Ethics and Professionalism - Article Example

The general ethics form the basis of mutual interaction amongst the people in a society. Though some of these values evolve to embrace the changing times and others may interpret it differently under different situation but the universal acceptance of what is right and what is wrong has given them a strong foothold to withstand the adversities of the time. In the contemporary environment of rapidly evolving business dynamics, ethical considerations and values in one's professional life have become vital to the personal and organizational growth.

In fact, the public relation is increasingly becoming one of the most important areas that have major influence on the overall performance of the companies. PR exercises are increasingly used to emphasize and disseminate information about the organizations, in order to establish a closer relationship with the various stakeholders, including investors as well as with their valued customers.Public Relation Society of America or PRSA's Code of ethics is highly relevant in the current environment of cut throat business.

The well defined code promotes responsible actions and emphasizes accountability, honesty, transparency, loyalty and fairness (PRSA). They are important part of business strategy because they facilitate consistent, accurate and the right message to be communicated to the audience, to investors as well as customers. Public relation campaigns significantly strengthen company's position and provide an effective competitive edge over its competitors in business.Ethically correct practices encourage dissemination of correct information to the public and other stakeholders.

Violation of academic trust through plagiarism, cheating, falsifying information or aiding and abetting in any of the nefarious activities are now serious offences and they are considered as totally unacceptable conduct in all areas of work. Hence their professional honesty is crucial in promoting correct facts and interpretation on issues and topics that are socially, economically and politically relevant.The guidelines in the code of conduct help the individuals and the organizations to adjust and influence the working environment within the prescribed parameters, which not only comprise of the long term mission of the company but also include harmonious interactions within the workforce diversity where people may be coming from different cultures, race, ethnicity and nationality.

The value based conduct plays vital role in the actions and reactions of the people in the work place. An intrinsic sense of responsibility ensures understanding and cooperation among the colleagues whether they are their junior or their seniors. They go a long way in overcoming the conflicting values which may result due the diversity that the work place represents in term of human resource.Indeed, professional code of conduct needs to become an intrinsic part of PR exercise as it is a very effective communication tool that informs the general public about the various ways and means through which the company is discharging its social responsibilities.

Since public relation exercises are primarily focused on the people at large, ethically correct practices in the area become critical to the long term success of the firm. They promote mutual trust building and establish credibility amongst the various stakeholders.ReferencePublic Relation Society of America Member Code of Ethics 2000. Available from: [Accessed 6 August, 2009].