The Ethics Portfolio

Abstract

This chapter examines ways in which organizations can build and promote an ethical culture. This chapter is divided in four sections. Firstly, the authors provide a historical overview of “ethics” in the U.S. and mainly from an organizational perspective, noting specifically how ethics is built into the structures of corporations. Secondly, they discuss the imputed responsibilities for ethics, arguing whether the ethics portfolio in an organization should reside within the Human Resource (HR) department or some other departments. Thirdly, the authors offer examples of various approaches that firms have traditionally used to promote ethical behaviors. Finally, they conclude with a discussion on ways that firms can enhance their ethical culture, with guidance on how to manage resistance of such a change that accompany such enhancement closing with an examination of various methods that might assist in determining if an organization is ethical.