What Are the Ethics in International Business
Offshore partners need to be transparent, but companies need to try to understand the culture of the communities where their suppliers and other third parties do business. While ethical behavior is not necessarily a legal requirement, companies and leaders who adhere to a strict code of ethics will not only have better relationships with local communities, but will also serve as admirable examples. Organizations that have developed a code of ethics to be applied to all commercial and non-governmental organizations include the Global Alliance and the International Management Association (IMA). Culture influences how local values influence global business ethics. There are differences in the importance that cultures place on certain ethical behaviours. For example, corruption is still prevalent in many countries and, although people do not approve of it, they accept it as a necessity of everyday life. Every professional is influenced by the values, social programs and experiences they have had since childhood. These collective factors influence how a person perceives a problem and the good or bad behaviour associated with it. Even within a particular culture, individuals have different ideas about what constitutes ethical or unethical behavior. Judgments can vary greatly depending on social or economic status, education, and experiences with other cultures and beliefs. As in the example of corruption, it is important to note that there is a difference between ethical behaviour and normal practice. It may be acceptable to discriminate in certain cultures, even if people in that society know that it is not fair or just. In global business ethics, people try to understand what the ethical act is and what normal practice might be.
If these are not consistent, the focus is on how ethical action can be promoted. Examples of ethical business practices include engaging in truthful advertising, implementing internal quality controls, and benefiting from inside information: ethics is not a science. The social and natural sciences can provide important data to help us make better ethical decisions. But science alone doesn`t tell us what to do. Science can provide an explanation of what people are. But ethics provide reasons why people should act. And just because something is scientifically or technologically possible, it may not be ethical to do so. “A Framework for Ethical Thinking,” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University, Last Edited May 2009, accessed January 26, 2010, www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework.html. Bribery payments are relatively common in many countries, and bribes often take the form of large payments, which are small incentives designed to speed up decisions and transactions.
In India and Mexico, for example, a wholesale payment can help your phones settle in faster, at home or at work. Transparency International tracks illegal behaviour such as corruption and embezzlement in the public sector in 180 countries by interviewing international leaders. It assigns an IPC (Corruption Perceptions Index) rating to each country. New Zealand, Denmark, Singapore and Sweden have the lowest levels of corruption, while the highest corruption rates are observed in most African countries, Russia, Myanmar and Afghanistan. In an international company, the most important ethical issues concern employment practices, human rights, environmental standards, corruption and the moral obligation of international companies. The term “international trade” means any commercial transaction involving the transfer of goods, services or resources between parties located in two or more countries. The parties can be companies, private companies or governments: to begin our discussion on corruption, let`s first define them in a business context. Corruption is “the obtaining or obtaining of benefits by illegitimate, immoral and/or incompatible means with one`s duty or the rights of others. Corruption often results from favouritism. In addition to presenting an ethical code of conduct for employees, an international business ethics policy must take into account practices such as corporate governance, corruption, discrimination, social responsibility and fiduciary duties.
A definition of international business ethics begins with a moral code of right and wrong, but modern business ethics has expanded to support social and environmental causes and to be a responsible member of the communities in which the company operates. In response to the debate, the WTO declared its support for the ILO`s internationally recognized core labour standards. The WTO has also stated its belief that “economic growth and development fostered by increased trade and further trade liberalization contribute to the promotion of these standards,” while opposing “the use of labour standards for protectionist purposes.” Today, there are still business gifts in Japan, especially Oseibo (end of year) and Ochugen (mid-summer). These are a must for Japanese companies. Oseibo`s gifts are presented in the first half of December as a sign of gratitude for past favors and loyalty. This is a good opportunity to thank customers for their business. Ochugen usually occurs in mid-July in Tokyo and mid-August in other areas. Originally an opportunity to comfort the families of those who died in the first half of the year, Ochugen falls two weeks before Obon, a holiday in honor of the dead. Ethical standards create trust between parties doing business together, including partners and customers. Organizations earn this trust by demonstrating ethical behavior over time and gaining a reputation for fair treatment and respect for human rights and social responsibility. Some modern philosophers argue that the power of corporations implies the social responsibility to return resources to corporations. The idea of social responsibility stems from the philosophy that business people should consider the social consequences of their actions.
The practice of using connections to promote commercial interests exists in almost every country in the world. However, the extent and manner in which it is institutionalized differs from culture to culture. Trust is a prerequisite for all kinds of healthy business relationships, whether between individuals or organizations. Three approaches that help companies build trust across cultures start with an open mind, learn about the other party`s background, and show results and character in all relationships with the other party. Most companies in Europe are not interested in working with Asian countries because of their culture and religion. Workplace harassment is common in this type of global business, and more often than not, these issues result in the interruption of employment worldwide. Cultural ethics are different in each country than most of the time, and language is seen as an obstacle. Religious holidays are also an important topic in international affairs.
Therefore, CE marking is important to confirm your safety abroad. You also need to ensure that decisions have both significant and ethical economic and social consequences.