Unit 1 Review MBA 6301

When money gets in the way of corporate ethics

Your Name (First M. Last)

School or Institution Name (University at Place or Town, State)

Summary of the article

In the selected article "When money gets in the way of corporate ethics", one of the most plaguing issues has been raised. The author is talking about the challenges that companies face when they start earning money. “Peter J Henning” shines a light on the report that has been generated by Wells Fargo, and it shows that companies are forcing employees to undermine the ethical teachings. It has been seen that the task of sales is pushing employees to open fake accounts as they need to meet their assigned targets (Crane,et,al,2019). The author is criticizing the company policies i.e. sales model as well as the management system that creates a competitive environment for low-quality sales for which employees adopt improper and unethical ways. Another main point that has been highlighted by this author is that not the executives should be blamed as they do not interfere in day-to-day matters. It is important to make flexible policies and teach the employees that it takes decades to build reputation and minutes to ruin a brand.

How it relates to contemporary business ethics

The first thing that must be kept in mind is that ethical teaching never changes what is good, will be good forever and what is immoral, cannot be moral even after centuries. The selected article relates to the contemporary business ethics in all aspects as it claims that no one is allowed to cheat others whether it is client or owner (Henning,et,al,2017). At the same time, it gives a message to the business management that policies should be made by keeping in consideration capabilities of employees and they should be given doable tasks so that they never go for cheating their companies by using immoral ways. So, it could be said that this article relates to contemporary business ethics as it discourages breaching of any business ethical rule.

Applying of information

Being employee of a company, I learned a lot from the real life examples being given in this article. I am going to apply information of this article, in my professional life by keeping me away from all the unethical ways of earning a name or completing the given task. What I learned from this article for implementing in my professional life is that never spoil a company’s reputation that it earned after the struggle of decades. Another important lesson that I am going to implement if I would be the executive or managing head of an organization is that I would make policies that would not drag my employees towards the use of immoral and unethical ways. I would take my employees in confidence so that they are not going to damage the reputation of my company.

How it fits my ethical views

Taking a look at this article and comparing it to my ethical concepts, I would say that opening bogus accounts just for the sake of meeting given targets is not an ethically justified act at all. This article presents the ethical views that when companies or individuals start earning, it becomes a challenge for them to keep their selves away from corruption and other unethical activities. The author in this article is criticizing the immoral practices likewise; I condemn all the immoral activities that happen in my surroundings. Ethical teaching being given in this article is that one must not go for personal benefit by damaging lives of others. I also believe that if you are getting benefit but because of you, others are suffering then one must not ruin other’s lives. One of the main ethical view being given in this article is that one must not only search for personal benefits rather one must take in consideration that what effects his/her actions would cast on others and this ethical view perfectly fits my ethical views.

References

Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.

Henning, P. J. (2017). When money gets in the way of corporate ethics. The New York Times.