BUSINESS ETHICS:

 A SOURCE GUIDE


        This web guide is an introduction and pathfinder to selected resources on Business Ethics. This information provides a current overview of Business Ethics. There are links to information about the topic and links to practical information to assist the user in forming an Ethics Policy for a real or imaginary business.


       What is Business Ethics?

        Business ethics is the balance of promoting self interest or company interest and the interests of others.  In the present national and international economy good ethical practice means seeking to make a profit, but not at the expense of employees, customers, or the environment.  Ethics implies moral choice, ie., right or wrong, good or bad.


Business Ethics Organizations

Ethics Officer Association

This professional association is exclusively for mangers of ethics, compliance, and business conduct programs.
 
 

Ethics Resource Center

This is a private non-profit organization seeking to foster good ethical practices in individuals and institutions.
 
 

European Business Ethics Network

This organization serves to promote, educate, and prepare ethicists for future needs. It focuses on ethics issues in the European business community.
 
 

Institute of Business Ethics

This is primarily a United Kingdom organization promoting business ethics in corporate, public, and academic circles.
 
 

Institute for Global Ethics

This organization promotes ethics in all areas of life and not just business, but is included due to the excellence of their web site.
 
 

Jewish Association of Business Ethics

This organization promotes good ethical practice from a Jewish point of view.
 
 

The Southern Institute for Business and Professional Ethics

This organization is housed on the campus of Columbia Theological Seminary and seeks to promote ethical practice, discourse and education in the fields of business, law, religion, and the professions. This also is an excellent web site.
 


Business Ethics Publications

 

Business Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility Report

This publication advertises that it is the oldest and most comprehensive publication on corporate responsibility.
 
 

Business Ethics Quarterly

This is the journal of the Society for Business Ethics.
 
 

Ethics in Economics

This is the quarterly publication of The Council for Ethics in Economics and is available in PDF format on their web site.
 
 

Online Journal of Ethics (OJE)

This journal is published by the Center for Business Ethics at the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
 
 

BizEthicsBuzz

This is a monthly e-mail newsletter published by Business Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility Report.  It includes material not in Business Ethics.  A sample copy can be viewed online.
 


Sample Codes of Ethics

Halliburton Company

Providing energy services, graphics, and engineering in the oil industry.
 
 

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory

A division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
 
 

Johnson & Johnson Company

Providing health products for adults and children.
 
 

ServiceMaster

Providing services for the home and business.
 


Writing an Ethics Code

 

Creating a Code of Ethics for Your Organization

This guide is written by Chris MacDonald, PhD. member of the Bioethics Department at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
 
 

Voluntary Codes

This site provides information on the benefits and possible problems of developing a voluntary code of ethics.  It also provides information on developing a code. Note:  This site is sometimes down temporarily, but is usually up again the next day.

 

This web page prepared by James LaMee on October 2001.

E-mail: jameslamee@yahoo.com