A Strategic Approach to Implementing Ethics: the Missionary Position

Abstract

This paper addresses the problems of implementing ethics into business organisations wherein there is indifference or resistance. A moral stance requiring ethics is unlikely to succeed as are preaching, linking business ethics to religion, hard sell, and even the constant reiteration of the word `ethics'. To this end a non-moral approach to persuading of the merits of ethics is recommended. In approaching this problem six basic issues are addressed: the identification and removal of barriers; what does not seem to work; what does seem to work; whom do we need to convince; what principles should we use; and accommodating diversity of personal styles. The paper concludes with some practical recommendations. It is noted that this analysis is essentially based in a particular culture. There are other places wherein some of these principles may not apply - and thus the paper may be seen as an opening consideration of an issue of substantial importance for the globalisation of trade.