| Is it possible for an individual with strong moral | | | | these practices would be viewed as unethical and |
| values to make ethically questionable decisions in a | | | | perhaps illegal. The actions and decisions of |
| business setting? What affects a person's | | | | coworkers is another social factor believed to |
| inclination to make either ethical or unethical | | | | shape a person's sense of business ethics. For |
| decisions in a business organization? Although the | | | | example, if your coworkers make long-distance |
| answers to that question are not entirely clear, | | | | telephone calls on company time and at company |
| there appear to be three general sets of factors | | | | expense, you might view that behavior as |
| that influence the standards of behavior in an | | | | acceptable and ethical because everyone does it. |
| organization; individual factors, social factors and | | | | Significant others are persons to whom someone |
| opportunity. | | | | is emotionally attached-spouses, friends, and |
| Several individual factors influence the level of | | | | relatives, for instance. Their moral values and |
| ethical behavior in an organization. An individual's | | | | attitudes can also affect an employee's perception |
| knowledge level regarding an issue can help to | | | | of what is ethical and unethical in the workplace. |
| determine ethical behavior. A decision maker with | | | | Opportunity refers to the amount of freedom an |
| a greater amount of knowledge regarding an | | | | organization gives an employee to behave ethically |
| object or situation may take steps to avoid | | | | if he or she makes that choice. In some |
| ethical problems, whereas a less-informed person | | | | organizations, certain company policies and |
| may unknowingly take action that leads to an | | | | procedures reduce the opportunity to be unethical. |
| ethical conflict. One's moral values and central, | | | | For example, at some fast-food restaurants, one |
| value-related attitudes clearly influence his or her | | | | person takes your order and receives your |
| business behavior. Most people join organizations | | | | payment and another person fills the order. This |
| to accomplish personal goals. The types of | | | | procedure reduces the opportunity to be unethical |
| personal goals an individual aspires to and the | | | | because the person handling the money is not |
| manner in which these goals are pursued have | | | | dispensing the product, and the person giving out |
| significant impact on that individual's behavior in an | | | | the product is not handling the money. The |
| organization. | | | | existence of an ethical code and the importance |
| A person's behavior in the workplace is, to some | | | | management places on this code are other |
| degree, determined by cultural norms, and these | | | | determinants of opportunity. The degree of |
| social factors vary from one culture to another. | | | | enforcement of company policies, procedures, and |
| For example, in some countries it is acceptable | | | | ethical codes is a major force affecting |
| and ethical for customs agents to receive | | | | opportunity. When violations are dealt with |
| gratuities for performing ordinary, legal tasks that | | | | consistently and firmly, the opportunity to be |
| are a part of jobs, whereas in other countries | | | | unethical is reduced. |