Analysis of Ethics in Business: The Case of Wikimedia Foundation

This essay explores the ethical dimensions of Wikimedia Foundation's business practices, defining business ethics as the moral obligations an organization upholds in its policies and actions. It argues that Wikimedia operates ethically by providing free access to information, engaging with communities, and adhering to legal compliances. The organization's commitment to quality services, free knowledge dissemination, human rights support, and environmental sustainability through emission reduction and sustainable energy use are highlighted as evidence of its ethical stance. The essay concludes that Wikimedia's community engagements and environmental initiatives solidify its position as an ethical organization committed to a sustainable world, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling obligatory actions and respecting legal obligations in business ethics.

RUNNING HEAD: ETHICS IN BUSINESS 0
ETHICS IN BUSINESS
Student’s Details-
2-9-2020

ETHICS IN BUSINESS 1
Introduction
Ethics in business is defined as the moral obligations of the business that the business
follows in terms of the business policies and practices. Business ethics are considered as
ethical policies of the organization that specifies the duties of business towards the society
(Trevino & Nelson, 2016). Here, the discussion is made on the ethical considerations of
Wikimedia which the non-profit or charitable organization which holds the internet domain
of the movement projects.
Discussion
Ethics are basically the moral duties of the organization in which the business is
obligated to fulfil the social responsibility towards the society, customers and the employees
of the organization. Moreover, Wikimedia is considered as the ethical organization that
provides the free access of information in which the it has been making the engagements with
the communities and also following the legal compliances. Further, ethical considerations are
seen from the business duties towards the customers through the quality of services with the
affordable cost. Similarly, Wikimedia has been providing free knowledge to the communities
which are easy to read and edit into the free knowledge projects (Wikimedia , 2020). This
also shows that the organization has been fulfilling their responsibilities towards the society
through the widespread circulation of free knowledge. Furthermore, ethical business tends to
makes sure that there are business policies and practices which are irrespective of inequalities
and often takes into account the interests of all the parties involved into the business.
However, Wikimedia has the donation projects and often support the human rights which is
the ethical approach of the organization making it ethical.
Apart from this, ethical business is demonstrated by the social responsibility to be
fulfilled with respect to the environment in which the business undertakes the ethical
concerns through taking action in the best interest of environment (Crane, Matten, Glozer, &
Spence, 2019). Considering this factor, Wikimedia has the mission for the sustainable world
in which the organization has made efforts for making the environment free of pollution in
which the company has reduced the emissions and often the company has used the
sustainable energy as the privacy and non-commercialization values (Hamilton & Tankersley,
2019). Further, business ethics are also considered by the factors in which the business does
not only follows the policy framework but also follows the legal compliances which is

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concerned to be ethical duty of the business. Moreover, Wikimedia has met their legal
obligations in which the organization has been following the laws and by respecting the
privacy of others, the organization has been educating the government about the importance
of free internet and also adhering to various individual rights.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be said that Wikimedia is the ethical organization as it secures the
interests of communities and often contributes to the sustainable world. Moreover, business
ethics are considered through the efforts of the business in terms of undertaking the actions
which are obligatory requirements. Wikimedia’s community engagements and the
environmental approaches makes it ethical.

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References
Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate
citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press,
USA.
Hamilton, L., & Tankersley, D. (2019, September 19). How the Wikimedia Foundation is
making efforts to go green. Retrieved February 9, 2020, from Wikimedia Foundation:
https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2019/09/19/how-the-wikimedia-foundation-is-
making-efforts-to-go-green/
Trevino, L., & Nelson, K. (2016). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it
right. John Wiley & Sons.
Wikimedia . (2020, January 1). ABOUT. Retrieved February 9, 2020, from Wikimedia:
https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/