The acceptance of business ethics as an area of education in America has progressed over many phases. Before the 1960s, the Catholic and Protestant churches were obsessed with ethical questions of industry. They were more concerned with labor standards, equal pay, workplace rights, and the working conditions of the team members. As a result, several universities and religious colleges began offering classes on business ethics. Such traditions laid a solid foundation for the future field of business ethics as a major discipline (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell 9).
The Rise of Social Issues in Business (the 1960s)
In the 1960s, the American society observed some issues related to pollution and poor production in city areas and this led to the rise of consumerism. Consumers were not only concerned with the quantity of the products produced by manufacturers, but also the reputation of the producing firms in particular (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell 9).
Business Ethics as an Emerging Field (1970s)
During this period, business ethics was accepted as a field of study. Various authors started to write topics that emphasized on corporate social responsibility. In addition, different philosophers started to use ethical theory to philosophical analysis in order to structure the field of business ethics.
Institutionalization of Business Ethics (1990s)
With the help Clinton’s administration to support free trade and self-regulation, it also gave support to the concept of organization accountability for misconduct and damages. As a result, this brought a significant shape to the study of business ethics to its present form. This was the most important stage in the evolution of business ethics as it brought solutions to many managerial issues. For example, it was for the first time that business ethics accountability factor initiated ethics at the heart of business strategy.
21st century
The current trend is to shun from the legally based ethical initiative in firms and organizations and head to the cultural or integrity based initiatives that enhance ethics as most important organizational values. Most of the organizations that have accepted to develop a practical and culturally based organizational ethics; they have always supported the positive and diverse organizational objectives. At a globe level, the international codes of ethics create a common ethical concern for all organizations across the world.
Work Cited
Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell. Ethical Decision Making In Business. 1st ed., Mason, OH, South-Western, 2013.
