Is Marketing Ethical?
The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether or not Marketing is ethical. The flow of this paper will present a brief discussion on the definition of marketing, a brief discussion on the definition of ethics, and overview of the marketing process, and finally a narrative that discusses my view on whether or not marketing is ethical.
WHAT IS MARKETING?
According to the Kotler text, marketing is the process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return (Kotler and Armstrong 5). This definition extends marketing beyond advertising, promotion and selling. Marketing is used to create value for customers and building strong relationships with those customers. If a company is successful in creating value and building strong customer relationships, the company will be able to capture value from customers.
WHAT IS ETHICS?
According to Brown and Suter, ethics are the moral principles and values that govern the way an individual or a group conducts its activities (Brown and Suter 10). Based on the definition provided by Brown and Suter, ethics go beyond whether something is legally or socially correct. It is based on a set of principles and values. The principles and values employed by a company will drive the overall marketing process of that company. WHAT IS THE MARKETING PROCESS?
Since marketing goes beyond the advertising, promotion and selling of a product,
The American Marketing Association defines marketing as "an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders". (2005) Simply put, marketing is the process by which businesses assess the needs and desires of consumers in order to provide products and/or services to meet those needs in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Truly effective marketers do market research in an effort to understand their target market and create marketing strategies based on the characterization of those in the target area.
Ethical marketing refers to the application of marketing ethics into the marketing process. Ethical marketing is about making marketing decisions that are morally right. The ethics of the marketing decision can incorporate any part of marketing including sourcing of raw materials, staff employment and product advertising and pricing. Sound marketing ethics are usually those that result in consumer satisfaction, with no negative effect, with the goods and services being recognized or with the company producing them. Ethical marketing generally results in a more socially responsible and culturally thoughtful business community. The concern with ethical issues has changed the attitude of the world towards a more socially responsible way of thinking. This has influenced companies to market their products in a more socially responsible way.
Ethics is the moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. It is the moral values that a person believes in. The way that a person interacts with others. The golden rule of treating others how you would like to be treated. Having good ethics is a basis for having a successful business.
Marketing is like a double-edged sword, if it is adopted properly, it will give profits to a company; however, if it is used inadequately, it will give harm. It is undeniable that today’s business operations have more intense competition level against each other due to the advancement of technology that allows people to receive more information. Marketing plays the key role in making products being recognized by consumers. To get people’s attention, some massages about the product need to be sent to the target market. With the high level of competition, the unethical marketing issues arise in order to make their own firms gain more
Marketing can undoubtedly bring benefits to society, although some aspects of marketing may be questionable on ethical grounds. The aim of this assignment is to raise criticism of marketing and show that consumer behaviour is affected by ethical issues. Do consumers really care about marketing ethics?
Ethics can be defined broadly as a set of moral principles or values. Each of us has such a set of values, although we may or may not have clearly expressed them. It is common for people to differ in their moral principles and values and the relative importance they attach to them. These differences reflect life experiences, successes and failures, as well as the influences of parents, teachers, and friends.
Ethics, as defined in the dictionary, are moral principles that help govern a persons behaviour or the conducting of an activity. Ethics must be taken into consideration when forming a decision towards major and minor issues in our society.
Ethics are the set of moral principles that guide a person's behaviour. These morals are shaped by social norms, cultural practices, and religious influences. Ethics reflect beliefs about what is right, what is wrong, what is just, what is unjust, what is good, and what is bad in terms of human behaviour (Boundless, 2016).
Ethics refer to the values that guide a person, organization or society - - the difference between right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, honesty and dishonesty.
Ethics are a set of well found principles that control the doings of businesses or humans whether morally acceptable or not. One should consistently attempt to keep a check on their own ethical values and maintain their standards in order to be well reputed for the work they are engaged in. The values followed by them will affect the companies they are working for and based on them will the businesses have a downfall or progress.
What is Ethics? Ethics is the study of moral principles. Moral principles are the standards of what is right and what is wrong. However, Different people have different guidelines on what these two are. Take the example that asks the question “To kill or not to Kill”(Study.com). The author of this article stated that people would say that they would not kill. Then, gave scenarios, and sure enough their opinion changed. Furthermore, This shows us critical thinking and realising that different people have different views can change our opinion.
Marketing is a management function which involves creating, communicating and delivering value for an organisation’s customers (Kotler, Brown, Burton, Deans & Armstrong (2010). Although many earlier academics define marketing as merely a process of satisfying customer needs in order to gain profits, more recent developments of the definition include its inherent connection with delivering superior value to customers in order to maintain ongoing relationships (Webster, 1992).
Ethics is defined as moral principles of conduct, which people usually agree with. Unlike in law there is no punishment involved in ethical values, if you don't follow according with the standards. There are many things that influence ethical behaviour. These can be personal reflection, religious beliefs, culture, experiences and family influences. If broadly speaking, ethics is the science or study of the morality of how humans act through the medium of natural reason.
Ethics are moral principles or values that govern the conduct of an individual or a group.It is not a burden to bear, but a prudent and effective guide which furthers life and success. Ethics are important not only in business but in academics and society as well because it is an essential part of the foundation on which a civilized society is built.