards of

    the enterprise. These may be general principles such as, for example, the concept of non-

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    discrimination while, in a number of cases, there is a detailed description of the social

    practices which the enterprise wishes to see respected in the production and sale of the

    goods and services which it markets. Some enterprises make a distinction between the

    basic principles which regulate its internal activity and those which it wants to apply in

    the selection and monitoring of activities of its subcontractors. A number of codes make

    explicit reference to ILO Conventions, in particular those concerning the respect of

    human rights at work. In other cases, the reference is more indirect, even if the principles

    established are often based on fundamental ILO Conventions.

    The Agrofood, forestry, chemicals and consumer products sectors are amongst those

    which have progressively introduced a number of codes of practice. However, while the

    concept of ethical practice has made a remarkable comeback in recent years in the

    strategic policy of industrial and commercial enterprises, it is above all in the textile

    sector, and in particular in clothing and footwear, that the trend is the most evident.

    United States enterprises have played a pioneering role in this respect. Since Levi Strauss

    adopted in 1992 a code entitled "Business partner terms of engagement and guidelines for

    country selection", many other enterprises producing apparel and footwear as well as

    major retail groups have followed suit. In Europe, the trend has been longer in coming,

    Study Questions for Approaches to Business Ethics

    Introduction

    (1) What three things do business people usually mean by business ethics?

    (2) Why cant philosophers teach people to be ethical?

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    Deriving Business Ethics from the Profit Motive

    (3) What is the weak version of theory that connects business ethics to the profit

    motive?

    (4) What are problems with the weak version?

    (5) What is the strong version of theory that connects business ethics to the profit

    motive?

    (6) What are problems with this?

    Business Ethics Restricted to Following the Law

    (7) Define supra-legal principle.

    (8) Why is it unreasonable to expect businesses to follow supra-legal moral

    principles?

    (9) What are some supra-legal moral principles that are binding in Muslim

    countries?

    (10) What are the problems with restricting business ethics to what the law

    requires?

    Deriving Business Ethics from General Moral Obligations

    (11) Give an example of a broad moral principle suggested by philosophers.

    (12) What is the problem with deriving business ethics from broad moral

    principles?

    (13) What is a stakeholder?

    (14) What is the problem with articulating good business behavior in corporate

    codes of ethics?

    Conclusion

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    (15) What are some benefits of all three approaches to business ethics?

    (16) What can we learn by looking at case studies in business ethics?

    CASE STUDY ON HDFC BANK

    HDFC PROFILE

    HDFC Bank was incorporated in August 1994, and, currently has an nationwide network

    of 1229 Branches and 2526 ATM's in 444 Indian towns and cities.

    The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) was amongst the first

    to receive an 'in principle' approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a

    bank in the private sector, as part of the RBI's liberalisation of the Indian Banking

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    Industry in 1994. The bank was incorporated in August 1994 in the name of 'HDFC Bank

    Limited', with its registered office in Mumbai, India. HDFC Bank commenced operations

    as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.

    Business Focus

    HDFC Bank's mission is to be a World-Class Indian Bank. The objective is to build

    sound customer franchises across distinct businesses so as to be the preferred provider of

    banking services for target retail and wholesale customer segments, and to achieve

    healthy growth in profitability, consistent with the bank's risk appetite. The bank is

    committed to maintain the highest level of ethical standards, professional integrity,

    corporate governance and regulatory compliance. HDFC Bank's business philosophy is

    based on four core values - Operational Excellence, Customer Focus, Product Leadership

    and People.

    Management

    Mr. Jagdish Kapoor took over as the bank's Chairman in July 2001. Prior to this, Mr.

    Kapoor was a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

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    The Managing Director, Mr. Aditya Puri, has been a professional banker for over 25

    years, and before joining HDFC Bank in 1994 was heading Citibank's operations in

    Malaysia.

    The Bank's Board of Directors is composed of eminent individuals with a wealth

    of experience in public policy, administration, industry and commercial banking. Senior

    executives representing HDFC are also on the Board.

    Senior banking professionals with substantial experience in India and abroad head

    various businesses and functions and report to the Managing Director. Given the

    professional expertise of the management team and the overall focus on recruiting and

    retaining the best talent in the industry, the bank believes that its people are a significant

    competitive strength.

    Business

    HDFC Bank offers a wide range of commercial and transactional banking services and

    treasury products to wholesale and retail customers. The bank has three key business

    segments:

    Fair Practices for lending

    1. The bank would have loan application forms for retail advances and credit cards.These would include information about the fees/charges, if any, payable for

    processing, the amount of such fees refundable in the case of non acceptance of

    application, pre-payment options and any other matter which affects the interest

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    of the borrower, so that a meaningful comparison with that of other banks can be

    made and an informed decision can be taken by the borrower.

    2. As part of the wholesale banking business, the bank has various segments towhich credit facilities are provided for their business requirements. These

    include a wide range of customers and range from small & medium enterprises

    to large corporate borrowers. The bank has a process for identification of target

    customers to whom facilities can be provided based on customer selection and

    risk assessment for that segment. Thus, the focus is on contacting prospective

    customers and encouraging them to avail of banking services from HDFC Bank

    based on the incremental value we can add to a customer's business, rather than

    customers making applications to the Bank for facilities / services.

    Thus, for the wholesale banking segment, we do not have any standardized

    application forms to be submitted by prospective customers.

    Code of Ethics

    1. Be aware of frauds2. Security tips3. Security Meaasures of HDFC4. Code of Corporate Governance

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    5. Code of corporate Rating6. Composition of board7. Committee of Directors8. Profile of Directors9. Ownership Right10.Promoters Rights11.Keyshareholders Right12.Dividend Policy13.Memorandum of Association14.Articles of Association15.Fair Practices16.Code of Lending17.Internet Browsing18.Money mules

    Introduction:

    The Board members / Officials shall engage in and promote honest and ethical

    conduct of business, including the ethical handling of actual and / or apparent conflicts of

    interest between personal and professional relationships.

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    Applicability:

    This Code of Ethics/Conduct is applicable to the following persons.

    1. The Board Members

    2. Officials of the Bank one level below the Board

    Ethical Conduct:

    The Board members / Officials shall engage in and promote honest and ethical

    conduct of business, including the ethical handling of actual and / or apparent conflicts of

    interest between personal and professional relationships.

    Conflict of Interest:

    The Board members / Officials shall avoid conflict of interest and disclose to the

    Board any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give

    rise to such a conflict.

    Confidentiality of Information:

    The Board members / Officials shall ensure and take all reasonable measures to

    protect the confidentiality of non-public information about the Bank, its business,

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    customers and other materially significant information obtained or created in connection

    with any activities with the Bank and to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of such

    information unless required by applicable laws or regulations or legal or regulatory

    process.

    Disclosure of Information:

    The Board members / Officials shall endeavor to produce full, fair, accurate,

    timely and understandable disclosures in reports and documents that the Bank files with or

    submits to the Securities and Exchange commission and other regulators and in other

    public communications made by the Bank.Compliance with Governmental Laws, Rules

    and Regulations:

    The Board members / Officials shall comply with all the applicable governmental laws

    and the applicable rules and regulations.

    Variation of the Code and Waivers:

    The Code shall be reviewed from time to time for updation thereof. Any variation in the

    Code or any waivers from the provisions of the Code shall be approved by the Board and

    shall be disclosed on the Bank's website.

    Contract or Term of Employment:

    Nothing in this Code or other related communications by itself creates or implies an

    employment contract or terms of employment.

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    Violation of the Code:

    The Board shall have the powers to take necessary action in case of any violation of the

    code.

    Dividend Policy

    Your Bank has had a track record of moderate but steady increases in dividend

    declarations for the last 10 years and dividend payout ratio in the last few years has been

    in the range of 20-25 %. Your Bank's dividend policy is based on the need to balance the

    twin objectives of appropriately rewarding shareholders with cash dividends and of

    retaining capital to maintain a healthy capital adequacy ratio to support future growth. In

    line with this policy and recognisation of healthy performance during 2007-08, your

    directors pleased to recommend a dividend of 85% for the year ended on March 31,2008

    as against 70% for the year ended March 31, 2007. This dividend shall be subject to

    distribution tax to be paid by the Bank but will be tax-free in the hands of the members.

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    Conclusion

    Weve looked at three approaches to business ethics, and weve seen that all three

    have limitations. If we hope to find an approach to business ethics that is free from

    conceptual problems, we will not likely find any. Ethics is a complex subject and its

    history is filled with diverse theories that are systematically refuted by rival theories. So,

    we should expect to find controversies when applying ethics to the specific practices of

    business. However, following any of the above three approaches to business ethics will

    bring us closer to acceptable moral behavior than we might otherwise be. Close attention

    to ones profit motive and the moral interests of consumers might in fact generate some

    morally responsible business decisions. We can indeed find additional moral guidance by

    looking at the laws that apply specifically to businesses. In gray areas of moral

    controversy that are not adequately addressed profit motives and the law, we can turn for

    guidance to a variety of general and specific moral principles.

    In addition to the above three approaches to business ethics, it also helps to

    examine stories of businesses that have been morally irresponsible. By citing specific

    cases deceptive advertising, environmental irresponsibility, or unsafe products, we can

    learn by example what we should not do. Such cases often reveal blatantly crude,

    insensitive, or reckless attitudes of businesses, which we can view as warning signs of

    unethical conduct.

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    References

    1. "Ethics the easy way". H.E.R.O...2. "Miliband draws up green tax plan". BBC.3. Friedman, Milton (1970-09-13). "The Social Responsibility of Business is to

    Increase Its Profits", The New York Times Magazine.

    4. Hare, R. M. (1979). "What is wrong with slavery". Philosophy and Public Affairs8: 103121.

    5. Enderle, Georges (1999). International Business Ethics. University of Notre DamePress, 1. ISBN 0-268-01214-8.

    6. George, Richard de (1999). Business Ethics.7. http://www.stthom.edu/academics/centers/cbes/jonachan.html

    Further reading

    Albertson, Todd. (2007). The Gods of Business: The Intersection of Faith and theMarketplace. Los Angeles, CA: Trinity Alumni Press.

    Behrman, Jack N. (1988). Essays on Ethics in Business and the Professions.Englewood Cliffs, NJ:

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