Business Ethics - Ethical Issues in International Business (U5DB) - Essay Example

Paying a large tip to secure a better table in a restaurant is the same as offering a bribe in business to secure a contract." Defend or oppose this statement. Before reading this statement, I would have never associated the two actions with one another from a moral standpoint. I believe this is because of how moral standards in one country are often different from those in other locations based on societal norms. In the United States, tipping is customary, so people do not think twice about doing it, and most likely never even consider any negative moral consequences that could occur as a result.

However, bribing is certainly not customary in the United States and, thus, is frowned upon from a moral standpoint. When reading the statement above, it does seem clear that paying a large tip to secure a better table in a restaurant is the same as offering a bribe in business to secure a contract. Merriam-Webster (2008, pg. 1) defines ‘bribe’ as “money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust or something that serves to induce or influence,” so it definitely fits the definition.

How is your response to this assignment consistent with the moral philosophy you described in the Unit 1 discussion board assignment? Explain. If it is not consistent with that philosophy, explain why your philosophy has changed. My response to this assignment is different from the moral philosophy I described in the Unit 1 discussion board assignment, where I based my response on consequences. In offering a tip to secure a better table is considered a bribe and is, thus, morally wrong, people who do so are not basing their actions on consequences because the consequences in this case are favorable for them.

Rather, the moral philosophy in this case is based on rights. Some people believe that they have the right to secure a better table since they are offering money when others are not, so they choose to do so.ReferencesBribe. (2008). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribe