an ethical code (autosaved)

8/7/2019 An ethical code (Autosaved)

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An ethical code is adopted by an organization in an attempt to assist those in the organization called

upon to make a decision (usually most, if not all) understand the difference between 'right' and 'wrong'

and to apply this understanding to their decision.

The ethical code therefore generally implies documents at three levels:

Code of ethics (corporate or business ethics)

A code of ethics:

1. A code of ethics often focuses on social issues.2. It may set out general principles about an organization's beliefs on matters such as mission,

quality, privacy or the environment.

3. It may delineate proper procedures to determine whether a violation of the code of ethics hasoccurred and, if so, what remedies should be imposed.

4. The code of ethics links to and gives rise to a code of conduct for employees.

Code of conduct (employee ethics)

A code of conduct is a document designed to influence the behavior of employees.

They set out the procedures to be used in specific ethical situations, such as conflicts of interest or the

acceptance of gifts,

and delineate the procedures to determine whether a violation of the code of ethics occurred and, if so,

what remedies should be imposed. The effectiveness of such codes of ethics depends on the extent to

which management supports them with sanctions and rewards. Violations of a code of conduct may

subject the violator to the organization's remedies which can under particular circumstances result in

the termination of employment.

Code of practice (professional ethics)

A code of practice is adopted by a profession or by a governmental or non-governmental organization to

regulate that profession.

A code of practice may be styled as a code of professional responsibility, which will discuss difficult

issues, difficult decisions that will often need to be made, and provide a clear account of what behavior

is considered "ethical" or "correct" or "right" in the circumstances.

In a membership context, failure to comply with a code of practice can result in expulsion from the

professional organization. In its 2007 International Good Practice Guidance, Defining and Developing an

Effective Code of Conduct for Organizations, the International Federation of Accountants [1] provided


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Stage three(interpersonal accord and conformity driven)

They try to be a "good boy" or "good girl" to live up to these expectations,[2]

having learned that there is

inherent value in doing so. Stage three reasoning may judge the morality of an action by evaluating its

consequences in terms of a person's relationships, which now begin to include things like respect,

gratitude and the "golden rule". "I want to be liked and thought well of; apparently, not being naughtymakes people like me." Desire to maintain rules and authority exists only to further support these social

roles. The intentions of actions play a more significant role in reasoning at this stage; "they mean

well ..."

Stage four (authority and social order obedience driven),it is important to obey laws, dictums and

social conventions because of their importance in maintaining a functioning society

If one person violates a law, perhaps everyone wouldthus there is an obligation and a duty to

uphold laws and rules.

When someone does violate a law, it is morally wrong; Most active members of society remain at stage

four, where morality is still predominantly dictated by an outside force.

Post-Conventional

The post-conventional level, also known as the principled level, consists of stages five and six ofmoral development. There is a growing realization that individuals are separate entities from

society, and that the individuals own perspective may take precedence over societys view;

In Stage five (social contract driven), the world is viewed as holding different opinions, rights and

values. Such perspectives should be mutually respected as unique to each person or community. Laws

are regarded as social contracts rather than rigid edicts. Those that do not promote the general welfare

should be changed when necessary to meet the greatest good for the greatest number of people.[8]

This is achieved through majority decision, and inevitable compromise. Democratic government is

ostensibly based on stage five reasoning.

In Stage six (universal ethical principles driven) In this way action is never a means but always an end in

itself; the individual acts because it is right, and not because it is instrumental, expected, legal, or

previously agreed upon. Although Kohlberg insisted that stage six exists, he found it difficult to identify

individuals who consistently operated at that level.[14]


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TELEOLOGICAL THEORIES:

Consequentialism refers to those moral theories which hold that the consequences of one's conduct are

the true basis for any judgment about the morality of that conduct. Thus, from a consequentialist

standpoint, a morally right act (or omission) is one that will produce a good outcome, or consequence.

This view is often expressed as the aphorism "The ends justify the means".

DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES :

Ross's pluralism is also apparent in this quote. He argues that there are seven right making features of

moral action:[16]

* Duty of beneficence: A duty to help other people (increase pleasure, improve character)

* Duty of non-maleficence: A duty to avoid harming other people.

* Duty of justice: A duty to ensure people get what they deserve.

* Duty of self-improvement: A duty to improve ourselves.

* Duty of reparation: A duty to recompense someone if you have acted wrongly towards them.

* Duty of gratitude: A duty to benefit people who have benefited us.

* Duty of promise-keeping: A duty to act according to explicit and implicit promises, including the

implicit promise to tell the truth.

He called these prima facie duties, because when a person tries to decide how to act, each of these

duties need to be taken into consideration when deciding which duty should be acted upon. When more

than one of these "duties" applies to a person in some situation, only one should be acted upon

an ethical code (autosaved)

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