business ethics
Commerce's moral code
Business ethics is the study of moral principles applied to commercial conduct, or those principles themselves.
The field examines questions like fair treatment of workers, honest advertising, environmental responsibility, and conflicts of interest.
Companies may have ethics codes or training programs: The merger raised business ethics concerns about insider trading.
In practice, the term often surfaces when standards have been violated.
Truthfulness, sincerity
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
- transparencyState of being see-through
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
probity · truthfulness · sincerity · honor · conscientiousness · reliability · authenticity · good faith
Adhering to requirements
- whistleblowingExposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- antitrustAgainst corporate market dominance
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
insider trading · conflict of interest · code of conduct · sexual harassment · discrimination · data protection · privacy · labor standards
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- moral relativismValues vary by context
- rights-basedGrounded in inherent claims
consequentialism · Kantian · ethical reasoning · moral philosophy · cost-benefit analysis · ethical dilemmas · moral obligation
Obligation to act loyally
- audit committeeBoard subgroup reviewing finances
- shareholder rightsLegal claims of equity owners
- internal controlsOrganizational oversight procedures
- risk managementIdentifying and minimizing threats
proxy voting · stakeholder engagement · whistleblower protection · bylaws · due diligence · securities law
corporate social responsibility
Company's ethical community obligations
- environmental stewardshipResponsible management of nature
- triple bottom lineBusiness accountability triad
- fair tradeEquitable exchange between parties
- ethical sourcingProcurement respecting people and planet
greenwashing · ESG · impact investing · sweatshop labor · living wage · community investment · circular economy · ethical consumerism
honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
- transparencyState of being see-through
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
fairness · probity · truthfulness · sincerity · honor · conscientiousness · reliability · authenticity · good faith · moral courage
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- whistleblowingExposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- antitrustAgainst corporate market dominance
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
corruption · insider trading · conflict of interest · code of conduct · sexual harassment · discrimination · data protection · privacy · labor standards · human rights
deontology
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- moral relativismValues vary by context
rights-based · consequentialism · Kantian · ethical reasoning · moral philosophy · cost-benefit analysis · ethical dilemmas · moral obligation
fiduciary duty
Obligation to act loyally
- audit committeeBoard subgroup reviewing finances
- shareholder rightsLegal claims of equity owners
- internal controlsOrganizational oversight procedures
risk management · proxy voting · stakeholder engagement · whistleblower protection · bylaws · due diligence · securities law
corporate social responsibility
Company's ethical community obligations
- environmental stewardshipResponsible management of nature
- triple bottom lineBusiness accountability triad
- fair tradeEquitable exchange between parties
ethical sourcing · greenwashing · ESG · impact investing · sweatshop labor · living wage · community investment · circular economy · ethical consumerism · social enterprise
- business bookscorporate strategy, corporate culture, management theory, human resources, project management
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- business educationMBA, accounting courses, marketing courses, capstone project, capstone
- Ethics Traininghonesty, fairness, integrity, values, morals
- fair marketsfair competition, fair dealing, fair play, fair pricing, level playing field
- Islamic economicsIslamic finance, Islamic banking, zakat, sharia compliance, bayt al-mal
business ethicswhite-collar crime
Business fraud offenses
embezzlement · insider trading · bribery · corporate wrongdoing · kickbacks
business, ethics, businessman, busily, businesslike, busiest, businesswoman, busier, busyness