Ethical Issues in Asia's Corporation

Universal Business Ethics: A challenge to multinational companies.

Fr. Damianus Abun, SVD, MBA, PhD

Divine Word College of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Abstract

Ethic is a code of conduct put forward by society that is accepted by all rational adult individual beyond the boundary of country or culture or religion. Thus ethics is   universal, not relative. What is good and bad, what is right and wrong in one country or culture is also the same accepted by other countries or cultures as good or bad, right and wrong act.

The same true with business ethics. Business ethics is universal, not relative. What is wrong and right, good or bad in one country is accepted as wrong and right, good or bad in other countries. Fraud is bad and that is applicable to all beyond cultures or countries.

Thus multinational companies have to find common ethical ground that is accepted by all rational agent and business practitioners around the globe.

Key words: universal ethics, universal business ethics, descriptive and normative ethics.

Introduction

Discussing ethics is always relevant because it is about how human relates himself/herself to other fellow human, society, and environment. Thus, ethics concerns the human code of conduct on how he/she relates himself/herself to others, society and environment. Such relationship includes business transactions. In this case, how business will relate and treat their customers, their society and environment. It is their social responsibility. Thus, business can not ignore the importance of code of conduct that regulates their behaviour in dealing with their customer, society and environment. Such code of conduct is not only related to local or national business but also international business particularly multinational companies.

The paper will put forward the foundation of such universal business ethics. The argument is that if morality is universal, it cannot be that business ethics is not...



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