Honesty in Business - Essay Example

Honesty in Business Businessmen, before setting out in the voyage through this ocean, set goals which would compromise with nothing in the way to make more and more money and grow in the arena. Business ethics is a thing which drives perhaps a meagre group of people in this age. This study evaluates the need of “Honesty” in business. The writer would defend the hypothesis that “honesty is vital in long term business.” Let us analyse how far the virtue of honesty is effective in business and explore the different facets of it.

“Honesty” and “trust” are entangled together especially in business. The philosophy is that honesty creates trustworthiness which consequently brings firmness in a business in its long run. “Customer interest” has to be protected. Honesty keeps one from adulterating a product or service, or from putting unreasonable charge on the customer and so on. That will “satisfy” the customers and also attract them. Through that, by preserving “reputation” and “relationship,” (Reilly p. 2) business will gain a steady momentum.

What we “do” and “say” will definitely affect our value in the long run? So winning someone's trust through honesty is quite important. When someone trusts us, we need to prove that we are trustworthy. We have three major components to build this kind of a trustworthy relationship in business. And they are: “doing right things”; “doing things right” (Reilly p. 2) and doing these “proactively.” Earning a “social credibility” is necessary to embed some “value” in the customers' heart.

Determining whether one is going to run long is to be done today. Doing right things articulates ethical behaviour. Doing things right is about good management. And the third thing is simply cautiousness and preparation. (Writer's inference) “Honesty encourages competition on the merits and prohibits competition by Cheating” (Frankel p.21). Honesty doesn't rule out competition in business, which is good as far as excellence is concerned, but it encourages a healthy ethical competition which is even far better.

“America” for example which has put an effort in this venture of “honesty” and the result has been astounding. “The socializing of industry from within on a higher ethical plane.is greatly needed” (Gintis & Khurana p.27) “Business ethics” is another facet which we must not oversee or ignore. It highlights the “virtues” that must drive us in business. The virtues may seem unproductive especially concerning in more benefit, but that will definitely bring out a balanced and fair economy.

(Writer's reflection) Whatever the upper strata i.e., the “leaders” in a business show, the lower stratum follows. They not only would cause loss to the outsiders but also to the company itself. And the upper strata is often responsible for the “corporate good” or “corporate evil” (Business Ethics: “Honesty is the best Policy” Must be More than Words on the Wall, p.1). “Ethical” and “honest” approaches in the field of business, makes a “distinct” identity. And above all gets the certification of trustworthiness.

We can now realize that through honesty, one is winning trust and that brings firmness in the business. Ethical behaviour in masses would bring on a great economic development. When a businessman observes his unethical, dishonest dealings with others and that could encourage other people to do so. That's how the entire society gets corrupted. But if just a small group of people start doing the other way, it will be vice versa and things will bring on revolution. Some famous person has quoted like this: “If you want to bring a change, you first have to be that change.

” And that change begins from you and me. Works CitedBusiness Ethics: “Honesty is the best Policy” Must be More than Words on the Wall. Start up Nation. 2013. Web. 22 March 2013. http://www.startupnation.com/business-articles/1664/1/business-ethics-honesty.aspFrankel, Tamar. Trust and Honesty. Oxford University Press. n.d. Web. 22 March 2013. http://web4.uwindsor.ca/units/law/CARC/main.nsf/0/e096c2495caf982b852570fb00737f6a/$FILE/Frankel.pdfGintis, H. & Khurana, R. Corporate Honesty and Business Education: A Behavioural Model. 2006. Web.

22 March 2013. http://time.dufe.edu.cn/wencong/gintis/CorporateHonesty.pdfReilly, Allison. Honesty as a Competitive Advantage, Upcoming Necessity. Technorati. 2012. Web. 22 March 2013. http://technorati.com/business/article/honesty-as-a-competitive-advantage-upcoming/page-2/