Ethics is a fascinating, complex, and challenging construct to operationalize, yet it lies at the center and circumference of all managerial decisions. This piece is intended as an introduction for those new to the role of ethics in organizational decision-making and a memory jogger for those well-versed in the subject. Nonetheless, readers will find the piece enlightening and refreshing regardless of one’s understanding and appreciation for ethics.
Undoubtedly, unethical behaviors could be very costly. However, the lines between ethics, morality, and the law are often blurred, hence the importance of their distinctions. As such, I briefly discussed business ethics and law, considering that many business leaders identify ethics with the law and assume that to be ethical is to obey the law. I used everyday problems to illustrate and elucidate the concepts and to help readers understand the ethical reasoning behind why some managers claim the legal principle of the moral minimum is sufficient in ethical conduct. Contrarily, others argue that the moral minimum is necessary but insufficient for ethically responsible behavior.