The standards that guide the behavior of individuals and groups.
Basic Ethics
become laws and regulations
ethics should go beyond laws
Classification of Ethical Issues
An ethical issue is a problem, situation, or opportunity requiring an individual, group, or organization to choose among several actions that must be evaluated as right or wrong, ethical or unethical.
Conflict of interest
exists when an individual must choose whether to advance his or her own interests, those of his or her organization, or those of some other group.
Factors that influence the Ethical Decsion-Making process
1. Individual Factors
2. Organizational Relationships
3. Opportunity
4. Ethical or Unethical decisions
Ethical Climate
Part of a corporate culture that relates to an organization’s expectations about appropriate conduct that focuses specifically on issues of right and wrong.
Cheif Executive Officer
Establishes the ethical tone for the entire firm.
Executive Leadership
helps determine the ethical value system of the firm.
"Group-think"
going along with group decisions even when those decisions run counter to an employee’s own values.
Organizational culture
may foster conditions that either hinder or permit misconduct.
Opportunity
is a set of conditions that limit barriers or provide rewards.
Cannons of Ethics
If you are ethical in your decion making the govt. will leave you alone.