Leading and Managing Ethically: A Business Ethics Analysis of M&S

This report provides a detailed analysis of business ethics in the context of leadership and management, using Marks & Spencer as a case study. It defines business ethics as the moral principles guiding business organizations, contributing to a strong brand image and a healthy work environment. The report evaluates M&S's commitment to honesty, integrity, and sustainability, highlighting their emphasis on high-quality, long-lasting, and recyclable products. It also discusses the importance of business ethics in enhancing employee productivity, maintaining legal policies, and considering social, political, and legal factors. The analysis concludes that business ethics is essential for the smooth functioning of a business, creating a positive work environment, and establishing strong organizational values.

Leading and Managing
Ethically

Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................1
Business Ethics.......................................................................................................................1
Evaluation of Business Ethics in relation to chosen company...............................................2
Discuss and analyse the importance of business ethics for the chosen organization.............2
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................3
References ......................................................................................................................................4

Introduction
The term business ethics is defined as the values or the moral principles followed by the
business organisation which allows them to create strong brand image in the market. It allows the
business to analyse what is right and what is wrong and also helps in creating health and smooth
working environment for the employees which leads enhancing the overall performance of the
company. It is the study of suitable business policies and practices about the potentially included
subjects such as the corporate governance, inside trading, corporate social responsibilities of the
business(Hostetler and Luo, T., 2021). It allows the company to have proper values and norms
which leads them to enhance their performance. For this report Marks & Spencer company is
taken as the base company. This report highlights the detailed analysis of the business ethics of
the chosen organisation also the importance of the business ethics for the chosen business
organisation.
Main Body
Business Ethics
It is described as the aspect of accurate business practices and policies with respect to
different subjects like corporate social responsibilities, corporate governance and many more.
For a business organisation, this concept is important because it helps them in promoting unity
across all the staff members and gaining the level of trust from different stakeholders. There are
many benefits associated with this concept like effective competitive advantage, attracting more
investors and it also leads to the betterment of community (Persis, and et.al, 2021). In context
with Mark and Spencer, they always put up the emphasis on high quality as well as long lasting
products. It was a good choice in terms of business ethics because the company is starring
sustainability in the fashion business enterprise . They always make the usage of those materials
which are recyclable in term of organic cotton, recycled nylons and so on. They always built up
their business ethics on the basis of their core values which are quality, service, trust and
innovation.
1

Evaluation of Business Ethics in relation to chosen company
It has been evaluated that the aim of Mark and Spencer is always on initiating the
business with high level of standards in terms of honesty and integrity. All staff members
working in an organisation has always being encouraged to do work by following effective
business ethics (Nunes and Park, 2021). The company always believed that it is necessary to
create such a environment in which all individuals feel that they has a right to show their concern
internally without showing any fear of disciplinary action. In context with business ethics, it is
important that business organisations take all the wrongdoing matters seriously. It is further
being explained below: -
 Corruption: - It was being evaluated that company never gives improper payments to any
person in order to implement the business at any location (Aßländer and Kast, 2021).
They always follow a zero tolerance approach and don't get indulged with the
transactions for their personal benefit.
 Fraud: - There are many business organisations in which fraud is conducted due to which
the concept of honesty is completely dropped out. It is considered as a gross misconduct.
In relation with Mark and Spencer, they made sure that all kind of business ethics are
being followed. So, company implemented group fraud policy through which if any kind
of fraud takes place then company takes deliberate action against them.
Discuss and analyse the importance of business ethics for the chosen organization
Business ethics is always important for an organisation because it leads a company to
enhance the level of productivity as well as morale of employees. If an individual is doing their
work with proper honesty then it automatically creates benefit for the associated company. In
context with Mark and Spencer also, ethics was important. As it is one of the top organisations ,
they always follow different rules and provisions in order to manage and maintain legal policies.
It was being analysed that company always followed ethical factors in order to do the business in
right way (Sammy, 2021). They followed several factors in terms of social, political and legal
elements also. The company is one of the leading organisations because everything is being done
with the usage of eco-friendly products. Through this they focus on the people's safety also.
2

Conclusion
From the above discussion it has been concluded that the business ethics plays an
essential role in creating smooth working of the business and also creating healthy and effective
working environment for the employees, it helps in setting proper norms and values in order
organisation which helps in creating their strong brand image in the marketplace effectively. This
report helps in analysing the importance of business ethics in the chosen organisation and also
helps in analysing that the chosen company is the good choice to evaluate the business ethics,
also the company is effectively following the business ethics which helps them in enhancing
their performance.
3

References
Books and Journals
Aßländer, M.S. and Kast, S., 2021. Does CSR Limit Our Understanding of Business Ethics?.
Progress in Ethical Practices of Businesses: A Focus on Behavioral Interactions, p.45.
Hostetler, K. and Luo, T., 2021. Managing cognitive load in information literacy instruction.
Educational Technology Research and Development, 69(2), pp.583-606.
Nunes, M.F. and Park, C.L., 2021. Business Ethics. In Business Ethics and Environmental Fraud
(pp. 1-45). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Persis, D.J., and et.al, 2021. Modelling and analysing the impact of Circular Economy; Internet
of Things and ethical business practices in the VUCA world: Evidence from the food
processing industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 301, p.126871.
Sammy, A., 2021. The Effect of Ethical Leadership on Organizational Creativity in the Midst of
Work from Home (WFH) System Due to Pandemic COVID-19. Available at SSRN
3828905.
4

5