Prompt #2: Defining Ethics

By Heidi

Ethics of business is very complicated and heavily debated.  The correlation between making money and doing the right thing can often counteract each other.  The discussion on ethics that I read was from Marketing-Schools.org.  This article focuses mainly on ethics in marketing, and selling things ethically.

Based on my own ethics, I believe that the right choice should always be chosen over the wrong, whether or not this will hurt things such as profits.  The article explains that if a company advertises their products in an ethical manner, it reflects good on every aspect of their business.  People looking to buy a companies products will almost always chose a reputable company over a company who repeatedly lies about their products to make sales.

These ethical guidelines are common among almost all fields.  Whether a field requires selling products, or not, people in all fields are urged to choose the right over the wrong.  In a lot of fields, not choosing the right thing to do could potentially get you in trouble, even if it benefits you in some way.  Many people are aware of the ethical guidelines of the business and marketing field, but many people are still cautious about what they purchase.  Unfortunately, many companies falsely advertise their products, such as McDonalds, and Wendy's who fluff up their menu items making them look unrealistic to the food they actually sell.  For the most part, people are aware that his happens, and that ethical guidelines of business are not always followed, because many companies would rather make as much money as possible than be truthful.

Knowing and being aware of the ethics of this business and marketing I would try to not lie, like some companies do heavily.  Although making money is the most important part of the business field and working for a company, lying isn't necessary.  For example, instead of photoshopping burgers to look more appetizing, the ethical way to do business would be to produce burgers that look delicious without any editing.  In my professional career, I will try to hold myself to these ethics, and ensure that anyone I work for isn't lying to people.


Sources:
Behind the scenes at a McDonald's advertising photo shoot.—FIVE THOT discover ideas, people, views, lifestyles and business. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2016, from http://www.getthefive.com/articles/the-marketeer/behind-the-scenes-at-a-mcdonalds-advertising-photo/
Ethical Marketing | What is Ethical Marketing? (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2016,     from http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/ethical-marketing.html