Analyzing the Role of Ethics and Sustainability in Business Decisions

This report examines the critical relationship between business ethics and sustainability, using Apple as a case study. It begins with a literature review defining ethics and sustainability and their interconnectedness, then explores the importance of ethics in business decision-making, including building credibility, fulfilling human needs, and fostering leadership. The report highlights the relevance of ethics to Apple, discussing how ethical practices generate a positive corporate culture, boost consumer confidence, minimize financial liabilities, and reduce potential lawsuits. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the role of ethics in small businesses, covering topics such as generating equal opportunities, creating a safe working environment, managing conflicts, and maintaining a code of conduct. The conclusion underscores the essential role of ethics and values in promoting business sustainability and overall success.

SUSTAINABLILITY
AND ETHICS

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY .................................................................................................................................................3
Literature review.....................................................................................................................................3
Relevancy of ethics for business decisions ..............................................................................................4
Role of ethics in small business ...............................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................................................7
REFERNCES .................................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Ethics is set of moral values and standards that guide individual and company code of
conduct in order to achieve their organizational goal or objective in an effective or efficient
manner. On the other hand sustainability refers to prevailing and equitable formulation to
economic activity, environmental responsibility and societal benefit. However, these two aspects
are interlinked with each other as it enables an organization to carry out their business operation
and function in an organized or systematic manner for acquiring best positioning among
competitive marketplace (Quarshie, Salmi and Leuschner, 2016). This report is based upon a
case study of Apple Company which is one the branded and reputed firm in technological world
and it is incorporated by Steve Jobs in the year of 1976. In this study, it involves literature review
about importance of ethics for organization decision making as well as explain the same in
company’s context. Finally, relevant of ethics on small business is also mentioned here.
MAIN BODY
Literature review
As per the views of Anna Spooner, 2019 , Workplace ethics comprises the beliefs and
rule that directs administration decision as it concern with the responsibility and obligation an
system has to its stakeholders, consider employees, customers, suppliers and communities.
However, all individuals and firm must precede the law, but they must abide by with ethical
beliefs is voluntary, not coerced. Every employees want their organization to be fair, clean and
beneficial to society (Importance of Ethics in Business, 2019). Thus, for attaining the same
company need to remain by moral value or rule of law, occupy themselves in fair practices and
competition all of which will benefit the consumer, society and firm. Henceforth, ethical
behavior encourages establishment to apply best plan of action or decision in order to gain
competitive advantage and obtainment of sustainable profitability ratio. Thus, there are various
reason which proves that ethics is an important determinant for company’s growth which are as
follows:
 Fulfilling primary human needs: Being fair, honest and ethical is one of the basic
human needs which every manpower desires to get fulfilled in a better manner.
Therefore, an ethical behavior enable firm to provide equal or reasonable rewards system

so that each individuals can satisfy their basic survival need and it reflect over employee
satisfaction.
 Building Credibility: An administration that is consider to be motivated by moral values
is glorious in the society even by those who may have no information about business
operation. However, ethics help firm to encourage their manpower to take part in
business activities like problem solving and decision making process which generate high
level of motivation as well as add value to company’s brand image among industry.
 Amalgamation of multitude and leadership: An enterprise which is impelled by values
is honorable by its personnel also as they are the ordinary thread that carry manpower and
decision makers on same platforms. This goes a long way in aligning behavior within the
organization towards accomplishment of common goal or mission (Yin, Qian and
Singhapakdi, 2018).
However, ethics attempt to make up a sense of right and wrong in the establishment and
often when the law fails, it is the moral values or ethical behavior which stop or restricts
management and leader from harming the society or environment and also improves their overall
performance among competitive marketplace.
Relevancy of ethics for business decisions
The learning of business ethics is a study of belief, principles and standards within a business
environment. It also a measuring system of regulation that ought to be that should be precede in a
wide variety of business structure. Ethics reflects morals, standards and values from all socio
economic levels and demographics. In regard of Apple, it tries its best to keep an ethical
behavior towards employees and business function in order to enlarge company profitability ratio
and also improves an overall performance of company in a better manner. Furthermore, business
ethics encourages Apple leader to examine each individual’s potentiality or capability and
according to that provide them various platforms like training session, seminar, workshop and
many more in order to enhance their satisfaction level in a productive manner (McNeill and
Moore, 2015). Henceforth, organizational ethics are consider as an integral role in Apple
business function or operation as it the combination of policies, procedures and culture of doing

the right things in the face of difficult and often controversial issues. Some of the reasons behind
application or practicing ethical behavior within Apple business premises are explained below:
 Generate a affirmative corporate culture: An organization selection resources to
processing policies and procedures that encourages ethical action builds a positive
corporate culture. In regard of Apple, its mangers r leaders takes an initiative to safeguard
employees wants or desires which generate increased level of motivation and also boost
their morale as they feel secured against retaliation for personal beliefs. Due to this,
Apple’s manpower put their full contribution towards an attainment of increased level of
profitability and productivity ratio.
 Boosts consumer confidence: This aspect is one of the important element within
company as it improves the overall performance of firm and also add value to customer’s
attitude towards brand image. However, ethical practice enable Apple leader to identify
or determine current or emerging trend of marketplace and based on that they implements
a corrective course of action in order to acquire sustainable profitability. Along with this,
it assist them to retain consumer’s loyalty through ethical practices that start with fair and
honest advertising methods and continue through sales process. Additionally, they makes
an attempt to direct their personnel to treat customers ethically and according to its core
values (Setó-Pamies and Papaoikonomou, 2016).
 Bring down financial possession: Companies that do not develop policies on ethical
standards risk financial liabilities and in the initial liability is a reduction in sales.
Therefore, in context of Apple they are very attentive in this matter as they finds an
ethical responsible middle ground which is imperative to sway public opinion away from
corporate culture and towards environmental responsibility. Along with this, during
funding the funds from various sources of finance, company be a transparent to public by
providing clear information regarding funding in order to capture population loyalty or
trust. With the help of this, Apple can expand their market share or size for sustain within
an industry for longer period of time.
 Minimizes potential lawsuits: Under this, firm tries their best to adhere with all
government regulation or legislation which help them to reduce an intervention of
government into their business operation and function. Along with this, Apple manager

takes an effort to examine individual’s capabilities as well as encourages them to take
part in business procedures or activities which enhance their morale and motivation level.
Moreover, they remain consistent in the execution of policies dealing with accusations.
This help decrease in frivolous lawsuits that bankrupt smaller organization.
Therefore, ethical behavior or practices plays an important role in Apple business operation
as it help them to maintain their code of conduct as well as generate better working environment
which lead them to acquire best positioning among competitive market in an innovative and
creative style.
Role of ethics in small business
Business ethics are not just configured for huge corporation and organization. Whether a
business utilize thousands of workers or 10, business ethics are an important aspect of any work
environment. A ordinary ethical problem which have a big consequence on small business as
well as large corporation is favoritism, partiality or conflict between employer and employee all
have an influence on how well a business is likely to run. Developing a good, strong relationship
between subordinates and superior is essential in order to meet expectation, and to promote
considerations and the rights of all parties involved. Moreover, every mangers expects that their
manpower should behave in a certain manner for surviving within an industry for a longer period
of time. However, some of the role of ethics over small business are described below:
 Generating equal opportunity: In this 21st century, discrimination is one of the most
talked issue in workplace and it greatly effect over company productivity and profitability
ratio. However, an ethical practices encourage leader or manger to provide enormous
platform to their manpower equally despite of caste, gender, age, religion etc. which lead
them to put their best effort towards an attainment of increased level of proficiency and
also sustainable success among marketplace (Markman and et.al 2016).
 Safe and fair working environment: It is regarded as one of the essential component for
every company growth and development as it directly linked with employee motivation
and performance. Henceforth, with an application of ethics firm will be able to treat every
workforce equally and also to control over sexual harassment which take place in the
form of physical gestures, verbal remarks of sexual nature. Due to this, they can acquire

best positioning within an industry and also enlarge their market share in an impressive
way.
 Control over conflicts: This issues is very common factor in every organization as it
occurs when two people objectivity or judgment compromised by each other it hampers
whole working premises or ambiance. Thus, an ethical behavior assist enterprise leader to
identify employees wants or desires and based on that they make corrective course of
action which lead them to obtain profit maximization and also enhances reputation of
firm in a productive way (Cumming, Hou and Lee, 2016).
 Maintains organization code of conduct: This aspect plays a vital role in small business
as it comes to best practices, adopting or enforcing a code of conduct provides personnel
and managerial staff with training in respect to expectations of behavior and conduct
within any workplace environment. Moreover, a business ethics empowers mangers or
management to prevent and controls unacceptable or unethical behavior in their place of
business and also they can gain impressive goodwill among competitors (Strand, 2014).
Therefore, ethics is not only important for large corporation but also integral for small business
in terms of acquiring high level of profit margin as well as expand market size or growth in an
innovative and creative style.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized from the above report that ethics and values are essential within
business function because they influence morals and behavior or attitude in order to promote
business sustainability. Along with this, an moral decision making contributes to sustainability
because the employees values and beliefs will assure an establishment to make the biggest profit
possible and at the same time keeping a good image among challenging industry. Moreover,
these two components contains a crucial role in the enhancement or enrichment of company
success and growth for a longer period of time in an impressive or productive manner.

REFERNCES
Books and journals