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Codes of Ethics Essay

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Introduction
Throughout the world, business organizations and various professions conduct daily activities that require standards of ethical behavior. To convey a company’s ideals, principles, and goals most companies develop a document called a code of ethics that defines the behavior that others can expect from them. A business code of ethics is a valuable tool used within a profession or business to evaluate its performance in the business world.
Business Codes of Ethics
Each day in the workplace, people encounter ethical situations to which they must react. A code of ethics formed by a profession or a business is very clear and helpful in providing guidance in the ethical decision making process. The purpose behind a code of …show more content…

In another example, Kenneth Lay and Jeffery Skilling, along with several other senior management individuals, regularly lied to Enron stockholders and employees about the company’s financial situation. It was as if a code of ethics did not exist at Enron. While the company was sinking financially, they all raped and pillaged Enron’s coffers while displaying no remorse for their actions. Ultimately, the company crumbled and the perpetrators received punishment. Unfortunately, 20,000 people lost their jobs because of the unethical behavior of the Enron executives.
Within my future field of the IT industry, the standard code of ethics revolves around three main areas. These three areas are as follows:
“I will strive to know myself and be honest about my capability, I will conduct my business in a manner that assures the IT profession is considered one of integrity and professionalism, I will respect privacy and confidentiality”. (SANS: IT Code of Ethics, 2004, p. 1)
Below each of these headings, a plethora of other sub points of ethical expectations reside. For example, I will not steal property, time, or resources. Another stated code is; I will not use availability and access to information for personal gains through corporate espionage. These codes of ethics are very powerful guideposts for IT professionals to

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