Ind. 2.08 – Apply ethics to demonstrate trustworthiness Created by: D. Burns, J. Bailey, J. Loudell, J. Winfree

Ethics Guidelines for human behavior; the study of moral choices and values; choosing between right and wrong.

Ethical behavior Knowing the difference between right and wrong and consciously choosing to do right.

Code of ethics A systematic set of rules and procedures used to guide the behavior of an individual, a business, or a culture.

Business ethics Applying principles of right and wrong to situations in the workplace.

The Risk of Business as Usual Companies are put at risk when leaders fail to see that ethical leadership is vital for effective & responsible management Poorly managed corporate risk/ethical decisions have irrevocable human & financial consequences Deaths & accidents from the unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles Deaths of oil platform workers in the BP explosion & subsequent environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico

Factors impacting risk assessments Perception – How you see things Is cheating ethical or unethical? If you consider it ethical in some situations – why? Emotions – If your family has no food – do you steal food from the grocery store? Known vs. Unknown information Using a photo without knowing if it is copyrighted or not

Factors To Consider when Assessing Risks Time – “Time is Money” Coming in to work 5 minutes late or leaving early Probability – The chance that the outcome will be negative If I speed, what are the chances I’ll get caught Magnitude – The number of people affected Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Cost vs. benefit – human & financial Physical & Personal distance – How might this decision affect you personally

Ethical responsibility towards customers Treat all customers with respect. Be honest. Do not exaggerate the merits of your products/services. Inform customers of possible dangers of your products/services. Handle all disputes fairly.

Ethical responsibility towards employees Establish an ethical workplace. Hold yourself to high ethical standards Serve as a role model to others Always treat employees fairly & honestly Employees tend to copy the behavior of the business owner Ethical behavior gains the trust & respect of customers

Ethical responsibility towards employees Create a written code of ethics to set guidelines to help the business owner and employees make ethical decisions. Establish company policies and procedures to let business owners and employees know how to act in certain situations. Have employees attend an orientation meeting on this information

Ethical responsibility towards the community Contribute money to charities, cultural institutions, and other reputable causes. Get involved. Donate products and services.