Response to J. Brickner (6-1) - Essay Example

Question 2  Are U.S. companies at a disadvantage compared to other nations’ businesses because of U.S. business ethics law? Why or why not? I disagree with my classmates’ argument that US companies are at a disadvantage compared to the other businesses as a result of the business ethics laws used in this country. The term ethics denotes a universal concept that is widely taken into consideration by many businesses in their operations. As long as the United States maintains quality and consistency in the products it offers to the customers, then there is no way it can be affected by business ethics laws.

There are few chances that a company will resort to bribery if it offers commodities that are valued by many customers and are on demand. In most cases, companies that find themselves entangled in a situation where they are forced to resort to corrupt practices may not be competent to offer products that are valued by the customers. In fact, companies which operate in an ethical way are likely to appeal to the interests of many people. In the long run, the people are likely to gain trust from the company’s operations which gives it a competitive advantage over other companies.

It is an added advantage for a company to ensure that it operates in an ethical way so that it can be in a position to attract more customers. Against this background, I strongly disagree with my colleagues’ claims that US companies are at a disadvantage as a result of their business ethics laws. In fact, the laws are designed to protect their reputation in their operations which helps them to gain the trust of the customers in the long run. References Henriques, D.B. (2010, January 20). F.B.I. Charges Arms Sellers With Foreign Bribes.

New York Times.Barboza, D. (2010, January 1). Telecom Company to Pay $3 Million in China Bribe Case. New York Times.  Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com