Traditionally, books on business ethics focus on CSR, companies' relations with their stakeholders, and corporate citizenship. More recently, green credentials and sustainability have been added to that agenda. Unconventionally, this book argues that business ethics are basic to running business not a separate subject. They are inherent to the governance and management of every organization not an optional exercise in corporate citizenship. Business ethics concern behaviour in business and the behaviour of business. Decisions at every level in a company have ethical implications - strategically in the board room, managerially throughout the organization, and operationally in all of its activities. The use, and sometimes the abuse, of corporate power, the process of corporate governance, raises ethical issues. Business involves risk-taking, whether decisions are at the strategic, managerial, or operational level. Exposure to ethical risk needs to be part of every organization's strategy formulation, policy making, and enterprise risk management. Designed to be read by both undergraduates and postgraduates; this book is a primer on ethics in business. It is also relevant to ethics courses that are now part of many legal, accountancy, and other professional examinations. The book is not about moral philosophy, nor does it prescribe appropriate standards of behaviour or recommend economic, legal or political solutions. Rather it enables readers to recognize ethical issues in business, to respond appropriately, and to embed ethics in business processes. The book not only considers what business ethics are, and why they are important, but offers practical approaches on how to develop a successful corporate ethics culture.
Part I: Business Ethics - Principles 1. Business Ethics Affects Everyone 2. The Evolution of Business Ethics 3. On Corporate Social Responsibility 4. Business Ethics and Corporate Governance 5. Business Ethics and Risk Management Part II: Business Ethics - Practice 6. Creating a Sound Ethics Culture 7. Uniting Business Ethics, Governance and Risk 8. Business Ethics in Finance 9. Ethics in Business Operations 10. Business Ethics and Employees 11. Business Ethics, Society and the State 12. The Future of Business Ethics
