Download What Is Business Ethics?

5.02 PowerPoint
Objective 5.02 Understand ethics
and ethical decision-making.
What Is Ethics?
The set of moral principles by
which people conduct
themselves personally, socially,
or professionally.
Rules of behavior that govern
a group or society.
What Is Business Ethics?
A set of guidelines about how a
business should conduct itself. Using
ethical business practices means that a
business must operate:
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Legally
Ethically
Humanely
Legal Responsibility
To protect our society the U.S.
government sets up independent
regulatory agencies.
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The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA). OSHA is a division
of the Department of Labor that:
 Sets and enforces
work related safety laws
 Businesses must comply with
OSHA regulations.
Code of Ethics
A set of guidelines for maintaining ethics
in the workplace.
Professional groups have their own code
of ethics. Some professional groups are:

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Doctors
Lawyers
Journalists and
Teachers
Importance Of Workplace Ethics
Employees who act ethically build a
good reputation or name for
themselves. They are:
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Confidential
Dependable
Able to get along with others
Honest
Prompt
Respect other people & property
Trustworthy
Ethics in the Workplace
Employees exhibit good ethics in the
workplace by:
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Respecting company time—working during
work time
Using company money appropriately
Respecting company property and using it
appropriately for work purposes:
 Company data and technology resources
 Internet access and email
Treating coworkers with respect
Ethics In Technology
Technology is driving many companies
today. With the increased use of
technology comes an increase in ethical
problems within businesses.
Consequently, companies have had to
take various actions regarding Ethics in
Technology.
Ethical Computer Use Policy
General principles to guide computer user
behavior.
An ethical computer use policy might state
that users should:
Not play computer games
during work hours.
 Not check personal e-mail
 Not use the Internet for personal
use such as shopping online

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
AUP – is a policy that a user must agree to
follow in order to be provided access (login user name & password) to a network or to
the Internet.
Most schools have students
sign an AUP (Acceptable
Use Policy) at the
beginning of the school
year.
Ethical Decision-making Process
Six Steps
What is the ethical issue or problem?
What facts have the greatest impact
on the decision?
Who could be affected by your
decision? How?
What would each person want you to
do about the issue?
Ethical Decision-making
continued
What are 3 alternative actions?
Who would be harmed by each
choice and how?
 Are there automatic reasons to
eliminate any choice?

Select your course of action—make
an informed ethical decision.
Adapted from BF Skinner
http://lessonplans.btskinner.com/ethics1.html