Corporate Ethics

Professional Ethics in the Business World

Professional ethics, also known as organizational ethics, is a discipline that has evolved over decades and embodies both professional and applied values, in which both moral questions and ethical challenges relevant to the business world are of great importance. Individuals, groups of business strategists, and private organizations are all covered by business ethics, as it extends to all facets of their actions and behavior (Burg, 2009). The entities that set the foundation for such ethics in the business world are legal regimes, private corporations, businesses, and associations, as well as individuals. To demystify the concept of business ethics, it is not only essential to discuss both the Kantian and the utilitarian theories presented in the case but also vital to critically analyze the pertinent cases relevant to the argument in the contemporary corporate world.

The Utilitarian Argument in Business Ethics

The utilitarian argument is more inclined to the expected profitable results than the means of achieving such outcomes, regardless of how harmful, costly, and dire the approach could be. Indeed, it is essential to note that business ethics maintains that all the contemporary organizational norms, sets of values, principles, and standards that offer cardinal guidance and instruction to the responsible stakeholders ought to be observed at all times, in the guest to attaining the completeness of any business strategy (Burg, 2009). Nevertheless, with the concept of utilitarianism, whereby it is expressly hypothesized that making a decision to sacrifice a certain virtue which is perceived as morally upright; to achieve an outcome which is more benefitting is in controversy with the ethics of business. A case in focus here would be the troll switch pulling dilemma, whereby a decision made would result in the loss of either two children or the five adults. Considering that the adults are confirmed business stakeholders whose demise could lead to economic depression, while the kids are protected by moral ethics and natural law to be sheltered from harm at all costs, the utilitarian approach would be an instrumental opposite in this case (Fryer, 2016). When subject to the scrutiny of the test, rationality would dictate under utilitarianism to sacrifice the two kids and save the five adults, however, morally and ethically, the ethics of business would find many controversies in this approach as is established in the Kantian theory.

Kant’s Theory and its Relevance to Business Ethics

On the other hand, the Kant’s theory is in disagreement with utilitarian theory. However, in essence, the Kantian argument maintains that regardless of the situation, the means justify the ends. This case thus gives a theoretical bearing that everything should be done within the limits of ethical and moral principles, as well as related legal requirements, to deliver the eventual results regardless of the accompanying cost, harm, and inconveniences (Fryer, 2016). A good case put forth pertinent to this argument as it abounds in the business ethics environment is the trolley problem, which is exemplified in the driverless cars of the twenty-first century. The current decade has witnessed towering and cutting edge technological inventions that have surged into phenomenal outcomes, some of which have not only sparked virtuous and moral challenges but also compromised and put at stake the business ethics. It is true that the driverless cars could save many lives, considering that approximately 70 percent of the automobile fatalities are caused by driver related problems for instance carelessness and drunk driving, which is a benefit (Ciulla, 2001). Nevertheless, the issue is that with a perfect technology, manufacturers will inevitably face escalated costs and the designers of such projects would wittiness unprecedented economic challenges as well. Furthermore, it would be unethical for the responsible organizations to manufacture less perfect driverless cars, prioritizing economic benefits while putting lives at stake. Even though the Kantian hypothesis makes applicable sense in this context, the corporate world with its descriptive and normative dimensions remains to be a controversial entity in which organizational ethical issues as well as the quantity and range of business often surge with uncertainties to give a reflection of non-economic concerns and phenomenal characteristics that attract profit maximization, and hence the indispensable position of the utilitarian theory in business ethics (Burg, 2009).

Embracing Balance in Business Ethics

Indeed, it is imperative to note that business ethics is embracing a paradigm shift. In the 1980 and the successive decades, moral ethics and corporate virtues accelerated to a new peak. Avery organization since then has adopted a code of ethics, or a non-economic commitment to values in many platforms like the social responsibility Charters (Ciulla, 2001). In the contemporary world, with the trolley problem approach in question, a neutral phase of the dilemma is reached between the Kantian and the utilitarian hypotheses. This case hence expressly attracts, even more, reason to embrace balance in purpose, scrutiny of test, accountability, competence, legal inclinations, as well as moral uprightness to deliver both the short and long term goals as strategized in business ethics.

References

Burg, R. (2009). Deliberative business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 88(SUPPL. 4), 665–683. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0332-5

Ciulla, J. B. (2001). Business Ethics: A Kantian Perspective. Business Ethics Quarterly, 11(1), 225. https://doi.org/10.2450/2013.0105-13

Fryer, M. (2016). A Role for Ethics Theory in Speculative Business Ethics Teaching. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(1), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2592-6