Ethical Decision Making Business ethics and social responsibility can be used to increase efficiency of the company. They are capable to affect the reputation of the company in a good way. An organization with standards of business ethics is always easily negotiated with. It is usually easy to enter into engagements with a company that has transparent rules of game. At the same time, policy making and business ethics can often stand in the way of maximization of profit of shareholders. This is especially true in big corporations like Nestle and such. When an issue is social welfare and health, both inalienable human rights, the dilemma of what to choose in the tradeoff between health and revenues becomes even more stiff.
Many modern business managers speak of business spirituality as a ground for sustainable business. Consultants insist that social responsibility of CEO and compliance with a standard business ethics can increase the firm’s efficiency, as well as interpersonal relations among the staff of this firm. In order for one’s business to go up and prosper, the managers have to grow spiritually themselves, and make the business flourish. Only a healthy thinking manager with a positive outlook and energetic, spiritual lifestyle will provide for the betterment of management within the company (Ritscher, James A., 1985). That is why many companies are launching organic programs and initiatives.
At the same time, however, it is important in any business is understanding of the purpose. In business, the main purpose is income. Few care about a healthier purpose of getting the world’s population prosperous. On the contrary, most businesses care about the goal of maximizing their own profits. Thus, big companies remain leaders in a competitive foods market.
Now, let us see what would a manager usually do in real world while running a business. In most cases, he or she would consult the basic rules governing the issue. Since most rules are under the federal and state laws, the government is also directly and indirectly engaged in healthy nutrition system. Therefore, policy makers should think more health-wise as opposed to revenue-wise. They should also derive their behavior from the golden rule of Kant’s imperative, starting to think from a global perspective – about the population’s health, and the usefulness of healthy population for the economy of the world.
References
Dryer, P., and Carney, D. 2002. Year of the Whistleblower. Business Week, December 16: 107–110.
Wee, H. 2002. Corporate ethics: Right makes might, Business Week, April 11.
Webber, R. 1989. Whistle blowing. Executive Excellence, July: …