BUSINESS ETHICS

PG
UNIT 2

FARHEEN BELGAUMWALA | August 2022

UNIT 2: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

 EROSION OF VALUES
 ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
THE LANGUAGE OF ETHICS:
♦ Ethics is about values, what is right and wrong, or better or worse. Ethics makes claims,
or judgments, that establish values.
♦ Evaluative claims are referred to as normative claims or they can be prescriptive, claims.
♦ Normative claims tell us, or affirm, what ought to be the case.
♦ Prescriptive claims need to be seen in contrast with descriptive claims, which simply tell
us, or affirm, what is the case, or at least what is believed to be the case.
♦ In ethics, however, normative claims have essential significance. A normative claim may,
depending upon other considerations, be taken to be a “moral fact.”
PHILOSOPHERS WE WILL MEET:
In our investigation and readings for Ethics, we will encounter the work of these
philosophers. You may select a name and read on their theories, and make a small
presentation to the class in the next session:
♦ David Hume
♦ Immanuel Kant
♦ John Stuart Mill
♦ Jeremy Bentham 
♦ Peter Singer
♦ Aristotle
WHY ETHICS MATTER

A Business Without Values

Is A Business At Risk
REASONS TO HAVE VALUES-DRIVEN
MANAGEMENT:
♦ Are business ethics are an oxymoron? No.
♦ Values have a pragmatic place in the business world precisely because of
society’s shifting sands. Look at any of the currents that are buffeting
organizations today and you’ll find a rationale for values-driven management.
♦ Here are a few: Diversity, Globalization, Virtual work, Strategic alliances,
Teamwork, Intrapreneurship, Competition, Media
A FEW THEORIES:
What is erosion of value?
In a society where a particular value is substantially realized, its status can
be eroded; the value loses its attractiveness & comes to be downgraded by
disenchantment and disillusionment.
Erosion can include any negative impact on a company's associated assets
or funds or intangibles in the case of goodwill & ethics.
Core values are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. These
guiding principles dictate behavior & can help people understand the
difference between right & wrong. Core values also help companies to
determine if they are on the right path & fulfilling their goals by creating an
unwavering guide
5 STAGES OF ETHICAL EROSION

Ethical Orientation – O’Reilly

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Six,
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Reversal of
Language of Normative Erosion of Corporate eroding
Values
Ethics Theories Values Compliance values and its
benefits
THE ETHICS PYRAMID:
MAKING ETHICS UNAVOIDABLE
ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR AT WORK:

Ethical Orientation – O’Reilly

BUILDING AN
ETHICAL
FRAMEWORK:
KEY TAKEAWAYS

One, Two, Three, Five, Six,

Individual Corporate
Ethical Four, Building an Building an
Behaviour at Influences Ethical Ethical
Ethics Ethics
Work Framework Culture
 THANK YOU

For relevant papers: READ folder

Before next session: REFLECT

Any questions: Email

Next Session: Unit 3