Running head: ethics introduction paper ethics introduction paper ivan gonzalez august 15, 2012 melvin nowlin, jr. Ethics introduction essay the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics will be defined in this paper. As part of the paper the description of differences of the theory in which the theory addresses ethics and morals is given. An experience to explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts in which relates to the theory is given as well.

Virtue theory is the approach to ethics in which expresses the good character a person is or is not garett, 2005. The trait in which the person presents is based on good, bad, or a disposition of both. However, traits are not something a person is born with but are acquired through life based on moral virtues. The act committed, uses virtue ethics to determine the right or wrong of the action based on character garett, 2005. Utilitarianism is the approach to ethics that focus on choosing the act that has the best consequences encyclopedia britannica, 2011. The utilitarian will view all the good and bad produced by the act encyclopedia britannica, 2011. Acts are classified as morally right or wrong only if the action has consequences that have a result that has a preferred manner encyclopedia britannica, 2011.

Utilitarianism only addresses morality if the act is the preferred action but if not, morality does not play a role in basing decisions encyclopedia britannica, 2011. Ethics is not viewed in utilitarianism as well because decisions are based on best outcome for the individual. Honesty: honesty is the virtue of communicating the truth and creating trust in the minds of others.

Therefore, business honesty means the virtue of communicating business truth and creating business trust in the minds of others. Running head: the united states government environmental ethic the united states government environmental ethic benjamin l. Davis american military university professor linda allen january 23, 2013 1 the united states government environmental ethic 2 table of contents abstract. Enron leaders kenneth lay and jeffrey skilling were caught in a scam that led to their trial that became popular and labeled as the trial of the century.

Former worldcom mangers are in jail for pulling off one of the largest frauds in history. More recently, an internal audit at scottish mineral water company campsie spring uncovered a 14 million pound fraud. A statement at on the greencore website said concerns about the accounts emerged after an internal audit on 6 june.

While it is true that all of these cases and dozens other similar are cases of fraud, and hence criminal activity, what is important for us here is to take stock of the nature of lapses and how they impact the issue of ethics in business. According to the bbc news datelined 25 june 2005, campsie's parent company, greencore that bought campsie in 2001, admitted the loss had been incurred through a deliberate concealment of costs rather than embezzlement. The fraud was committed by a former financial controller who left before the problem was discovered, according to the bbc. Some of the other information gathered from the report may be briefly stated as under: a three managers in supervisory roles at campsie, have since left the company. B a new managing director and financial director have been appointed at campsie spring's headquarters in lennoxtown, east dunbartonshire. C financial consequences have been severe for greencore: its overall operating profit in this financial year is likely to be reduced by more than 7m d the company will also have to restate its accounts to reduce profits by more than 6m in 2007 and more than 3m in 2006.

News.bbc.co.uk in context of past business frauds we know for sure that enron had a code of ethics. The same hold true for worldcom that certainly didnt lack extensive internal controls. In the present case, too, greencore is a sound company with their ethics in place and controls intact. Nonetheless, they presumably had cultures where engaging in unethical conduct was tacitly condoned, if not encouraged. Today the focus in business has shifted from building a compliance infrastructure to building a right culture. Companies no longer expend their resources on monitoring what is going on inside organizations that are either keeping people from doing the right thing or, keeping people away from doing misconduct. The organization that wants to reduce the risk of unethical conduct must focus more effort on building the right culture than on building a compliance infrastructure strategic finance, may 2006, p.30.

This trend toward recognizing the role of corporate culture is evidenced by the ethics resource centers 2005 national business ethics survey nbes , based on interviews with more than 3,0 employees and managers in the u.s. The survey revealed that, despite the increase in the number of ethics and compliance program elements being implemented, desired outcomes, such as reduced levels of observed misconduct, havent changed since 1994. Even more striking is the revelation that, although formal ethics and compliance programs have some impact, organizational culture has the greatest influence in determining program outcomes strategic finance, may 2006, pp.30 31.

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In order to understand what is ethical for business it is imperative that we understand how business differs from all other activities and associations. For instance to draw them up or to use them it is necessary to understand what differentiates current assets from non current assets and net operating profit from net profit. Merely dealing with vast sums of money does not automatically make an organization a business. Therefore, we must in the first place understand what a business is to appreciate what is business ethics. Unless business is clearly distinguished and differentiated from organizations it may closely resemble, it might be difficult to determine what might be good in business or for it sternberg p.31.

They transgress business ethics and norms that require to be scrupulously followed. The statements from worldcom executives might be enlightening: im sorry for the hurt that has been caused by my cowardly behavior. Scott sullivan, cfo faced with a decision that required strong moral courage, i took the easy way out. Buford yates, director of general accounting at the time i consider the single most critical character defining moment of my life, i failed. U.s district judge barbara jones noted at sentencing that she was among the lowest ranking members of conspiracy that led to $11 billion fraud that sank the telecommunication company in 2002.

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