1.[阅读理解]What Are Business EthicsBusiness ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. The ethics of a particular business can be diverse. They apply not only to how the business interacts with the world at large, but also to their one-on-one dealings with a single customer.Many businesses have gained a bad reputation just by being in business. To some people, businesses are interested in making money, and that is the bottom line. It could be called capitalism in its purest form. Making money is not wrong in itself. It is the manner in which some businesses conduct themselves that brings up the question of ethical behavior.While most people have taken the time to define their personal morals, the concept of business ethics has only recently begun to come under intense scrutiny. After Enron was at the center of a scandal involving its irregular accounting practices in 2001, it seemed like a high profile business executive was in the news almost every day being accused of greed, deceit, and corruption. In response to public outrage, the business community at large began to focus more on encouraging ethical behavior. Now, it is common for both large and small businesses to have a formalized listing of ethical guidelines for employees to follow.Naturally, any successful corporation must remain focused on earning a profit. With no profit, the company loses value and the employees eventually lose their jobs. However, business ethics do not allow a company to do whatever is necessary to make money. Corporate social responsibility dictates that businesses must provide safe working conditions and use manufacturing practices that do not unnecessarily harm the environment. Business ethics also require that companies provide accurate financial data to stockholders and avoid advertising their products and services to consumers under false pretenses.The study of business ethics is sometimes referred to as applied ethics because it attempts to translate utilitarianism, social contracttheory, deontology, and other theoretical principles into acceptable rules for conduct in various real world situations. At the college level, many schools now have programs to encourage students to develop an awareness of business ethics. These classes typically use case studies as the basis for discussions on what constitutes ethical behavior. Lower level classes are sometimes required for an undergraduate business degree, while students working towards an MBA may be able to specialize in leadership and business ethics. While many people do feel classes discussing ethics are beneficial, others say it’s hard to predict how students will behave once they are out of school and into the working world.To some extent, the government can regulate ethical behavior by passing laws that require businesses to take certain actions. In many ways, however, professional organizations may be the best equipped to impart a sense of business ethics onto a particular industry. Organizations and trade bodies have codes of ethical behavior that members are required to follow and provide regular training events that help encourage open discussions of business ethics.
1.[阅读理解]What Are Business EthicsBusiness ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. The ethics of a particular business can be diverse. They apply not only to how the business interacts with the world at large, but also to their one-on-one dealings with a single customer.Many businesses have gained a bad reputation just by being in business. To some people, businesses are interested in making money, and that is the bottom line. It could be called capitalism in its purest form. Making money is not wrong in itself. It is the manner in which some businesses conduct themselves that brings up the question of ethical behavior.While most people have taken the time to define their personal morals, the concept of business ethics has only recently begun to come under intense scrutiny. After Enron was at the center of a scandal involving its irregular accounting practices in 2001, it seemed like a high profile business executive was in the news almost every day being accused of greed, deceit, and corruption. In response to public outrage, the business community at large began to focus more on encouraging ethical behavior. Now, it is common for both large and small businesses to have a formalized listing of ethical guidelines for employees to follow.Naturally, any successful corporation must remain focused on earning a profit. With no profit, the company loses value and the employees eventually lose their jobs. However, business ethics do not allow a company to do whatever is necessary to make money. Corporate social responsibility dictates that businesses must provide safe working conditions and use manufacturing practices that do not unnecessarily harm the environment. Business ethics also require that companies provide accurate financial data to stockholders and avoid advertising their products and services to consumers under false pretenses.The study of business ethics is sometimes referred to as applied ethics because it attempts to translate utilitarianism, social contracttheory, deontology, and other theoretical principles into acceptable rules for conduct in various real world situations. At the college level, many schools now have programs to encourage students to develop an awareness of business ethics. These classes typically use case studies as the basis for discussions on what constitutes ethical behavior. Lower level classes are sometimes required for an undergraduate business degree, while students working towards an MBA may be able to specialize in leadership and business ethics. While many people do feel classes discussing ethics are beneficial, others say it’s hard to predict how students will behave once they are out of school and into the working world.To some extent, the government can regulate ethical behavior by passing laws that require businesses to take certain actions. In many ways, however, professional organizations may be the best equipped to impart a sense of business ethics onto a particular industry. Organizations and trade bodies have codes of ethical behavior that members are required to follow and provide regular training events that help encourage open discussions of business ethics.
