Business Ethics and Moral Economics as a Social Stigma - Coursework Example

Introduction There are several problems that are currently providing a stigma within society, specifically with is moving into an international level. The issues that are seen today question moral values, obligations and justifications that are a part of the social and cultural stance of a nation. One of the complexities that is currently facing many is based on the concept of moral and social obligations to impoverished countries and those living at high end poverty levels. The injustice that comes from those that are impoverished is debated over what types of resources and how much should be given to those within the community, specifically if one doesn’t belong to that area. At the same time, many believe that the pressure to provide monetary funds and resources to a community should be based on business obligations, such as through community development. The question that arises is whether this responsibility should come from one who is in another country as a part of their main system as a business. Many believe that it is not right to demand money and resources to those that are in different countries as an ethical obligation, even if they are at a poverty level. Even though many don’t believe it is their obligation or responsibility, other moral values state that it is the responsibility of those with specific resources to help others in need. The pressures from society have created both sides to helping impoverished nations. The moral obligation; however, should be reliant on one’s willingness to give back to the community and to sincerely help those in need as the main value. Business Ethics and Moral Economics as a Social Stigma As businesses grow into multinational corporations that bring in millions of dollars every year, are also questions about how there can be changes within the corporation. One of the trends that are continuing to grow within society is based on the concept of business ethics and community responsibility. Several larger corporations are showing that it is their duty to give back a percentage of time, proceeds and money to different communities, specifically which live in remote areas of the world. Because of the global nature of most issues, this is causing the cultural implications and other values to be questioned with concepts such as international conditions. For businesses, the ability to create a sense of community development and values through moral economics is providing a change in the concept of helping those who are disadvantaged to gain a sense of power. The concept that has been approached by businesses then allows some of the resources and finances to be given back into the community (Weinberg, 2010). Even though there is a specific level of moral value to the business ethics in helping impoverished nations, there are also several questions over the legitimacy of the acts. Currently, the use of having community responsibility is not only for business growth, but also is related directly to the concept of social status. If a business can help out a country, then there is a level of benefit that they receive in return. Those in the developed societies will notice the social ventures that they are a part of and will want to invest so money can be given back to different communities. More importantly, the business can use the community development as a promotion for advertising. If one is able to state that they are giving back to impoverished nations by providing resources through ad campaigns, then there will be different consumers who are motivated to buy the products and to help with what is occurring. Many times, the advertising is not followed with conducive actions and the amount of monetary support is lost outside of the community development promised by the businesses, which creates a sense of irrelevant advertising and false promotions related to the social stigma and prestige that is gained in return (Urban, 2010). The main focus that occurs when a business states that they are providing community development to a nation, or when they offer assistance, is based on how this interplays on different levels. The first is at the societal level, which can be used to gain prestige in the community or to gain recognition for business advertising. The second is an interplay that is created through business politics, which is based on doing what is good for the company first, then providing assistance as a secondary factor. The main concern of any business then links to the concept of interactions with economics and what will make the business grow. In this sense, the concept of providing community assistance and the interplay with businesses becomes false and often doesn’t lead into values that provide individuals to move into communities and assist others with processes and actions that are conducive to the community. The result is that impoverished nations remain in the same state and businesses gain prestige and a larger, international market, by promoting community development and sustainability (Faulk, Usunier, 2009). The main problem that is noted with the business ethics is based not only on the drive to help businesses for social stigma and promotions. Another controversy that is arising is based on the concept of helping impoverished nations that are in different places of the world. Most companies are interested in gaining prestige in places where they are interested in developing at. More importantly, there is an interest in moving into social preferences for the business that will stimulate business. Most of the time, those that decide to move into impoverished nations through monetary resources will contribute to another fund or will blindly give to another place. The money and resources that are provided move into an unknown area and often never are given to the places needed for assistance. More importantly, the society and economy is not stimulated by the resources given, but instead they are lost to either an organization or to the economy. If businesses are not familiar with a given area, then giving to that country may not affect individuals that are in need, but instead moves into a different social arena that is sponsoring a non – profit or that is corrupt in giving back to the community (Gui, Sugden, 2005). Helping Impoverished Nations Even though there are several flaws with the concept of business values and morals in giving back to impoverished nations, there are also some benefits that are a part of giving back to the community at an international level. When a business begins to work through actor networks, as well as policies, then different levels of protection can be used to assist others. For instance, social protection that shows direct results and which moves directly into the community can be used to help change and stimulate the economy. The community services can move into an integrated practice, which is able to provide more life models and alternatives that are available in the community. More importantly, this stops the oppression that is within some communities and can stimulate individuals that are in need to a different level. If social reforms are following the impoverished nations, then businesses can provide benefits by offering more alternatives for growth while assisting those in need. More importantly, the ability to provide resources and monetary needs can eventually stimulate the economy while helping individuals at a grassroots level that don’t have access to basic needs (Gitterman, Germain, 2008). Other benefits of helping impoverished nations come from those that are in businesses and which have reexamined ways in which they can help those in need. Instead of focusing on a marketing strategy, many businesses are incorporating the concept of business ethics and community development into the framework and structure of their business. The advertising and stigma that surrounds this is able to provide development within the company only by the actions that are taken and through the results that are achieved by helping impoverished nations. This is combined with the ability to create options for raising money and providing resources because of the way that the business is structured. Businesses that are able to take out the social stigma and instead work through the internal environment are essentially able to provide more resources and assistance than those that are working for only social stigma. At this level, there is the ability to provide more strategic options to help those in need while keeping a level of true value and moral ethics in response to the occurrences that are a part of the business and community (Jennings, Entine, 1998). The second way in which businesses can substantially give to impoverished nations without the attachment to social stigma is based on the concept of economic sustainability. When different businesses give back to impoverished nations in an alternative manner, than results should be seen through the actions, specifically with more capabilities that are a part of the economic sustainability. Global resource allocation and creation is known to work more effectively for businesses while providing assistance that is needed at an international level. Impoverished nations are able to receive the assistance needed when businesses take more active responsibility in what is occurring, rather than passively providing resources and monetary resources. More importantly, the economic analysis and performance that occurs as a result will reflect the ability for a business to give back to the community. When a corporation can show the responses from the direct actions while showing results in what is occurring, there is the ability to add more options for sustainability. The human behavior and actions within the community and business are then able to reflect the option of giving back to impoverished nations while maintaining the right level of responsibility toward the resources that are given (Pitelis, 2002). Giving Back to the Community as a Value The concept of business ethics, while announcing the option of giving back and providing sustainable development, is often loss with the social stigma surrounding humanitarian acts. For most corporations, there are several levels of injustice that are incorporated into a business and in the values that are offered by the corporation. Instead of providing true value to the ethical needs of impoverished nations, businesses will use resources incorrectly and will create community development as an advertising opportunity. The intent of community development for businesses becomes one based on providing benefits and social stigma to the corporation, instead of offering true assistance through economic and community development. For different nations, this incorporates new levels of poverty and leads several to not have the moral basis behind the needs for assistance. Even though there is a social stigma and set of trends that are based around community development, businesses can still find a way to incorporate morals and values when giving back to impoverished nations. The motivation for social responsibility is one that has to be altered by the framework and overall presence of the company. It is the ethical basis and the values that are created within the corporation that allow the ability to give back to the community to work effectively. More importantly, the ability to take the different needs into account through direct actions and relations with communities shows true moral value and the need to give back to others, as opposed to creating a value that is based on advertising and promotion for both consumers and stakeholders. Creating the difference in the intent of the company and the way in which they approach moral value is then able to show an alteration in how one is able to approach community development while strategically giving back to the community (Carson, 1993). The concept of giving back to the community and helping impoverished nations, as well as the roles of business ethics, relates directly to the several ethical theories that determine whether this is a justice or injustice. According to theorists such as Butler and Hobbes, the concept of virtues of the world is one that shouldn’t be taken as a superficial plausibility or a philosophical excuse for an individual’s own selfishness. The concept that should be taken as a main approach is to take actions that are based on common sense, combined with virtue that relates to good will without other judgments taken. The concept of this theory is one that is specifically seen in the actions and results that are given to the community while providing a set of guiding principles that not only determine actions, but also the intent that is taken within the context of giving to the community. The concept of higher and lower moral authority is guided by this, in which those with higher moral authority also understand the psychology and driving force behind giving. Those with lower authority will tend to act with selfish ideologies and actions that lead to the wrong results. More importantly, those with higher moral authority will recognize limitations and will begin to take actions with common sense and toward the means that they can give back to the community (Broad, 2002). By a business noting the concept of higher moral authority, there is the ability to give back into the community and help impoverished nations with the correct framework and actions, while getting results from the guiding principles and common sense that is used. Another concept that links to the idea of giving to the community in the correct manner comes from Kant. The main ethical theory that can be related to is based on how right and wrong, as well as good and bad are directly seen in actions as well as results. When one is working toward the good or the right, then it is seen with intention and leads to good results. When one is working toward the wrong, then the acts, sense of duty and few to bad results will also be seen. In this instance, there is a differentiation only between good will and the actions that follow this (Broad, 2002). The concept that Kant relates to can also be seen with the intent of businesses that gives back to the community. If the business is genuine in the ethics of good will then results follow with sustainable development for impoverished nations. However, most are more interested in the business prestige with intent that is based only on selfish actions. The result is little to no results that show the ineffectiveness and immoral intent behind the businesses, used only for their good. Conclusion The concept of business ethics and moral values is one that is expected by most with a sense of community responsibility. However, this specific concept is also noted as a social stigma that is expected among businesses. When looking at ethical theories, as well as the results of the businesses, it can be seen that the main approach to ethics and values of helping impoverished nations is based on gaining recognition and campaigning for specific products by using humanitarian beliefs. The businesses that are able to provide value, substantial growth and effective assistance to those in poverty are noted by the actions, good will and results that are given. By businesses focusing on the framework needed for their company and moving into the development needed for impoverished nations, is the ability to create substantial results with the company while providing the correct type of assistance to those living in poverty. References Broad, C.D. (2002). Five Types of Ethical Theories. London: Routledge. Carson, Thomas. (1993). “Does the Stakeholder Theory Constitute a New Kind of Theory of Social Responsibility?” Business Ethics Quarterly (3), (2). Faulk, Saskia, Jean – Claude Usunier. (2009). 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