Ethics, Law, and Business - Assignment Example

Business through the Eyes of Faith Introduction There exists a relationship between business and society. On the same note, religious values have now become part of business community, given that business in modern world is seen to have immense influence on religious values. It is in this perspective of how religious values function in business world, that efforts will be made to establish and ascertain the link. Assignment 1 Part 1 Summary The issue of religion and how it is depicted in business is brought out and explained in this part. Just to show how religious values and functional elements are part of the wider contextual environment of business, the case of Computer Management and Development Services (CMDS) is introduced. This is a company formed in 1987, which has over time provided critical technological services to markets, administrations, institutions, and more (Business: Is There A Christian Perspective p. 15). Management team at the company is largely Christians and in equal measure pursues Christian principles in their activities. The expression made in this case is that, business is part of Christian activity that cannot be separated from the wider role and duty of Christians. Response Business is a social activity and the essence for it to act morally and ethically is inevitable. Christians and the larger human body that have direct or indirect involvement in business have a duty to honor God by pursuing ethical and moral business practices at all times. People can honor and remain obedient to God when they shoe ethical and moral value of their business activities. When one honors God’s creation (the people) then the person in same measure is able to honor God. Ethics and morals are seen to be fundamental principles that define success or failure of any particular given business, although, it has to be known that an individual or a corporation can have strong ethical values and morals but still fail to achieve its objectives when it ignores multi-dimensional perspective of the business. Part 2 Summary The author of this chapter introduces the concept of ‘Law of Nature’ which he subsequently transforms into an argument based on moral laws. The author contends that Law of Nature is a creation of a human who in one way or the other tries to control or manipulates the behavior of the other human being (The Law of Human Nature 1). Laws of Nature are intended to define what is right and what is wrong, thereby categorizing the appropriate behaviors, which society can accept or not (The Law of Human Nature p.1). Although Laws of Nature provide these guidelines for appropriate behavior, they largely fail to appreciate the existence of different cultures, civilization, and ages, a situation that makes the author to doubt the actual applicability of the laws (The Law of Human Nature 2). The author is of the view that, Moral Laws have presented human being with a dilemma, as the process of understanding them is fuzzy and not clear (The Law of Human Nature 4). As a result, the author points out those moral laws cannot just be accepted or consumed per se, since they have and remain major sources of unease among the people. Response Moral Laws are part and parcel of society and, in large measure, have been the primary source for human behavior articulations around the world. In subsequent manner, Moral Laws are responsible for the numerous ethical and moral codes of conducts that many businesses use today. Therefore, moral laws cannot be said to contradict or perform little role in society, although there may be some identified flaws. In most cases, moral laws are composed of four decision-making aspects that the modern world business individual cannot run away from. These four components are moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral will, and moral action (Wines 43). As business entity appear today, there is no likelihood that any decision can be assumed to be value-free. Business decisions in one way or the other affect people, as a result, moral sensitivity and moral action is necessary. As business continues to operate in modern world environment, which is risky, it is paramount to note that moral laws will remain critical part of business decision-making process. Today, majority of people through voluntary or involuntary actions in the business sphere are supposed or asked to examine and weigh the ethical ramifications of their business decisions. Moral authority posits that an approach, which is adopted by any individual, is largely influenced by the ability of the individual to think independently and find solutions to the ethical issues; hence, the author cannot just say individuals have been conditioned to think in particular way without having independent thinking and decisions. Assignment 2 Part 1 Summary God is presented as the ultimate goal and source of all wisdom and knowledge in the perspective of faith and business. The Christian perspective postulates that, all Christians have a duty to obey the commandments and teachings of God, which have to be emulated in the business practice. People are asked to have a greater and religious perspective of the business and not concentrate only on economic and political perspective. As a result, business activities are seen as opportunities in which Christians can extend their love, honor, care, and so on to other members of the society, which of course constitutes the critical requirements of God (Business: Is There A Christian Perspective p.8). The understanding is that, God created humans to be servants and stewards over His expansive creation, and humankind has to conduct business activities that reflect faith in God. Competition, selfishness, and immoral practices are seen to demean the image of God, and as a result, those involved in business have to refrain from such acts. Response Faith, as presented in the article, is premised on the strong tenets of assurance, hope, and conviction and as a result, people’s ultimate goal should be to believe in God for profound solutions and insightful wisdom in carrying out the business activities (Preface p.1). Christians engaged in business have a duty to honor God by pursuing ethical and moral business practices at all times. Ethics and Christianity morals are seen to be fundamental principles that define success or failure of any particular given business, although it has to be known that an individual or a corporation can have strong ethical values and morals but still fail to achieve its objectives. This therefore means that business operations in the society require multi-disciplinary approach in explaining which religion is part of it (Business: Is There a Christian Perspective 15). Unlike in the past, business entity is no longer premised on profit alone but on other related moral aspects Today, the business environment is complicate, dynamic and more so, uncertain. In such circumstances, it becomes an act of selfishness to indicate that only one particular perspective can be used to explain business environment. Religion constitutes one way of articulating the needs and success factors of business, and this need to be beefed by other related perspectives such as the economy, politics, marketing, and human behavior. Business in modern world remains flexible and dynamic to the frequent changes and modifications, which require a multi-disciplinary approach in explaining the functionability of the business entity. In this way, a more comprehensive picture of the business will be generated and this can help to define the success or failure of the business. Part 2 Summary The author concentrates on the issue of Christianity as well as how Christians around the world have facilitated divisions among them. According to the author, Christianity, as a religion, seems to have missed the point, and majorities have engaged in endless discussions that have facilitated and nurtured divisions in the world (The Rival Conceptions of God 4). As the divisions and concentrations of Christians remain on argument, the author observes that the major goal has been missed and this has led to more evils in the world. Christians, according to the author have immersed themselves in discussions of what is right and what is wrong and tend to be biased since they are liked to be hostile to views that religions which they are not theirs presents. In this way, the author discusses the dualism of Christianity. Dualism according to the author should be the premise upon which Christians have to look at both sides of their views and positions and be able to identify the evils in the world in an objective manner (The Rival Conceptions of God 14). Response As it has been expressed by the author, it is clear that human are responsible for the evils that befall the world. The human can be seen to be proud, selfish, individualized, and not ready to accept the reality (Preface 3). To majority of humans, despite being religious, it seems they have missed the point of what Christianity is, and have ended up engaging in discussions and arguments that have no benefit to society and humankind. Christians as representatives of God need to engage in issues that develop and promote the welfare of humanity (The Rival Conceptions of God 16). At the same time, Christians have the opportunity to redefine their position and status in society, and seek God’s guidance and forgiveness before the time to do so is late. In summary, it can be said that, Christians have forgotten their basic role and duty on the earth, and they have to re-discover and perform the duty. Part 3 The overall conclusion from these passages is that, God has given human responsibility and different roles that they need to perform in the universe. Human beings (Christians) are servants of God, entrusted with God’s roles in various capacities (Romans 7:14-25). Subsequently, those who have been entrusted with responsibilities by God have to ensure they remain faithful and dutiful to their roles (1 Corinthians 6: 1-8). Characteristics of a servant are what the God’s appointed workers need to have. Performing duty should largely be guided by humanity aspects and concerns for others. For instance, the book states that, a servant who is faithful and sensible is the one the master (God) can give responsibilities of managing and taking care of his things (universe). The master put his confidence in such servant and when away, the master has no worries since he knows the person in charge is faithful. Moreover, there is reward for those servants who perform exemplary (Matthew 25: 14-30). Servants are further supposed to be content with what they receive or with the duties that they perform (Matthew 20: 1-16). In this way, servants are not supposed to complain but always to be cheerful, for the reward of the master will recognize their contribution even in small measures (Proverbs 31:10-31). At the same time, masters are supposed not to mistreat and oppress their servants (Deuteronomy 24: 14-16), whether they are poor or of different origin. In this way, masters are supposed to treat their servants well with great compassion. Therefore, work is seen to originate from God and people are supposed to take it possibilities. In the same manner, God has assigned different responsibilities to different people and respect, honest, faithful, and love is emphasized as key characteristics that should be demonstrated in service. Part 4: Case-Study: BP Oil and Mexico Gulf Disaster Business entities have a duty to live and exercise the principles of care, honest, fair, and concern for their workers. Throughout the bible, there is emphasis of care, honest, fairness and unequivocal concerns for the welfare of servants and their masters. Workers are servants who have been given roles to play or perform. Their master (employer) has to ensure adequate care is given to the servants. At the same time, the master has to ensure that, the overall environment in which servants operate is less of threats. Responsibility of masters include; providing fair compensations systems, fair job design and practices, good working environment, impartiality in treating the workers, and responding adequately to the issues of workers. Workers on the other hand have a duty to perform their roles faithful and with maximum honest, obedience and respect. Workers have at all times to remain faithful and responsible in their duties. BP Oil is one of the world known oil companies that has been in operation for a long time. In 2010, BP Oil faced one of the worst experiences when one of its undersea pipes leaked oil into the Gulf of Mexico (BP Oil 1-5). This was a huge disaster to the environment, economic and social. Some of the people affected by the episode were BP Oil workers, who experienced physical, emotional, psychological torture as a result of the episode. Nevertheless, as a way to show appreciation and good management practices to its employees and community, BP Oil set aside a compensation kit of about $20 million (BP Oil 1-5). Its employees were some of the beneficiary. At the same time, the company initiated counseling programs for its employees who had been affected and carried out job redesign through introduction of corporate governance tools (sustainability ethical codes). In all these, BP Oil can be seen as a good master who is willing to address and respond to the issues of its servants, and where necessary institute good management practices. Workers on the hand improved in their worker and recovered from traumatic experiences of the disaster. They showed faster adjustment to new measures the company initiated and their trust, faith, and responsibility in the company increased after these initiatives were instituted. Conclusion Society in modern world operates on values that have religious foundation; as a result, it is impossible to divorce the functions of the business from the larger society and religion. Moral Laws are identified to be the guiding principles, which modern business entities have adopted in form of ethical and moral codes. As a result, business entities are more aware that not all decisions of economic are value-free and some moral judgment and consideration have to be made. Works Cited BP Oil. Sustainability Review. BP Oil Company Report, 2011. 19 January 2012. http://www.bp.com/assets/bp_internet/globalbp/STAGING/global_assets/e_s_assets/e_s_assets_2010/downloads_pdfs/bp_sustainability_review_2010.pdf. Business: Is There A Christian Perspective? (Attached article). Preface. (Attached article). The Law of Human Nature. (Attached article). The Rival Conceptions of God. (Attached article). Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, 2004. Print. Wines, William. A. Ethics, Law, and Business. NY: Routledge, 2006. Print. Read More