Ethical/Code of Conduct in Major Internet Companies

This report examines the ethical standards of major internet companies including Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Facebook. It discusses their codes of conduct, policies, and practices, and evaluates their reputation for ethical behavior. The report also includes a survey of public opinion on the ethical standards of these companies.

A BUSINESS REPORT ON ETHICAL/CODE OF CONDUCT IN MAJOR INTERNET
COMPANIES
Student
Tutor
Institutional Affiliation
Date
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Introduction
Ethical standard is a fundamental aspect in every organization’s operations. The codes of
conduct builds the confidence of the organization in the society alongside keeping the company’s
employees informed concerning what the company is anticipating as far as organizational
behavior is concerned. It also provide the guidelines for the organization’s employees in making
ethical decisions that protect the image of the company. Ethical standards are the principles that
promote values like fairness, good behavior and trust among other values when followed by an
organization1. Every company has its own standards which it follow; every organization have the
rights to develop its own ethical standards that have meaning for the organization. This
document will focus on ethical standards that is portrayed by various organizations including
Microsoft Corporation, Apple, Google, and Facebook.
Relating the organization’s earlier years with the ethical codes of conduct, back in the
nineteen eighties, when Microsoft was still young in the market, the organization had a blinding
reputations in ethical conducts as confirmed by Wallace Jonathan who was a lawyer representing
a certain developer who was seeking license for his work from Microsoft Corporation2. By then
Facebook, Google and Apple were minor players in the market, some, like Facebook were not
yet created. It can be seen that Microsoft was the giant since late nineties and is still the giant on
ethical/code of conducts and compliance.
1 McShane, Steven Lattimore, Sandra L. Steen, and Kevin Tasa. Canadian organizational behaviour. Toronto:
McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2009.
2 Microsoft, 2018, About Microsoft. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: <
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about>
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Like other organizations including Facebook, Apple and Google, Microsoft Corporation
have been enlisted under one theme that is trust. According to Microsoft Corporation, trust is a
fundamental aspect of its operations with its customers, investors, its employees, government
and its representatives. Trust has offered the process to enable the corporate’s employees make
difficult decisions regarding the values and standards of the organization3. Moreover, the
documents containing the organization’s ethical standards are provided for its employees in a
format that is eye appealing and easy to read4. As further highlighted by the organization, the
responsibilities which are covered in the codes of conduct apply to all Microsoft’s employees
including executive officials and all members of board of directors.
In a contest of ethical conduct where a company which lead in its industry in ethics and
codes of conduct was awarded, Microsoft emerged the best among other organizations including
google, Apple, and Facebook and was awarded. The organizations were evaluated according to
their social responsibilities, governance, and citizenship among other aspects.
What people think the organizations concerning ethical conduct
A survey on what people think concerning the ethical standards of Microsoft was done
for the purpose of this assignment with the help of questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided
into various sections including section for the question: How ethical do you think Microsoft
Corporation, Facebook, Google and Apple are? The questionnaire also contained a section for a
3 Sarantakos, Sotirios. Social research. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2012.
4 Markham, Annette, Elizabeth Buchanan, and AoIR Ethics Working Committee. "Ethical decision-making and
Internet research: Version 2.0." Association of Internet Researchers(2012).
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1-10 rate alongside a comment sections for every respondent. They were distributed to 15 people
at random. Of the fifteen individuals, ten people responded. The respondents uphold the ethical
standards of Microsoft Corporation with positive ratings than Google, Facebook, and Apple as
demonstrate in the following table. Microsoft lead with 9.3 average rate, followed by Apple, 7.5
then Google, 7.4 and lastly Facebook, 6.5.
Respondent Microsoft Apple Google Facebook
1 10 Completely
ethical
9 Totally
ethical
7 Somehow
ethical
9 Totally
ethical
2 9 Totally ethical 8 Quite
ethical
9 Totally
ethical
6 Quite
ethical
3 7 Somehow
ethical
7 Somehow
ethical
6 Quite ethical 5 Totally
ethical
4 10 Completely
ethical
6 Quite
ethical
8 Totally
ethical
7 Somehow
ethical
5 9 Ethical 8 Ethical 7 Somehow
ethical
7 Somehow
ethical
6 10 Completely
ethical
7 Somehow
ethical
6 Quite ethical 6 Quite
ethical
7 10 Completely
ethical
9 Totally
ethical
8 Ethical 6 Quite
ethical
8 9 Totally ethical 8 Ethical 7 Somehow
ethical
5 Totally
ethical
9 10 Completely 7 Somehow 8 Ethical 7 Somehow
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ethical ethical ethical
10 8 Ethical 6 Quite
ethical
8 Ethical 7 Somehow
ethical
Table 1: Rates and comments by respondents on Microsoft Corporation.
Ethical/code of conduct policy
Ethical conducts is reflected in Microsoft’s financial code of professional conduct policy
which include promotion of professional conduct in the financial management activities
globally5. A significant role is played by the chief executive officer CEO of the organization and
the chief financial officer CFO among other organization’s employees. Microsoft Company has
been working towards the goal of protecting the interest of all its stakeholders. The
organization’s financial code of professional conduct authenticate the controls that are supposed
to be followed.
The moral business standards cover policies related to the commitment of individuals,
companions, and Microsoft specialists, open and distinctive partners. A more unmistakable
obligation of adhering to the company’s standards lies with the corporate's CEO, CFO, and
specialists. Any violation in the organization’s codes of Professional Conduct may result in the
disciplinary activities. The code of ethics applies to the policy and trustworthiness, keeping off
the conflicting situations in the organization as well as giving the relevant information to the
stakeholders and following the policy and appropriate guidelines of the state. The substitute
5 Microsoft. Microsoft Finance code of Professional conduct, 2018. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: <
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about>
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factors in the codes of ethics are acting as per some essential honesty and thus proactively
propelling good lead in the organization.
Unethical Practice
Besides the ethical records that have been made by Microsoft, the organization has also
recorded some unethical practices. This is, however, not only associated with Microsoft but also
involved other organizations including Google and Facebook. The Enquirer news post that the
giant tech, citing Microsoft, Facebook were accused with data breach which source claim to
happen by unethical means of manipulation by the organizations user6. However, Microsoft still
stands to be the best as far as ethical standards is concerned. Besides, data breach is a common
issue that is associated with most of organizations operating through online platform.
Australian tax
A quick glance at the tax paid in Australia by the companies suggest that as at June 2018
both organizations including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook paid a total amount of 616
million dollars in the latest financial indicating an increase by 160% from the initial fiscal year7.
The tax for Microsoft Corporation was up from 38 to 53 million dollars.
6 The inquirer. Facebook, Google, and Microsoft accused of breaching GDPR with ‘unethical’ user manipulation,
2018. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: < https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3035030/facebook-
google-and-microsoft-accused-of-breaching-gdpr-with-unethical-user-manipulation>
7 The Australian. The toughened tax take a bit from tech giants, 2018. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: <
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/toughened-tax-laws-take-a-bite-from-apple-and-co/news-
story/146d6e320c962028639838cda2e5f941>
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Conclusion
Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that besides both company’s being ethical,
Microsoft Corporation emerges the best in ethical/code conduct as demonstrated in the article.
The codes of conducts are significant aspect in every organization activities, I therefore
recommend that corporates embrace creating awareness concerning organization’s codes and
ethics8. On my side, I would give Microsoft Corporate a rating of 10 as the organization has
shown explicit ethical/code of conducts in its operations.
Bibliography
Banks, Sarah. Ethics and values in social work. Macmillan International Higher Education,
2012.
8 Markham, Annette, Elizabeth Buchanan, and AoIR Ethics Working Committee. "Ethical decision-making and
Internet research: Version 2.0." Association of Internet Researchers (2012).
Sarantakos, Sotirios. Social research. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2012.
7

Markham, Annette, Elizabeth Buchanan, and AoIR Ethics Working Committee. "Ethical
decision-making and Internet research: Version 2.0." Association of Internet
Researchers(2012).
McShane, Steven Lattimore, Sandra L. Steen, and Kevin Tasa. Canadian organizational
behaviour. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2009.
Microsoft, 2018, About Microsoft. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: <
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about>
Microsoft. Microsoft Finance code of Professional conduct, 2018. Retrieved on 30th September
2018 from: < https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about>
Sarantakos, Sotirios. Social research. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2012.
The Australian. The toughened tax take a bit from tech giants, 2018. Retrieved on 30th September
2018 from: < https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/toughened-tax-
laws-take-a-bite-from-apple-and-co/news-story/146d6e320c962028639838cda2e5f941>
The inquirer. Facebook, Google, and Microsoft accused of breaching GDPR with ‘unethical’
user manipulation, 2018. Retrieved on 30th September 2018 from: <
https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3035030/facebook-google-and-microsoft-
accused-of-breaching-gdpr-with-unethical-user-manipulation>
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