Are Companies Truly Ethical Today, or Is It Just in the Manuals? Let's Discuss!

Are organizations in today's cut-throat competitive scenario really working ethically? Are they really following what they write in their seemingly never-ending huge manuals of conduct? And is it possible to reach the very top by being 100% genuine?

Hi,

I would just like to answer the last part about your query. It is definitely possible to reach the top by being 100% ethical. It will take longer to get there, and it will be very difficult, but by persevering, it is definitely possible. This is my personal experience.

Regards,
Pragya

Hi Khyat,

Good to see this email. From my point of view, yes, it is very important for a company to abide by its ethical standards and values. There is a significant difference between doing the right things and doing things in the right way. When a company starts implementing the beauty of this difference, I think it will always be on the path to being ethically true and reliable. The company may encounter some challenges initially or in certain situations by making decisions that are ethically correct but not in the interest of management. However, sooner or later, this is the company that will make a difference. We have examples of big companies like Infosys and Wipro that are ethically excelling (solely my perception) under the leadership of great business tycoons.

Regarding the question of 100% genuineness, I feel nobody is perfect; everyone has room for improvement. One should be ethical with respect to the controlling factors.

I hope I have answered your question to some extent.

Regards,

Hitesh

Ethics act as a guide to your decisions; it's up to you how you make decisions based on your moral background. For example, there is a marketing guy who sells refrigerators in an area where people don't even bother to prefer cool items, yet he manages to sell a good number of refrigerators. For a refrigerator company, they will reward that guy for selling the most number of refrigerators.

However, putting his hand on his heart, he should consider whether he was right or wrong. Thus, here he will make decisions based on moral values.

I hope now you will have a clearer understanding of ethical issues.

Regards,
Amrit

[QUOTE=khyat;119316]

Are organizations in today's cutthroat competitive scenario really working ethically? Are they really following what they write in their seemingly never-ending huge manuals of conduct? And is it possible to reach the very top by being 100% genuine?

Hi Khyat:

Thanks for asking this seemingly simple question in today's tough competitive world. The cutthroat culture may make speaking on ethics seem like a myth.

But, dear, remember the age-old saying, "Truth prevails!" The foundation of ethics in an organization is based on truth—truthful behaviors by the Board of Directors, senior executives, managers, employees, suppliers, financers, and all towards the customers!

My three decades plus of industry/corporate experience has taught me that "Frankness pays in life—even if there are initial setbacks of holding on to truth/ethics!"

Classic examples of corporate ethics can be seen in the fact that with a mere $250 initial capital, Infosys has grown into a major name in the international scene. This growth is not just due to its service standards but also because of following ethics of business and humanity at all times, not just printing them as posters to be displayed!

The recent recall by Toyota Cars and the statements made with an apology to the world for the defective part in their cars by the top officials is another example of following ethical practices in business.

There are numerous examples of organizational ethical practices. What is essential is that organizational ethics are not only spoken during employee inductions and framed on walls but visibly exhibited by all with top-down examples!

It is true that no one is 100% perfect, but all our efforts need to be towards achieving that 100% mark. We need not say that only God is 100% right!

So, dear, reaching the top is a good aim; however, it needs to be supported by knowledge, passion, smart work, consistency, humility, overall positive attitude, and last but not least, by being ethical!

Hope this gives you some additional insights!

Regards, Ravindra Waghmare