Ethics
Advances In Management
;; Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012)
Aspects of International Business Ethics
Mahoney James F.
Managing Director, The Paragon Group. Managing Director, 2476 N Beechwood Ave, Rialto, California, USA theparagongroup@roadrunner.com Abstract
This paper is an analytical examination of the ethical problems posed by the practice of international business in light of key ethical philosophies and considering the diversity existing in our world. Special attention is give to the SA 8000 Social Accountability standard, its origins, its applicability and its potential for helping to resolve the problems directly and indirectly caused by this diversity.
Keywords: Ethical philosophies. International Business,
Social Accountability.
Introduction
Today 's world is continually shrinking due to many factors, not the least of which is the rapid growth of international business. Four specific interlinking phenomena are occurring which present new problems to international business: a) the increase in offshore banking transactions; b) the continuing growth of multinational corporations (MNCs);
c) the increasing instances of outsourcing business activities offshore and d) the equally increasing instances of locating and using suppliers of goods and services in developing countries. All four of these phenomena are fueled by economics and they show no sign of abating anytime soon.
Two aspects dealt in this paper are: a) the existence of perceived corruption in international business, including graft, kickbacks and preferential treatment and b) workplace conditions that are considered unethical by generally accepted world standards. There are many other aspects of international business which lend themselves to ethical examination, but they are not appropriate here.
The approach taken is to examine some of the principal ethical philosophies of the last two hundred years in relation to international business, as follows: a) Immanuel
Kant 's
;; Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012)
Aspects of International Business Ethics
Mahoney James F.
Managing Director, The Paragon Group. Managing Director, 2476 N Beechwood Ave, Rialto, California, USA theparagongroup@roadrunner.com Abstract
This paper is an analytical examination of the ethical problems posed by the practice of international business in light of key ethical philosophies and considering the diversity existing in our world. Special attention is give to the SA 8000 Social Accountability standard, its origins, its applicability and its potential for helping to resolve the problems directly and indirectly caused by this diversity.
Keywords: Ethical philosophies. International Business,
Social Accountability.
Introduction
Today 's world is continually shrinking due to many factors, not the least of which is the rapid growth of international business. Four specific interlinking phenomena are occurring which present new problems to international business: a) the increase in offshore banking transactions; b) the continuing growth of multinational corporations (MNCs);
c) the increasing instances of outsourcing business activities offshore and d) the equally increasing instances of locating and using suppliers of goods and services in developing countries. All four of these phenomena are fueled by economics and they show no sign of abating anytime soon.
Two aspects dealt in this paper are: a) the existence of perceived corruption in international business, including graft, kickbacks and preferential treatment and b) workplace conditions that are considered unethical by generally accepted world standards. There are many other aspects of international business which lend themselves to ethical examination, but they are not appropriate here.
The approach taken is to examine some of the principal ethical philosophies of the last two hundred years in relation to international business, as follows: a) Immanuel
Kant 's
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