An Ethical Question ? creating an ethical environment | WOMEN ...

Since the early 1980?s, there has been increasing concern and discussion regarding business values, ethics and morals. Good ethical behaviour and strong values are prime company assets and important components for long term business success.

While large businesses identify specific behaviours as inappropriate or detrimental to achieving organizational objectives, many small business do not consider or have the resources to address the issue. ??That is beginning to change as many small businesses are recognizing the positive relationship between demonstrating strong and specific ethical values, and productivity and profitability.

So how does a small business owner foster an ethical environment?

Because everyone has a different idea of ?right? and ?wrong? based on familial values and past experiences, it is important to include employee?s opinions and thoughts about?business values. Open discussions can take place at staff meetings, planning sessions or round tables. Once these values have been established, it is important to recognize and adhere to them, especially by the owner or manager. Reinforcing these values during employee training is also essential.

A business owner can also give considerable weight to ethical behavior in relation to other business?activities. Business ethics (and ethics in general) is a soft and subjective topic (unlike, say, accounting, where rules, regulations and practices are strictly set in place).? Therefore, priority should be given to ethical practices, especially when they are new, so employee attention,?acceptance and practice?can take place.

Consistency also aids in the development of business ethics. To be consistent, values, beliefs and actions should be rational and free of contradictions. To uncover contradictions, examine situations where values were tested. Were situations handled?similarly? Were there exceptions? If so, how was the exception justified? In other words, we must apply the same standards to one situation that we apply to another unless we can prove that the two situations differ.

Achieving the desired values require time, effort, consistency, and support from all staff members. By hiring the right employees and continually providing recognition based on adherence and acceptance, organizational values become internalized. The challenge lies in establishing clear values and balancing the importance of ethics while increasing the bottom line. How balanced these two goals are will determine the success and satisfaction?of the owner and the employees, as well as customers.

kathy griffin road conditions newt gingrich wives weather gina carano at last al green