Esthetics
from the Greek word Ethikos means behavioural pattern. Ethics of a business can
be seen as the behavioural pattern towards business, it deals with the judgment
concerning rightness or wrongness, virtuous and Vicious, approval and
disapproval of an action.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Social
responsibility means eliminating corrupt, irresponsible or unethical behaviour
that might bring harm to the community its people or the environment even
before it happens. Therefore, ethics and social responsibilities is concerned in
the way companies conduct their business in an ethical way, tasking account of
their impact economically, social environmentally and in terms of human rights.
Problems And Challenges Of Ethics And
Social Responsibilities Of Business Organization/Environment In Nigeria
1.
The lack professionalism in Management Styles: Many Nigeria managers do not perceive social
responsibility as one of the key functions of management. The managers lack of
social skills to deal with social matters.
2.
Many Nigerian enterprises are very small in size
and their financial strength precludes the consideration of social
responsibility as a task that must be seriously considered. Some of the other
large companies are owned by foreign firms whose main pre-occupation is profit
maximization. Some of these firms see social responsibility as a patriotic
gesture best undertaken by indigenous
businessmen to help their country.
3.
Involvement in
social activities could adversely affected the economics health of a business
enterprise. It is contrary to the basic function of the business. For example
business enterprise may want to maximize profit or organization market share
which is the objective of the organization. Many companies involve themselves
in social activities because of the tax exemptions or the income spent on
special purposes.
4.
Lack of Supplier and Customer Relationships: Many organizations lack basic positive supplier and
customer relationships. This thereby leads to the stunted growth of their
organizations.
5.
Lack of Sustainability: Basic social responsibility and sustainability
practices in supply management are not practiced by many organizations.
6.
Lack of Confidential and proprietary Information: Some business organizations do not protect
confidential and proprietary information. They lack basic database systems that
save basic information for future use.
7.
Reciprocity:
Many officials of organizations usually involved their selves in improper
reciprocal agreements with the authority, thereby making the vision of the
organization to be destroyed.
8.
Applicable Laws, Regulations and Trade Agreements: Many employees and employers of labours sometimes
failed to know and obey the letter and spirit of laws, regulations and trade
agreements applicable to supply management.
9.
Lack of Professional Competence: Many business organizations lack developed skills,
expand knowledge and conduct business that demonstrates competence and promotes
the supply management profession.
Some common problems and challenge of
ethics and social responsibilities of business environment in Nigeria are:
1.
Conflict Of Interest: This is a situation in which a business decision may
be influenced for personal gain.
2.
Whistle Blowing: This is concerned with employee’s disclosure of illegal, in moral or
unethical practices in the organization.
3.
Loyality Versus Truth: Business people expect employees to be loyal and
truthful but ethical conflicts may arise.
4.
Honesty And Integrity: Telling truth and adhering to deeply, felt ethical
principals in business decisions.
5.
Discouragement
reporting unethical conduct.
6.
Those who
report violation are not protected from retaliation.
7.
Managements leissez
affairs attitude to employee especially bon ethical violation.
8.
Social responsible
firms are likely to be less efficient and may be driven out of business by more
efficient competitors willing to single mindedly pursue-profits.
9.
Firms that
give profit are more likely to fail and become a detriment to society because
jobs and stockholders investment are lost.
10. Inability To
Provide Adequate Training For The Work Force: Several training programs aimed at encouraging ethical practices
within their organizations. Such programs do not attempt to teach what is moral
or ethical but, rather to give business mangers criteria they can use to help
determine how ethical a certain action might be.
11. Despite these implication the restructurings,
cutbacks, and layoffs of recent years have made ethical behaviours harder to
encourage.
12. managers in restructured or downsized organization cannot monitor
employees day to day behaviors. hard expressed employees need flexibility,
authority and ethical leadership to create an environment in which to make
principled decisions.
13. We must respect their dignity and recognize their
merit.
REFERENCES
Akinyemi,
A.O. (2002). Effective Business Training and practice: ethical side.
Crane
(2008). The Oxford handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility,
Ekpo-Ufot,
A. (1990). Exploratory study of indiscipline in Lagos, Unpublished research
work, Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos.
Eso,
K. (2007). Twentieth anniversary lecture in honour of the memory of Chief
Obafemi Awolowo. Sunday Tribute. 1568, p.10.
DEPARTMENT: SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
FACULTY: FARM
COURSE TITLE: ELEMENT OF MANAGEMENT