Many factors lead to a business’s success, and business ethics and social responsibility are some of those factors if led and appropriately followed.
Key Takeaways
- Business ethics are the moral principles that guide the behavior of individuals and organizations in the business world. At the same time, social responsibility refers to a company’s obligation to contribute to the well-being of society.
- Business ethics focuses on honesty, fairness, and respect, while social responsibility involves charitable giving, environmental protection, and ethical sourcing.
- Business ethics are primarily concerned with the behavior of individuals within a company, while social responsibility extends to the company’s impact on society as a whole.
Business Ethics vs. Social Responsibility
Business Ethics is used in a business sense impacting companies with an aim to profit employees and the company; while social responsibility is used in a general sense impacting the society aiming to benefit it. Business Ethics is more obligatory in nature than Social Responsibility.
Business ethics include following the proper behavior that benefits the employees of the company as well as the shareholders, stakeholders, customers, etc.
Social responsibility refers to doing business keeping the benefits of their communities in mind. There are a set of duties and norms in a society that is acceptable, and a company should always follow them.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Business Ethics | Social Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Business ethics include what a business needs to follow to profit its employees and stakeholders harmlessly. | Social responsibility ensures all societal norms are adequately followed while building a business. |
| Aim | To profit the employees and company. | To benefit society. |
| Nature | They are used in a business sense. | They are used in a general sense. |
| Involves | Involves corporate and companies | Involves society or individual |
| What is it about? | Business ethics is about knowing what is good or bad for the company and its employees. | Social responsibility is about seeing and keeping the morals of a society and environmental targets in mind. |
What is Business Ethics?
Every business has a set of rules the employees have to follow, including business ethics. Business ethics include policies and regulations regarding subjects such as discrimination, bribery, responsibilities as an employee, etc.
Ethics means moral character and discipline. The word ‘Ethics’ comes Greek word ‘ethos.’ It means knowing the difference between what is the right thing to do and what is wrong.
A business should be led by keeping the profit of its employees, stakeholders, and everyone related to it, but also, it should be shown to support its customers in mind. Giving customers honest and good service comes under business ethics.
What is Social Responsibility?
Social responsibility means the behavior expected from a man in the workplace. An employee’s conduct should always be according to social and community norms.
A business is not supposed to make a profit jeopardizing the community around it. It should be built keeping the people and surroundings in mind. This is the primary meaning of social responsibility.
To ensure a company’s profit and success, business ethics and social responsibility go hand in hand. If a business is being built on being honest and ethical as well as keeping social responsibilities in mind, it tends to be more successful and loved by people around.
Main Differences Between Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
- Business ethics are for a company and its employees, while social responsibility is for everyone in a community.
- Business ethics benefits a company, while social responsibility benefits everyone and businesses.
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=jwQB_XWs0TkC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=business+ethics&ots=2ZDixyfWh5&sig=9YIa-JgUTSZWTAuaX8zpoc5B8zs
- https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/AMLE.2006.22697016
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296318303588
- https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/02621710010308135/full/html
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