"Business
Ethics for the cross-cultural worker:
Is the Golden Rule
international?"
I
couldn’t estimate how many times someone has asked me if the term “Business
Ethics” is an oxymoron. I guess humor is where you find it…
Perhaps
the greater issue, given the popularity of the comment, is the perception that
‘business is business’ and ‘ethics’ is something more related to ‘pie
in the sky’ – not the real world…not the practical day-to-day world.
How practical are principles of Ethics?
Let’s look at just a few ethical principles:
1.
Veracity:
tell the truth
2.
Fidelity:
keep your word
3.
Gratitude:
does this one need an explanation?
4.
Reparation:
bring equity, or right a wrong
5.
Beneficence:
do good
6.
Nonmaleficence:
don’t harm
7.
Justice:
equitable distribution of risks and benefits
8.
Resource
allocation: equitable distribution of resources
9.
Universality:
applies to everyone…regardless
10.
Utility:
greatest benefit/least harm to greatest number of people
11.
Autonomy:
making one’s own decisions (also called the “respect for persons”
principle)
12.
Confidentiality:
holding entrusted information
13.
Finality:
nothing exists or was made except for a determinate end (predestination in
Theology)
There
are others. There are also various ‘schools’ of ethics: Bio-Ethics,
Utilitarian, Teleological, Consequential theory of ethical reasoning,
Aristotelian, Platonic, Augustinian…
And
then there was Enron, and Health South, and junk-bond kings, and presidents of
the
Part
of the difficulty in developing multi-cultural relationships is the base-line of
understanding the other party has of ‘western’ ethics or standards…values.
How do they perceive your
values? Are their perceptions accurate generally? Are they accurate
specifically?
Ethics
is the study of values. Quite specifically: the study of values in human
conduct, or the study of right conduct. It is a branch of philosophy (philos
[love] – sophos [wisdom]).
Ethics
is the attempt to state and evaluate principles by which dilemmas may be
resolved.
It
is NOT an exact science. There is no specific set of answers or ‘right’
actions for whatever situation you might face.
We
need Ethics for a critical, rational, defensible and systematic approach to
determine what is ‘right’ or best in a difficult situation.
There
has been a simple ethical principle almost universally recognized for millennia.
The
Golden Rule!
The
Golden Rule isn’t a ‘Christian’ concept in its origins. In fact, the name
“The Golden Rule” is a rather recent application to an ancient concept. This
‘golden’ rule wasn't invented by Jesus - it was redefined by Him. When Jesus
was growing up there was a different focus by the rabbi's on how we should treat
others…different than what Jesus eventually taught.
The
rabbinic teaching of Jesus’ day on this "golden rule" was "Don't
do to anyone what you wouldn't want done to you."
That
pretty much summed up the idea of fairness and justice under the Law of Moses...don't
do evil (Nonmaleficence)! The world would certainly be a better place
even if only those who call themselves "Christians" would merely cease
from doing evil to others.
But
Jesus didn't call us to just stop doing and saying bad things to people - He
called us to do good!
Matthew 7:12. So in
everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up
the Law and the Prophets. (New International Version)
Matthew
This
is the ultimate 'proactive' lifestyle! This is a one-sentence success method
guaranteed to have application in all situations.
People
want to know if there is a simple philosophy whereby you'll never need to buy
another book on
·
how to make friends,
·
have a better marriage,
·
be a dynamic people-person, or
·
win at office politics!
The
answer is possibly, “Just
do for others, in everything, what you want them to do for you.”
Start with an attitude of grace.
Why ‘grace?’ We have to begin our transactional relationship with an
openness that extends trust and trustworthiness, ‘veracity,’ and
‘fidelity.’
Now,
back to the rabbinic law dating at least to the Babylonian exile… “Don’t
do to anyone what you wouldn't want done to you.”
Another
application rapidly gaining in popularity is: ‘Treat others the way in which they want to be
treated.’ That is the basic under-girding principle behind the
“Platinum Rule.” This looks at local cultural issues and tries to address
people within those parameters which aren’t generally person-specific but
rather societal-specific.
Okay,
so this isn't easy. Which is it?
That’s
where the sensitivity to
cross-cultural communications and multi-cultural relationships becomes vital.
There
are cultures that will have historic values attached to one approach over
another. Which culture are you in?
Are you in a situation where it is best to be proactive in a business
relationship?
Are
your personal/cultural preferences and desires the same as your
client/customer’s? Will they understand ‘where you are coming from?’
It
can be a minefield in choosing Gold over Platinum or Platinum over Gold. What
about veracity/fidelity in a culture that doesn’t value honesty or
dependability?
How do your ethical principles coexist
or telegraph your personal values?
Let’s
go back to an Ethical principle called: ‘Finality.’
Here’s
the definition of Finality: “May override the demands of law or custom. (A
philosophy and ethical principle that nothing
exists or was made except for a determinate end. In theology it is summated
as predestination.)”
What
are you doing?
·
Why
are you doing what you are doing?
·
Are your small transactions in keeping with
your final goal?
·
Is it possible that your need to utilize
local business principles might undermine your ultimate goals?
·
What role does your business play in your
over-all and long-term goals?
·
Is your business a ‘means to an end?’
·
How well are you addressing the daily
application of your personal integrity in your ‘means?’
·
Are your daily ethics consistent with your
‘means?’
·
Are your daily ethics consistent with your
‘end?’
·
Is
there a seamless application of your ethics from where you are now to where you
ultimately want to be?
How
consistently are you applying your ordered ethical principles to your daily and
long-term goals?
Understanding
the ordering of Ethical principles:
1.
They
suggest direction or propose certain behaviors
2.
They
serve as guides to organizing and understanding ethically relevant information
in a dilemma
3.
They
propose how to resolve competing claims
4.
They
are reasons justifying moral action
5.
They
are universal in nature but not absolute – even ethics principles may have
exceptions (e.g. “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Not absolutely true.
Generally, but not invariably true.)
6.
They
are neither means nor ends (don’t exalt the principles – they should not be
used as a hammer)
We
should keep in focus certain scriptural principles as guidelines for those
ethical principles which we use to order our business ventures.
One
of those scriptures is: Ecclesiastes
9:10. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,
for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor
knowledge nor wisdom.
11.
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or
the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the
brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
12. Moreover, no man knows when
his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a
snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.
Another
is: Matthew
5:13. "You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It
is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
There
is an imperative here – it’s the ‘good
deeds’ that bring glory to the Father. Intentionally
bringing good to a person or a situation sets in motion a law of spiritual
dynamics.
Your good deeds will
be evident and bring glory to your Father in heaven!
(paraphrased Matt.5:16)
There’s
an old saying that bears repeating; more is accomplished for the sake of the
kingdom because of acts of kindness than all the evangelism put together.
Grace
to you and through you in all you do!