| Is it possible for an individual with strong moral | | | | be viewed as unethical and perhaps illegal. The |
| values to make ethically questionable decisions in a | | | | actions and decisions of coworkers is another |
| business setting? What affects a person's | | | | social factor believed to shape a person's sense |
| inclination to make either ethical or unethical | | | | of business ethics. For example, if your |
| decisions in a business organization? Although the | | | | coworkers make long-distance telephone calls on |
| answers to that question are not entirely clear, | | | | company time and at company expense, you |
| there appear to be three general sets of factors | | | | might view that behavior as acceptable and ethical |
| that influence the standards of behavior in an | | | | because everyone does it. Significant others are |
| organization; individual factors, social factors and | | | | persons to whom someone is emotionally |
| opportunity.Several individual factors influence the | | | | attached-spouses, friends, and relatives, for |
| level of ethical behavior in an organization. An | | | | instance. Their moral values and attitudes can also |
| individual's knowledge level regarding an issue can | | | | affect an employee's perception of what is ethical |
| help to determine ethical behavior. A decision | | | | and unethical in the workplace.Opportunity refers |
| maker with a greater amount of knowledge | | | | to the amount of freedom an organization gives |
| regarding an object or situation may take steps | | | | an employee to behave ethically if he or she |
| to avoid ethical problems, whereas a | | | | makes that choice. In some organizations, certain |
| less-informed person may unknowingly take | | | | company policies and procedures reduce the |
| action that leads to an ethical conflict. One's moral | | | | opportunity to be unethical. For example, at some |
| values and central, value-related attitudes clearly | | | | fast-food restaurants, one person takes your |
| influence his or her business behavior. Most people | | | | order and receives your payment and another |
| join organizations to accomplish personal goals. | | | | person fills the order. This procedure reduces the |
| The types of personal goals an individual aspires | | | | opportunity to be unethical because the person |
| to and the manner in which these goals are | | | | handling the money is not dispensing the product, |
| pursued have significant impact on that individual's | | | | and the person giving out the product is not |
| behavior in an organization.A person's behavior in | | | | handling the money. The existence of an ethical |
| the workplace is, to some degree, determined by | | | | code and the importance management places on |
| cultural norms, and these social factors vary from | | | | this code are other determinants of opportunity. |
| one culture to another. For example, in some | | | | The degree of enforcement of company policies, |
| countries it is acceptable and ethical for customs | | | | procedures, and ethical codes is a major force |
| agents to receive gratuities for performing | | | | affecting opportunity. When violations are dealt |
| ordinary, legal tasks that are a part of jobs, | | | | with consistently and firmly, the opportunity to be |
| whereas in other countries these practices would | | | | unethical is reduced. |