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Ethics and Social Responsibility

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Ethics and Social Responsibility
Richie Dunn
2/4/2006
ETHICS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Ethics and Social Responsibility in business and government today are very important subjects. There are numerous reasons for businesses to operate in an ethical and socially responsible manner. There are government regulations, corporate belief systems, and basic common sense. There needs to be a overall intent to be ethical and socially responsible in today 's business environment in order to stay successful.

Ethics in Business

In business today there are many instances of corporations that act from an ethical standard, including the company that I work for. In the wake of scandals such as Enron and Imclone it is more important than ever that companies make an effort to push out improper behavior and practices if they wish to stay in business. One example of good business practices is the case of Henry Thomas, a cellular technician for Southern Bell, who was asked to randomly terminate five employees as a disciplinary measure. He refused to do so based on his moral code, and was then terminated. He decided to go into business for himself and dedicate his business to God. He states that, "The Bible tells us that God 's eyes are looking to and fro throughout the earth for those whose hearts are wholly committed to him. Every day, I pray that God would give us wisdom and that he would find us usable so that we can continue our mission to help others and to show God how much we love him." (Miller, 1). When Thomas rededicated his efforts to God and his business, his small business has grown to the point where they have monthly earnings in excess of $10 million. Not bad for just following your moral code and God 's plan.
Another area where ethics are important is the government sector. It is important for the government to act in an ethical manner so that we, as citizens can have faith that the right things are being done for the right reasons. I was pleased to find that the government is active in the form



Cited: Kouzes, James M. & Posner, Barry Z. Credibility: How Leaders Gain It and Lose It, Why People Demand It. San Francisco: Jossey –Bass, 1993. Mitroff, Allen I , Anagnos, Gus. Managing Crises Before They Happen: What Every Manager Needs to Know about Crisis Management. New York: American Management Association, 2001. Peters, Thomas J. "Putting Excellence Into Management," Business Week, July 21, 1980, © 1980 by McGraw – Hill, Inc. Internet Sources Bainbridge Graduate Institute Commits to 100% Renewable Energy, Joins EPA Green Power Partnership (2006) Miller, Kevin.(2006). Refusing to Compromise Pays Big Dividends. Retrieved 1-15-2006 from http://secretsofsuccess.com/people/thomas.html Vogel, David Vogl, Frank. (2005). Ethics & Values of Globalization. Retrieved 1-15-2006 from http://www.ethicsworld.com/corporatesocialresponsibility/viewsandanalysis.php.

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