Sustainability and Ethics: Telstra Corporation Limited

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICS
Sustainability and Ethics: Telstra Corporation Limited
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SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICS
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
2.1 Relevance of Ethics in Business Decisions for Telstra Corporation Limited..................2
2.2 Examination and Analysis of Rules and Policies of Ethics in Business Decisions
Making in Telstra Corporation Limited.................................................................................4
2.3 Inclusion of Decisions for Showing Telstra is Considering Ethics in its Business
Decision Making....................................................................................................................7
2.4 Relevance of Ethics in Smaller Businesses......................................................................8
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICS
1. Introduction
Business ethics refer to the fact that only correct decision and course should be
undertaken in any organization. Being ethical includes each and every factor for doing
business like production, business processes as well as organizational behaviour with the
various customers and communities, where it is being operating (Crane and Matten 2016).
Maintenance of business ethics is highly required for defining the five core values of
responsibility, excellence, integrity, understanding, and unity. Each of these values is evident
for driving the ethical behaviour of that specific organization.
Sustainability, on the other hand, is an enduring as well as balanced approach towards
economic activity, societal benefits and environmental responsibilities. Sustainability is
regarding fulfilling the challenges for ensuring that every customer of the company is gaining
various advantages (Trevino and Nelson 2016). It includes undertaking a long term
perspective on the balance of economic, environmental as well as social impacts of the
business. The following report outlines a brief discussion on the sustainability and ethics in
one of the major and the most significant business organizations in Australia, Telstra
Corporation Limited. Relevance of ethics in business decisions for this specific organization
will be provided in this report.
2. Discussion
2.1 Relevance of Ethics in Business Decisions for Telstra Corporation Limited
The system of ethical as well as moral beliefs, which guide the respective values,
decisions and behaviours of business organization and associated organizational members is
termed as business ethics (Weiss 2014). Ethics majorly concerns the moral judgments of an
individual regarding right and wrong. The decisions that are undertaken in the organization is
either made by groups or by individuals and hence the entire organizational culture is being

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICS
influenced by this type of ethical practice. The decision for behaving ethically is the moral
one and employees should decide the correct and incorrect course of actions for the business
(Hoffman, Frederick and Schwartz 2014). It could even include subsequent rejection of route,
which can lead to the biggest short term profit in the business.
The ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility could easily bring out some
of the core advantages to the business, like attracting customers to the organizational products
and hence boosting profit and sales, making the employees to remain with the business,
reducing employee turnover and incrementing overall productivity, drawing more employees
for working in this business and allowing the organization for getting the talented staff
(Lawrence and Weber 2014). An unethical behaviour or the lack of CSR might damage the
organizational reputation for making it less appealing to the stakeholders.
Telstra Corporation Limited, being one of the largest telecommunications
organization in Australia, follows ethical behaviour in their every business decision and
business process. They have always treated their stakeholders fairly and customer satisfaction
is enhanced here (Ruggie 2013). Telstra has ensured that a creative as well as a well-managed
corporate or social responsibility program is within the best interests for every stakeholder
like shareowners, other business partners, suppliers, customers and employees who are
working together. Telstra Corporation Limited has ensured that the employees are
understanding organizational corporate values and the business principles are followed by
employees.
Telstra has codified their business requirements into environmental regulations, laws
and even restrictions against the insider trading. The organizational management team has set
the tone on the process of entire organization running on regular basis (DesJardins and
McCall 2014). The management team of this particular organization even directs the