Ethical Principles

With our future entrance in the business world near, we must come to realize the ethical dilemmas each of us may face. The most important thing to remember is to choose the moral high ground and do not let anyone change your values.

When I think of ethical dilemmas in the business world, the first companies that come to mind are Enron and WorldCom. They are two great examples of ethics gone bad and what not to do in the professional world. Changing the companies books in their favor is inexcusable and resulted in bankruptcies for both of them. Additionally, Corporate officers were sent to prison because of their ill-willed choices and it all came down to their greediness. After hearing many cases and the results of different choices I have easily determined my ethical principles.

The root of my ethical principles is honesty. Always telling the truth is something that should be well respected and is the basis for making appropriate choices. In addition, I will always communicate with team members to decide on the right actions. It is important to never assume you know all the rules and get second opinions on anything that is controversial. Lastly, I believe the easiest way to avoid an unethical decision is to ask yourself: who are the effected parties? Who will benefit and is this benefit legal? By taking a step back and asking questions it will be easier to decide on the appropriate course of action. All and all, our class discussions and other explains have led me to these ethical principles.