EvilCorporationsEthics3-3-01pg3

"Evil" Corporations: Ethics at the Core? (page 3)

Individuals within corporations must realize the impact on others just like themselves that their actions have. If individuals within corporations begin to evolve their own organizational cultures, or leaders within organizations begin to change the culture to one of more ethical responsibility, it could change the entire dynamic between communities and organizations. As it is, successful organizations are seen and identified with communities that they rise up within. Seattle identifies strongly with Starbucks. However, if those corporations create more community friendly cultures that at least respect their communities with their practices, they will only strengthen that support.

Imagine what America might look like today if corporations had these ethics at the core of their organizational culture systems. Instead of being reliant upon foreign oil, domestic production would probably satisfy American needs because corporations like the American automotive industries would have already succeeded in developing more community friendly running cars that burned less oil. Those cars would have been more fuel efficient, possibly more alternative energy focused, and safer. Alternative energy technologies have been with us for a long time, yet they have been shelved to maintain the current corporate regimes, rather than have those regimes evolve in their industries.

Imagine the profits for energy corporations like Enron had they embraced alternative energies, such as solar and wind to create electricity, they could have long since expanded the markets in those areas, having less cost and more profits, while being embraced by communities rather than despised by many.

Imagine the profits for the companies that create better waste disposal methods, rather than simply maintaining the current systems of disposal. Imagine not having to hear of the �evil� corporations, if the individuals within the corporations had made ethical decisions, that followed the guidelines established here at the core of their organizational culture. Imagine if there was no environment versus economics argument because organizations cared about their communities and workers, and had responded to these issues before they were public issues.

While this may seem like a dream world, it can be a reality. This would end the need for huge spin control public relations firms for corporations, limiting expenses. This would maintain innovation, striving to achieve, which means more business for corporations. It gives corporations the ability to corner new technologies with patients, forcing others to find new solutions to compete. Which means larger profits for those who develop those technologies. It could end most legal liability that is choking corporations today, because they would be proactive rather than reactive to problems. It would also invite a quality workforce because everyone wants to work where they can feel good about what they do, and proud of the company they work for. This would increase retention compared to other companies in the field. And it would make this a better country and better world to live in.

It is up to individuals. Corporations are nothing more than a group of people that make choices. Like a pebble in a pond, each individual can choose to change the make up of the pond, and their organizational culture. It is best with the support of the upper levels of management, but just like political change, management can and many times, will adapt to change that develops at lower levels within. The time to change is now. America needs the change. We can�t hold our politicians, our children, and our society of individuals up to ethical standards and responsibilities without holding our corporations and ourselves to those same standards and responsibilities. It makes no sense and it sends a message that we really don�t care about those standards and responsibilities if we don�t expect them from everyone, everywhere.
                                                                                             --GFI 3/03/01

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