Business Ethics: An Oxymoron?

Why do I believe good PR and business ethics are inextricably linked? It comes down to definitions. Ethics is learning what is right and what is wrong and then doing the "right thing." PR involves providing counsel on the "right thing" to do and then helping the organization get credit for it.

The business and political excess of the last 10 years have taken some PR practitioners to the dark side because they felt it was the only way for their company to profit. Although I personally believe doing right for right's sake is enough, there are some who may not share this view. OK, here's a reason that any good capitalist can embrace: research now shows that socially responsible behavior is good for the bottom line.

A recent analysis of overall financial performance of the 2001 list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens shows that this group of firms did significantly better than the remaining companies of the S&P 500. Professors at DePaul University found that the mean ranking of the 100 Best was more than 10 percentile higher than the other firms of the S&P 500.

Additionally, they had a significantly better reputation among corporate directors and security analysts based upon results of the Fortune Magazine survey of most admired companies.

So, you see, it really does pay to do the right thing.

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, TeamHeidi, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, VELUX, Verbatim and Youth Link USA.

---

Work Ethics ? A Paradigm Shift

Work ethics is a hot topic in today's business and... Read More

Financial Projections in Business Plans

One of the most difficult sections to write in a... Read More

Business Ethics: Functional Choices

Years of experience have taught me there is no such... Read More

No Credit is Due: Bad Telemarketing

Just a few minutes ago I was debating what to... Read More

Mind Your Own Damn Business Sexcess

You have certainly heard the expression "mind your own damn... Read More

Do Organizations Serve Us Or Do We Serve Organizations

We have seen an erosion in the confidence that society... Read More

The Views of Karl Marx VS Max Weber

Compare and contrast the views of Karl Marx and Max... Read More

The Three Schools of Business Ethics

G. Richard Shell, author of Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies... Read More

Are You Selling Out Your Integrity?

Integrity in business is a quality that is highly under-rated... Read More

How To Build A Business Ethics Program

Recent corporate financial scandals have highlighted the importance of business... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Diversity And Success, In The Workplace

This article relates to the Diversity in the Workplace Competency,... Read More

Six Reasons to Give

If you run a business, you undoubtedly feel many pressures... Read More

Is Good Neighborliness Good Business?

[Note: This story is not a criticism of Buddhism. It... Read More

The Armaments Industry and Holy (?) Roman Emperors

"The time for fixing every essential right on a legal... Read More

Business Ethics: An Oxymoron

An oxymoron: the juxtaposition of contradictory words or concepts. That... Read More

Vice of Buggery at FTC

At the Federal Trade Commission we have seen attorneys who... Read More

Laws and Ethics?. Who?s Kidding Who?

Years ago I read an article by a renowned psychologist... Read More

Business Ethics: An Oxymoron?

Why do I believe good PR and business ethics are... Read More

Dont Hate Them Because Theyre Beautiful

Tonight I'm going out with two extremely impressive ladies who... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Work Ethics and the Customer

This article relates to the Ethics in the Workplace competency,... Read More

What is a Ponzi Scheme?

This is for those who don't believe me when I... Read More

The Only Thing You Get for Free in Life is Hungry!

My grandfather was a very wise man. Simple but wise.... Read More

How To Detect Liars In Your Business & Personal Life

We live in a world full of lies and deception.... Read More

Is Your Management Style Lead By Intimidation?

So many women make the mistake of thinking that they... Read More

MacDonalidisation: Braverman, Taylor & Mayo

Background: George Ritzer defined McDonaldization as "...the process by which... Read More

Conflict: Not Necessarily a Bad Thing

I got yelled at tonight. Not the type of yelling... Read More

The Social Implications of Computing

Directed by Mark Harrison, "Visions of Heaven and Hell" is... Read More

Minding Your Global Manners

To say that today's business environment is becoming increasingly more... Read More

The Deception Perception: Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

The Deception PerceptionWithout a doubt, people would rather do business... Read More

Ethics? How To Take the Measure Business

When asked to write a small piece pertaining to ethics... Read More

Business Ethics: The Law of Corporate Karma

According to the shamanic traditions, the great mystery of being... Read More

Communicable Corporate Diseases Hurting Business Sexcess!

Enron Executive goes to prison for 10 years, Martha Stewart... Read More

The Collapse of Enron: Managerial Aspects

Executive summaryIts revenues made up US $139($184) billion, assets equaled... Read More