Business ethics is a form of the art of applied ethics that examines ethical rules and principles within a commercial context, the various moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business setting, and any special duties or obligations that apply to persons who are engaged in commerce.
Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. As a corporate practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. In academia descriptive approaches are also taken. The range and quantity of business ethical issues reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds with non-economic social values. Historically, interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most major corporate websites lay emphasis on commitment to promoting non-economic social values under a variety of headings (e.g. ethics codes, social responsibility charters). In some cases, corporations have redefined their core values in the light of business ethic[edit] Overview of issues in business ethics
[edit] General business ethics
? This part of business ethics overlaps with the philosophy of business, one of the aims of which is to determine the fundamental purposes of a company.
? Corporate social responsibility or CSR: an umbrella term under which the ethical rights and duties existing between companies and society is debated. .
? Ethical issues concerning relations between different companies: e.g. hostile take-overs, industrial espionage.
? Leadership issues: corporate governance.
? Political contributions made by corporations.
? Law reform, such as the ethical debate over introducing a crime of corporate manslaughter. ...