Business Ethics: Importance, Theories, and Stakeholder Perspectives

This document explores the importance of business ethics, various ethical theories, and stakeholder perspectives. It discusses conflicts, benefits, and harm caused by whistleblowing, the role of ethical theories, and the implications of business ethics on academic and managerial levels. It also evaluates sustainability and corporate social responsibility approaches and analyzes stakeholder perspectives on business behavior.

Business Ethics

Table of Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
What values are in conflict in case? What harm did Snowden cause? What benefits did
his actions bring?......................................................................................................................1
Do you agree that Snowden’ actions were ethically justified even if legally prohibited?
Why or why not? Make an argument by weighting the competing values in this case......2
If you were in Snowden’s position, what would you have done and why?..........................2
Would you change your position if you knew that Snowden’s leak would lead to a loss of
life among CIA operatives? What about if it would save lives?...........................................2
Is there a circumstances in which you think whistleblowing would be ethically ideal?
How about ethically prohibited...............................................................................................2
Role of ethical theories..............................................................................................................3
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................3
PART1.............................................................................................................................................3
Evaluation of importance of business ethics on academic level as well as its managerial
implications................................................................................................................................3
PART2.............................................................................................................................................5
Identification as well as evaluation of relevant normative and descriptive business ethics
theories.......................................................................................................................................5
PART3.............................................................................................................................................5
Analysis of stakeholder perspectives on business behaviour................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Business ethics is said to be a study of particular business policies as well as practices that
are related to potential controversial topics which consists of corporate governance, insider
trading, corporate social responsibility, bribery, discrimination as well as fiduciary
responsibilities (Gurău, 2019). It generally ensures that a particular level of Faith should be exist
among customers as well as different forms of market participants through business. It is a form
of applied ethics which determines ethical principles as well as moral or ethical problems that
could rise in business surroundings. Along with that business ethics applies to all factors of
business operations along with it is relevant to carry different individuals of whole company.
Business ethics is generated from individuals, organisational statement as well as legal system.
These are said to be norms, ethical or unethical practices as well as values which guides
business. This report is based on business ethics of a case study alphabet and Facebook which
are networking companies. This report includes in two parts in which part 1 carries reflection
that defines about concept of normative ethical theories, role of ethical theories and difference
between non-consequentialist and consequentialist approach along with its strength and
limitation (Williams, 2018). Along with part 2 is divided into three sections that consists of
importance of business ethics on academic level as well as managerial implication, evaluation of
approaches to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, evaluation of normative as well
as descriptive business theories, stakeholder perspective on business behaviour, business ethics
dilemmas, variety of learning resources along with its conclusion.
MAIN BODY
TASK1
What values are in conflict in case? What harm did Snowden cause? What benefits did his
actions bring?
It has been identified that conflict in case study of Edward Snowden is that as being a
computer expert as well as former CIA system administrator he has released confidential
government documents which are to press about presence of government surveillance programs
do not comes under legal business ethics (Rasche, 2019). So according to that Snowden has
violated Espionage act of 1917 that relates in leaking secrets. For that Snowden has argued for a
1

moral obligation for having whistle blowing by stating that he had a duty for informing the
public which is to be carried by their names against them for violation of privacy.
Do you agree that Snowden’ actions were ethically justified even if legally prohibited? Why
or why not? Make an argument by weighting the competing values in this case.
It has been identified from case study of Edward Snowden and that his act was not justified
in terms of his task as he has violated Espionage act that leads to leak of secrets. As being a
justification for or his whistleblowing that he was carrying his duty that relates in informing to
public by carrying out their names (Yiu, Saner and Bardy, 2020). According to case study
Snowden has violated secrecy agreement which is not comes under loyalty or and it has been
argued that it carries less important for more than one social contract a democracy which carries
by citizens.
If you were in Snowden’s position, what would you have done and why?
If I were at Snowden's I had violated law that came secrecy agreement. As I would have
informed to attorney general of United States for going out to concern as well as providing
various arguments for availing social contracts of citizens (Düwell, Bos and van Steenbergen,
2018). So that privacy of individuals could be e kept safe by having existence of government
surveillance programs.
Would you change your position if you knew that Snowden’s leak would lead to a loss of
life among CIA operatives? What about if it would save lives?
I do not change my position if I knew that Snowden sleek would lead to a loss of life
among CIA operatives. In fact, I would have provided various justifications as well as gone
through various judgemental quotes for providing an ethical argument for carrying out ethical
cause for saving life (McNamara, Smith and Murphy-Hill, 2018). With their various arguments
will be made in order to support culpable as law itself was a just as well as unconstitutional but
still try for carrying out ethical practices.
Is there a circumstances in which you think whistleblowing would be ethically ideal? How
about ethically prohibited.
There is a point where whistleblowing would be treated ethical ideal medial ran public
were about to came in ethical practices various ethical practices could be made in terms of
arguments of normative as well as descriptive ethics for providing justification in whistle
2

blowing. That case whistleblowing whistleblowing could be considered ethically ideal (Helen,
2020).
Role of ethical theories.
TASK2
PART1
Evaluation of importance of business ethics on academic level as well as its managerial
implications.
As in terms of case study importance of business ethics on academic level are as follows:
 Introducing learners to faulty rationalization: As an ethical decision leads from
incorrect rationalization as well as external pressures. As ethical discussions allow
learners to understand dangers of faulty rationalisation as well as preparing them to
handle with external pressure in their own careers at the academic level. As according to
case study by having business ethics it will lead to identify different fault that is acquired
by rationalization.
 Allowing learners to develop critical thinking skills: As business ethics plays an
important role in allowing learners in developing their critical thinking skills as different
case studies as well as articles represent ethical scenarios introduce correct as well as
incorrect ethical decision along with allowing them for having learning in first hand of
complexity of ethics. Business ethics in academic level provide the importance of
allowing different learners in developing their critical thinking skills in order to
identifying fake or actual news which is going to be spread.
 To view different opposing viewpoint: As ethical values at generally influenced by
culture as well as a bringing of different individuals. At academic level there is an
opportunity to venture from home as well as experiencing opposing views (Lashitew,
Bals and van Tulder, 2020). In terms of case study as being a social media site business
ethics helps in opposing different viewpoints in analysing moral obligations.
As implications of business ethics at managerial level could be explain through different
areas that includes ethics and Finance that every business our company has to transfer in having
their economic value. Ethics in human resource Management that relates in carrying out crucial
jobs in terms of managing by providing them training along with firing them due to some
3

reasons. Ethics introduction that leads in carrying corporations of business through ethical codes
in maintaining their market share.
Investigations or evaluation of approaches to sustainability as well as corporate social
responsibility.
In terms of case study of alphabet and Facebook various approaches of sustainability from
evaluation are as follows:
 Biodynamic system: This approach of sustainability generally focused in mobilizing
various biological mechanism. As various organisms like worms and bacteria in soil
sometimes breakdown organic matter as well as make nutrients available to pastures
crops. By using this approach as a biodynamic system various management system could
perform their operations is carrying out business practices for having a sustainable
environment.
 Integrated management: This approach of sustainability deals in having an effective
planning as well as monitoring different conditions of operations which are to be taken by
company in carrying out information through different internet sources like YouTube,
Google as well as Twitter by investigating how much Russian activities are there on
platform.
In terms of case study various approaches to corporate social responsibility is as follows:
 Obstructive: This approach to product social responsibility is concerned with making
profits. As obstructive companies are known to pollute, customers and even exploit their
own employees. As per the case study there is amid speculation that fake news is spread
on social media that could influence election (Kalemci and Tuzun, 2019). Various Giants
companies Facebook as well as Google appear to dismiss there occurring possibilities.
 Defensive: This Approach to corporate social responsibility relate in being defensive
towards social responsibility and not are specifically responsible. As in this approach
companies could consider themselves as neutral along with they make profit which is a
more important than performing actions in a socially responsible way. As this approach
makes a point towards law to ensure that others could take legal action against them but
they do not more than what is legally needed to perform. According to a study by having
a speculation of spreading fake news has influence elections along with their different
4

accounts that are tied to Russian government that company reported to some 3,000
Kremlin ringed advertisement which aims at providing their country on their platform.
PART2
Identification as well as evaluation of relevant normative and descriptive business ethics
theories.
Normative ethics is referred as a study of ethical action it generally analyses how individual
ought at in association with morality. It is basically concerned through a criterion of what is
correct and wrong. As concept of normative ethics is a study and understanding of how to arrive
at basic moral standards as well as justify their basic or moral standard. There are tools that helps
in identifying normative concept. As in case study various normative ethics theories are used
Kantianism, Utilitarianism, ethical intuitionism along with virtual ethics. As per the case study
there is no indication from different social media sites for carrying out different activities that
could be e lead on their platforms that results to have large technological problems.
Descriptive ethics or comparative ethics is said to be a study of individuals views which are
related to their moral beliefs. In general words descriptive ethics analysis what do individual
think which is right hence analysis of descriptive ethics consists of describing individual’s moral
values as well as standards with their behaviour (Terlaak Kim and Roh, 2018). Descriptive ethics
is a type of empirical analysis which incorporates research through different fields of
psychology, sociology as well as history. this imperial studies generally observed that cultures or
societies have their own moral standards which forbid as well as advocate different types of
actions. Descriptive ethics helps in identifying differences along with similarities in carrying out
modern practices of various societies along with the evaluation of development of standards that
are behind their practices. As per the case study various behaviours of government parties are
identified through their moral obligation for carrying out their role in democratic process.
PART3
Analysis of stakeholder perspectives on business behaviour.
As stakeholder perspective promotes ethical business practices in decision making as well
as it focus on having long run sustainability by having an emphasize on a stable and effective
customer base, better corporate image, employee wellbeing as well as corporate social
responsibility. stakeholder perspective generally leads in enhancing profitability as well as long
5

run of sustainability (Lee, Kim and Kim, 2018). In terms of case study of alphabet and Facebook
company' social media business affects their stakeholder around global world. As this situation
needs global standards for company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives as various
programs for satisfying their stakeholders interest. According to case study they are making
different privacy policies for satisfying different standards as well as expectations of users as
well as government. As this group is relevant for corporate citizenship in having users,
advertisers, employees, communities as well as government.
Judgements of business ethics dilemmas
Ethical judgement is said to be a reasoning about different possible actions in carrying out
condition as well as judging their action which is more ethical. As when individual is making an
ethical judgement give different reasons to decide best and effective solutions to a problem (Dou,
Su and Wang, 2019). Judgement is said to be a critical element in decision making process. As
per the case study there are different ethical dilemmas that could be a rise in terms of business
ethics that are as follows:
 Misuse of artificial intelligence: There is a dilemma that occurred in case study is misuse
of artificial intelligence in terms of having surveillance practices through limiting privacy
that leads to having a growth in spreading fake news in terms of elections through
different social media sites.
 Manipulation of human judgements: According to case study of alphabet and Facebook
it has been evaluated that there is dilemma of manipulation of human judgement. As in
case study as a result of spreading of fake news within Amid speculation that has
influenced elections which dismissed possibility of their behaviour. After that they derive
a major chunk of their revenues from advertising placements from accounts that are tied
to Russian government.
 Proliferation of deep fakes: As deep fakes are said to be synthetically generated pictures
as well as videos in which an individual and social media which is replaced with
someone others likeness. As by creating a false narrative using defects could harm
individuals trust in media (Ferrell and Ferrell, 2021). As this mistrust or dilemma is
dangerous as well as harmful for societies that are considering mass media which is one
option to government to inform individuals on emergency events. As per case study there
is a dilemma of ethical problem in having presidential election from Russian government.
6

Utilising of variety of learning resources
As learning resources are said to be more important tool in in academic level that consists of
videos, white boards, overhead projectors as well as flip charts along with smart devices and
software. The purpose of business ethics and resources is to provide relevant opportunities to
individual to explore their ideas and knowledge for solving problems along with developing their
skills and knowledge. as resources are said to be more useful as supporting tool in terms of
academic learning that are provided to individuals for having a flexibility to access files or
materials without having a supervision of instructor in a more informal manner like browsing
learning off of various actions and behaviours (Elali, 2021). As per the case study with an admit
speculation of spreading fake news and social media has led to create an influence in 2016
elections along with Giants company like Facebook and Google that could dismiss their
possibility. But in 2017 there is a major chunk of revenues that are created from advertisement
placements by tying to Russian government.
CONCLUSION
From above report it could be concluded that business ethics is said to be a form of applied
ethics which determines ethical principles or moral as well as ethical problems that could be
arise by business environment. business ethics is said to be an important element for carrying out
business practices. This report is based and explains about case study of alphabet and Facebook
in which it includes it's important of business ethics on academic level along with managerial
implications. There is an explanation of importance of normative as well as descriptive business
theories. There is an analysis of stakeholder perspective on business behaviour along with
business ethics dilemmas for having a variety of learning resources.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Dou, J., Su, E. and Wang, S., 2019. When does family ownership promote proactive
environmental strategy? The role of the firm’s long-term orientation. Journal of
Business Ethics .158 (1). pp.81-95.
Düwell, M., Bos, G. and van Steenbergen, N., 2018. Towards the ethics of a green future. Taylor
& Francis.
Elali, W., 2021. The Importance of Strategic Agility to Business Survival During Corona Crisis
and Beyond. International Journal of Business Ethics and Governance, pp.1-8.
Ferrell, O.C. and Ferrell, L., 2021. Applying the Hunt Vitell ethics model to artificial intelligence
ethics. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science .31 (2). pp.178-188.
Gurău, C., 2019, September. The Reason for Being Ethical in Business: Moral or Marketing
Orientation?. In Griffiths School of Management and IT Annual Conference on
Business, Entrepreneurship and Ethics (pp. 1-15). Springer, Cham.
Helen, I.N., 2020. BUSINESS ETHICS AS A TOOL FOR ORGANISATIONAL
GROWTH. Villanova Journal of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities .2 (1).
Kalemci, R.A. and Tuzun, I.K., 2019. Understanding protestant and Islamic work ethic studies:
A content analysis of articles. Journal of Business Ethics, 158(4), pp.999-1008.
Lashitew, A.A., Bals, L. and van Tulder, R., 2020. Inclusive business at the base of the pyramid:
The role of embeddedness for enabling social innovations. Journal of business
ethics .162 (2). pp.421-448.
Lee, J.W., Kim, Y.M. and Kim, Y.E., 2018. Antecedents of adopting corporate environmental
responsibility and green practices. Journal of Business Ethics, 148(2), pp.397-409.
McNamara, A., Smith, J. and Murphy-Hill, E., 2018, October. Does ACM’s code of ethics
change ethical decision making in software development?. In Proceedings of the 2018
26th ACM joint meeting on european software engineering conference and symposium
on the foundations of software engineering (pp. 729-733).
Rasche, A., 2019. “Speaking on Behalf of…”: Leadership Ethics and the Collective Nature of
Moral Reflection. Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-10.
Ren, L., 2019, July. The Application of Experiential Teaching Method in the Teaching of
Business Ethics. In 2019 4th International Conference on Humanities Science and
Society Development (ICHSSD 2019) (pp. 566-569). Atlantis Press.
Terlaak, A., Kim, S. and Roh, T., 2018. Not good, not bad: The effect of family control on
environmental performance disclosure by business group firms. Journal of Business
Ethics .153 (4). pp.977-996.
Williams, O., 2018. Restorying the Purpose of Business: An Interpretation of the Agenda of the
UN Global Compact. African Journal of Business Ethics .12 (2).
Yiu, L., Saner, R. and Bardy, R., 2020. Collective action on public goods for sustainable
development: ethics in action.
8