Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs, Essay Example

This includes ethics auditing, and identifies the benefits and limitations of ethics auditing.  It also addressed the challenges of measuring nonfinancial performances.  Being an accounting major, this is an essential topic for my profession.  When the topic of unethical accounting arises, Enron is not far behind.  Unethical accounting brought this multi-million dollar business giant to its knees.  This is one example of why ethics is so important.  Implementing ethics programs and understanding the benefits of ethics audits is important in my life, work, and future careers.  Reputability and accountability is something that both companies and consumers depend on.  It will define me as an employee and as a person.  My professional life I will be required to execute ethics auditing. If I was participating in an internship, I would be able to see the stages of ethical auditing being implemented.  This chapter aided in my personal understanding of the strategic role of the ethics audits.

The only question that this chapter did not make truly clear is what happens when the top management and board of directors does not personally practice ethical business.   Obviously the importance of ethical auditing and practices was clearly laid out, but not what a entry-level or lower level employee can do when upper-management does not agree.  They are in charge, so there becomes the question of respecting the authority and doing what is ethically correct.  Ultimately this could cost me my position in a company if I question practices that I know are not being ethically executed.  But participating could cost me my job as well.  So I feel the process is a little muddy when the top managers do not hold the same commitment.  The rest of the chapter is clearly understood.