Importance of Ethics

The instructional video we watched spotlights Peter Quarry who is hopeful organizations will use this video as a tool to effect change within their business structure because of the widespread government regulations, ethical issues and technological changes facing businesses today. He speaks specifically to a few points that caught my attention.

An ethical issue that came about as a result of advancing technological change and the change of public perception is protecting businesses when a person chooses when they can die. He did not go into detail, but obviously there could be hesitancy on the part of businesses that in any way take part in providing any service (i.e., housing or facility, medicine, removal of the body, disposal, etc.) for a person who is choosing to end their life where it is legal to do so.

Organizations are attracting more customers who buy from businesses who behave more ethically and environmentally including their businesses practices. He said that businesses now are proactive instead of reactive - the example used is fast food companies offering good food like salads instead of burgers and other fried foods. Those companies are appealing to a changing customer base but also are acting under governmental policies that require them to offer healthier choices. The business organizations are finding out that they are faring better by catering to that market and therefore reducing the ethical dilemma they had been facing.

Quarry also talked about the ways in which organizations are holding themselves accountable with their own Statement of Principles:

1. Being honest

2. Code of conduct

3. Legal audits

4. Ethics training

Lastly, he said that the role of senior