An International Code of Business Ethics, Article Writing Example

Using Marianne Jenning’s article, would an international code of ethics have assisted with the handling of this crisis?

By example from the article the implementation of an international code would not have helped in handling BP’s oil spill crisis, but instead it would have succeeded in potentially preventing the BP crisis from happening.

Would it have helped BP avoid this crisis?

Yes, it would have helped BP avoid the crisis by making sure that the company had the instilled ethical values that created an atmosphere of honesty and fairness in the respect that managers would have been paying attention to safely alarms. Safety violations would not have been overlooked, and problems brought to the attention of the head supervisors would not have been ignored in order to see the problems of continuing to drill in the area with the type of machinery that was being used. The routine visits from internal or external auditors would have had a significant difference in business operations, as it would help to prevent workers from taking shortcuts, and keeping up with safety codes.

Do you see this as an ethical issue? Support your answer with concepts from her article, as well as other ethical reasons

Yes, this is an ethical issue because the company chose to forgo creating value in their employees work, and value of the consumer to net a bigger profit for their shareholders. There were no standards sets, and the concerns for the safety of the environment and their employees were not taken seriously.

Show the steps, apply the facts

First step, is to train the managers and the employees on balancing the needs of the company and shareholders to make a profit, and the safety concerns for the company, employees, and the environment. Second step is to create a code of values, where employees can go home and share their decisions with their significant others without feeling ashamed. This code of universal values will to see the value in their work and others, and use ethical decision making. Third step is to promote a safe, culturally and politically aware of the standards in business operations domestic and abroad. Fourth step is to use internal auditors to keep workers on their toes, and guarantee an environment where everyone is upholding to the standards of the company.

Provide a proposed solution you would suggest

First step will be to ask, what is the perspective of the Company? The second step would be to look ask, Is what I am doing illegal? Can I go home and share my day’s work with others? Third step would be to ask, How will it make me feel about myself? And the find the method would be implemented in asking, Will the decision I make today, make me feel as comfortable about over time?