Madden-Hallett, Helen (2009) Corporate Ethics, Personal Ethics: One and the Same? Identifying Ethical Captains of Industry. Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics, 4 (3). pp. 1-9. ISSN 1833-4318

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the corporation and its ethical standing and that of its employees within a framework of eight dynamics. The ‘highest’ level of ethical behaviour possible for a corporation is only as ‘high’ as that of its personnel, especially those in positions of power. Companies that behave ethically are more profitable, while companies that behave unethically are stripping resources from society without fair exchange and leaving a legacy of anti-trust and non-cooperation between individuals and organisations as well as a dollar cost of approximately two and a half trillion dollars per year. In the long run they damage themselves and all dynamics in which they intersect. The problem then is how to find ethical personnel to staff organisations for the benefit of all related dynamics. This paper explores the idea of business as part of a greater whole and the scope of personal ethics especially in business. The paper then explores potential indicators of ethically minded individuals with a view to use this information when hiring new employees but particularly those who, when employed, will wield the greatest power: those at middle management and top management.

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