- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Perseus Books,U.S. (19 May 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201339838
- ISBN-13: 978-0201339833
- Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 17 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,296,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Product Description
Why companies must hard-wire ethics into their strategyand how they will benefit from the investment.. Ethics are becoming the defining business issue of our time, affecting corporate profits and credibility, as well as personal security and the sustainability of a global economy. From price-fixing to bribery to toxic-waste dumping, companies around the world are engaging in unethical practices and chalking them up to the cost of doing business. but in an increasingly transparent global economy, where companies are being scrutinized by the media, private watch groups, government, competitors and their own employees, it is just such unethical practices that deplete profits, jeopardize reputations and, in cases like Barings Bank, risk the entire business. By the most conservative estimate, yearly losses due to unethical behavior equal more than the profits of the top forty corporations in North America. Such economic waste and moral loss require more than a PR Band-Aid.But how does a company and its managers and employees begin to encode an ethical construct into its bottom-line strategies and daily practices? In the Ethical Imperative , John Dalla Costa outlines the process for incorporating, teaching and reinforcing ethical principles to the direct benefit of customers, shareholders, employees and profits. Drawing from the fields of management, theology and the behavioral sciences, Dalla Costa makes clear why corporate ethics must be a fundamental component of any business. He provides a working practical model that business people can use to establish their own Ethical Orientation and outlines a new, forward-thinking global ethic for the global economy based on respect, honesty, fairness, justice and environmental responsibility. Case examples from a wide variety of industries are used to illustrate the workings of this ethical framework and help managers customize the model to serve the needs and priorities of their own business. As managers and consumers, many people are concerned about such issues as sweatshops, global warming and discrimination in the workplace, and are struggling to integrate their beliefs into their jobs, companies and purchases. The Ethical Imperative links these personal values to business performance. It is a compelling and useful must-read for executives and managers, employees and policy-makers, environmentalists, consumers and anyone who possesses an interest and concern over current ethical issues.
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First Sentence
The global economy holds much greater potential than its critics think, and much more disruption than its advocates admit. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The global economy holds much greater potential than its critics think, and much more disruption than its advocates admit. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
A book with strong pluses and minuses. If one is looking for a survey of all aspects of business ethics this book is very useful. If one is looking for a profound book it is disappointing. The author writes in his introduction that he skimmed through many books and that some of he persons quoted would turn in their graves if they would read how he uses (abuses) their ideas. He is right. Every chapter starts with a quotation of Bonhoeffer a German Christian theologian. Bonhoeffer's attitude to ethics was: "the knowledge of good and evil seems to be the aim of all ethical reflection. The first task of Christian ethics is to invalidate this knowledge". This books with 340 pages on purpose leaves out religion. The book presents convincing evidence that present business practices even of many well known companies are deplorable or to put it more positively, there are great strides forward that businesses can and should make. This is in the businesses own interest and of that of their surroundings. It is also urgent.
Format:Hardcover
The author demonstrates the connection between ethical conduct and successful business. He provides a critique of economic assumptions and tackles hard issues head-on. He argues forcefully against the pessimistic, fatalistic view that ethics are the ideal-but amoral behavior is the 'real.' He sees the emergence of a global ethic. To achieve a global ethic Dalla Costa offers a business model for an ethical orientation which includes: manage assets professionally; conduct interactions with humanity; be fair; be honest; strive for justice; and honor the environment.
The author's view is that a global ethic involves the policies of nations and strategies of companies, but at its core is the ethical orientation of the individual. The current stuggle for achieving "transparancy" in financial matters in most parts of the world, however, points up the complex challenges the global economy presents on the most basic level. The ideas in this book are a tough sell, but they are persuasively and clearly presented, leaving one with hope. Dalla Costa is clearly one who sees light at the end of the tunnel. Excellent. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Optimistically orienting us toward a global ethic.
30 Mar 1999
Format:Hardcover
The author demonstrates the connection between ethical conduct and successful business. He provides a critique of economic assumptions and tackles hard issues head-on. He argues forcefully against the pessimistic, fatalistic view that ethics are the ideal-but amoral behavior is the 'real.' He sees the emergence of a global ethic. To achieve a global ethic Dalla Costa offers a business model for an ethical orientation which includes: manage assets professionally; conduct interactions with humanity; be fair; be honest; strive for justice; and honor the environment.
The author's view is that a global ethic involves the policies of nations and strategies of companies, but at its core is the ethical orientation of the individual. The current stuggle for achieving "transparancy" in financial matters in most parts of the world, however, points up the complex challenges the global economy presents on the most basic level. The ideas in this book are a tough sell, but they are persuasively and clearly presented, leaving one with hope. Dalla Costa is clearly one who sees light at the end of the tunnel. Excellent. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
For anyone who believes Business needs a conscience
2 Nov 1999
Format:Paperback
This book wasn't written to convince anyone that the business community lacks a moral conscience. It was written to help employees, citizens, manager, owners and CEOs deal with the problem. It's a workbook for new and on-going businesses which want to incorporate ethical practices into the company.
Dalla Costa names companies which have acted with a moral conscience and explains how this has not hindered their success, but has even stood them in good stead through a crisis. The words moral and business don't usually go together, in fact many people think they are opposites. It's all about money and many business people will tell you so...until a law suit arises. Then they whip out their ethics policy and blame a "rogue employee".
Dalla Costa doesn't just concentrate on U.S. companies. His imperative for the global economy is global responsibility.
He has the experience to speak knowledgeably and the plan to help us begin to change.
Four stars because it was tedious at times but still worth reading.
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