Ethics seems to be something subjective and something optional you can do but you don't have to do. If we analyze the logic of business, this first impression appears misleading.
Consider the case of Starbucks. The company were very pleased with the business in the UK and described it as profitable for many stakeholders but they did not pay taxes for years using legal tax avoidance tactics. This happened about ten years ago and led to a public boycott of the products with a long lasting harm for the company. Starbucks still suffers continuous public observation and criticism for their tax paying behaviour. Whatever they do, they are suspicious.
Since information is available about social media to all customers and customers pay increased attention to the ethical behaviour of companies, it seems to be very rational to care about ethical behaviour even beyond legal prescriptions.
What ethical behaviour means, which aspects are very important and why, we will discuss in this seminar.
- Dozent/in: László Kovács