Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Business Ethics

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Business Ethics

Can we get business to operate honestly and with integrity?
Can they earn the trust of consumers?
Read this paper:
http://www.tankinlian.com/articles/ethics.html

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Tan,

I believe that many businesses operate with a sense of honesty and integrity now.

Unfortunately, there will always be some firms who participate in unethical behavior, but the great majority will be honest, hard working ethical firms.

Frankly, I believe that any business which cannot operate in an ethical fashion has no business being in business.

Cheers

Andrew; September 24, 2008 6:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Ask the banks and insurance companies
have they cheated their customers in their pursuit of profit.
Ask the insurance agents, have they cheated their clients in the pursuit of mdrt.
Ask the bank consultants have they cheated in their pursuit of target or quota.
Ask the businesses have they cheated.; September 24, 2008 8:09 PM
Parka said...: This reminds me of a quote I hold dearly to heart. "Never compromise on integrity. Sooner or later, you'll be left with none."

Businesses are neutral. It's the people that run them that are the source of problems, especially the top management. The attitude just infects other people down in the chain.; September 25, 2008 5:23 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: Today (28 Sep 2008) is the birth day of Confucius, the teacher of Chinese. It was the birth of Humanity ( 仁 ren) in BC 551.

"Ren仁" means 2 or more persons take care each other.

Person (人ren) is a key element of being (存在). The other 2 elements are earth (地di) and space (天tia) . 3 in 1 is the concept of being . This is uniqe Chinese philosophy thought.

The word "Chinese中华" is an all-in-one cultural concept. It includes Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christian, Marxism, Communism and overseas Chinese. The highest value is Humanity (仁Ren). Confucius said: "Ren zhe ai Ren仁者爱人" meaning "be humanity and love persons". With this in mind, there will be social harmony(和he). Conflict is limited.

Harmony (和he) was a philosophy thought promoted in Japan before 1859. Humanity is specified in the Human Right Act, United Nation. PRC promotes "Harmony Society" since early-2007 officially.

The following recent events would not happend if Confucian Ethic is practised:
- school building collapsed in Sichuan Province
- tainted milk
- dubious financial product
- corruption of professional & politician

After Enron & Worldcom scams in early-2000, US establish new law like sabanes-oxley. Now, it seems Financial Adviser Act can not refrain salesperson from misrepresentation. Are we going to have more rule and regulation? The iist of questions and answers from diverse interest group is going on and on.

Unlike Business Ethic, the ancient China Emperor applied Confucian Ethic to rule Chinese society over 2000 years until 19 century when governor of Qing Dynasty themself corruption! The tradition Chinese value collapsed and replaced by communism (a western value). Main land Chinese starve without one permanent ruler - CONFUCIUS ETHIC.

What is that one permanent ruler (or Meta-Ethic) beyong governing law in Singapore?; September 28, 2008 8:05 PM