| Most authorities agree that there is room for | | | | code of ethics is a written guide to acceptable and |
| improvement in business ethics. One of the most | | | | ethical behavior that outlines uniform policies, |
| problematic questions raised in relation to business | | | | standards and punishments for violations. Because |
| ethics is whether or not businesses can become | | | | employees know what is expected of them and |
| more ethical in the real world. The majority opinion on | | | | what will happen if they violate the rules, a code of |
| this issue suggests that government, trade | | | | ethics goes a long way towards encouraging ethical |
| associations, and individual firms can indeed establish | | | | behavior. However, codes cannot possibly cover |
| acceptable levels of ethical behavior. | | | | every situation. Companies must also create an |
| The government can do so by legislating more | | | | environment in which employees recognize the |
| stringent regulations. But, rules require enforcement | | | | importance of complying with the written code. |
| and when in many cases there is evidence of lack of | | | | Managers must provide direction by fostering |
| enforcement even the ethical businessperson will | | | | communication, actively modeling and encouraging |
| tend to "slip something by" without getting caught. | | | | ethical decision making, apart from investing in training |
| Increased regulation may help, but it surely cannot | | | | employees to make ethical decisions. |
| solve the entire business ethics problems. | | | | Sometimes, even employees who want to act |
| Trade associations can and often do provide ethical | | | | ethically may find it difficult to do so. Unethical |
| guidelines for their members. These organizations | | | | practices can become ingrained in an organization. |
| within particular industries are in an excellent position | | | | Employees with high personal ethics may then take a |
| to exert pressures on members that stoop to | | | | controversial step called "whistle blowing." Whistle |
| questionable business practices. However, | | | | blowing is informing the press or government officials |
| enforcement and authority vary from association to | | | | about unethical practices in an organization. Whistle |
| association. Moreover, exactly because trade | | | | blowing could have averted disaster and prevented |
| associations exist for the benefit of their members, | | | | needless deaths in the Challenger space shuttle |
| harsh measures may be self-defeating. | | | | disaster, for example. How could employees have |
| Employees can more easily determine and adopt | | | | known about life-threatening problems and let them |
| acceptable behavior when companies provide them | | | | pass? Whistle blowing on the other hand, can have |
| with a "code of ethics." Such codes are perhaps the | | | | serious repercussions for employees; those who |
| most effective way to encourage ethical behavior. A | | | | make waves sometimes lose their jobs. |