Why is ethics is the easiest and hardest topic in management?

Answer 1

Its also among the most subjective. What people would never consider doing to other people, such as running them bankrupt and out of existence, is a sport in business.

Answer 2

Several reasons.

First, ethics are very easy to discuss in a hypothetical situation, but rarely does a situation arise that is "textbook," making the decisions about what to do much harder.

Second, people are not perfect. They are led by their own biases and opinions. Therefore, managers may see an act as ethical when done by a person they like, but unethical when done by someone they don't like.

Third, because most management tends to act on a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.

Yes, these last 2 are from personal experience. I once had a manager who had a fit at me one day for leaving 5 minutes early to get to an appointment. However, he routinely came in late and left early without using his vacation time, and had no problem with other people in the department doing the same thing, as long as he liked them. Since he and I didn't get along, I was held to a higher set of standards than other people. I'm sure he would have said that this was ethically wrong, and I'm equally sure he would have said that he didn't hold me to a higher standard, but the facts would prove him wrong.

Answer 3

Because it's usually easy to see what is the morally right thing to do , but that often conflicts with what is in the best economic interest of the company.