N5 Entrepreneurship 1. Introduction


Ethics refer to moral principles or a set of values held by an individual or group. Decisions are then taken in accordance with these principles of conduct. Such decisions are then considered to be correct. They are considered to be correct because we are not dealing with a uniform set of rules like the laws of a country. People differ, societies differ and what is regarded as right or wrong also differs.


It is for this reason that a country tries to make laws where it is explicitly stated what is regarded as right or wrong. There are unfortunately grey areas that are not clearly defined by the laws of the country. Certain countries try to overcome this by stating that the Bible, Koran or other religious books are the ultimate deciding factor. These books deal with sets of values and guide decision-making.


Your personal mission statement, which was discussed in module 1, is another example of such a set of rules: a set of rules that reflects your own beliefs. South Africa is a very good example of a country where previous laws violated certain basic human rights. During that time, individual mission statements of many people differed from the laws of the country. Change was therefore inevitable. It would then be correct to say that the laws of a country reflect the values and morals of at least the majority of citizens. This normally happens when there is a democratic system in that country.


Your mission statement is supposed to guide you in your daily and career decisions. If, for instance, trust is a quality that you value, you should implement that in your daily life.


2. Business ethics


The business environment is the one place where these “right” or “wrong” issues become even more confusing. The reasons are countless but it eventually comes down to one reason, namely money. The saying that: “The business of business is business, whatever it takes” partly explains it. Some business people are making millions of Rands by means of dubious activities.


In government there are also countless examples of people who are taking advantage of their positions to make money, accepting bribes to perform certain tasks or taking decisions that will only benefit certain individuals. There is a belief that you have to cheat to win. The approach of this course is, however, that a strong code of morality (ethics) in any business is the first step towards success.


Activity 1 Government’s view on Corruption


Extracts from the speech delivered by Pravin Gordhan Minister of Finance


“In this policy statement we have five clear assurances for all South Africans: • We will sustain our delivery of services and developmental programmes; • We will carefully prioritise and focus our efforts;


PAUSE FOR THOUGHT


Nice guys may appear to finish last, but they are usually running in a different race.


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