UNIT 2: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS(3456)
BSCS SEMESTER 3
Business Communications notes by Awais Javed Satti

UNIT–2: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT
• 2.1. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT
• 2.1.1. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
• 2.1.2. NATIONAL CULTURAL VARIABLES
• 2.1.3. INDIVIDUAL CULTURAL VARIABLES
• 2.2. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ETHICS
• 2.2.1. INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL ETHICS
• 2.2.2. ETHICS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION.

BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IS ANY COMMUNICATION USED
TO PROMOTE A PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR ORGANIZATION –
WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF MAKING SALE. IN BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION, MESSAGE IS CONVEYED THROUGH
VARIOUS CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION INCLUDING
INTERNET, PRINT (PUBLICATIONS), RADIO, TELEVISION,
OUTDOOR, AND WORD OF MOUTH.

DIVERSITY IN WORK PLACE

“BUSINESS COMMUNICATION &
THE GLOBAL CONTEXT”
5

CONCEPT OF CULTURE
WHAT IS CULTURE?
1. “THE WORD CULTURE, IS TAKEN FROM THE LATIN COLO, -ERE,
WITH ITS ROOT MEANING "TO CULTIVATE", GENERALLY REFERS
TO PATTERNS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE SYMBOLIC
STRUCTURES THAT GIVE SUCH ACTIVITY SIGNIFICANCE.”
(WIKIPEDIA)
2. “THE SYSTEM OF SHARED BELIEFS, VALUES, CUSTOMS,
BEHAVIORS THAT THE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY USE TO COPE
WITH THEIR WORLD AND WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THAT ARE
TRANSMITTED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION THROUGH
LEARNING”

INTERCULTURAL DIFFERENCES
CULTURE IS EVERYDAY LIFE ACTIVITIES. CULTURE IS:
• WHAT WE WEAR
• HOW WE ‘GREET’ OTHER PEOPLE
• HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE (VERBALLY OR
NON-VERBALLY)
• WHAT WE PLAY
• WHAT WE EAT, ETC.

DIFFERENCE OF CULTURE IN TERMS OF CLOTHING
Sub-Continent
Clothing (male)
Arabian Clothing
(male)
Afghan Dressing
(male)

DIFFERENCE OF CULTURE IN TERMS OF FOOD
Hot Dog; The most
popular American Food
One of the most popular
Chinese foods; Crab
Mantu; The most
popular Afghan Food
Palao; Traditional Afghan
Food

DIFFERENCE OF CULTURE IN TERMS OF GREETING

OBJECTIVE TWO: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE DIFFERENT CULTURAL
BACKGROUND.
INTRACULTURAL COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME CULTURAL
BACKGROUND.
NOTE: STUDIES HAVE LONG DETERMINED THAT ALL OF US ARE MORE
COMFORTABLE WITH PERSONS WE KNOW AND WHO HOLD SIMILAR BELIEFS
AND INTERESTS.

ATTITUDE TOWARD CULTURAL VARIATION
 ETHNOCENTRISM
◦ WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER REFERS TO THE TENDENCY TO ASSUME THAT ONE’S
CULTURE AND WAY OF LIFE ARE SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHERS
◦ THE ETHNOCENTRIC PERSON SEES HIS OR HER OWN GROUP AS THE CENTER OF
DEFINING POINT OF CULTURE AND VIEWS ALL OTHER CULTURES AS DEVIATIONS
FROM WHAT IS “NORMAL”
◦ ETHNOCENTRISM SERVES TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF SOLIDARITY BY PROMOTING
GROUP PRIDE. YET THIS TYPE OF SOCIAL STABILITY IS ESTABLISHED AT THE
EXPENSE OF OTHER PEOPLES
◦ DENIGRATING( CRITICIZING UNFAIRLY) OTHER NATIONS AND CULTURES CAN
ENHANCE OUR OWN PATRIOTIC FEELINGS AND BELIEF THAT OUR WAY OF LIFE IS
SUPERIOR

CULTURAL RELATIVISM
• IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO VIEW ALL CULTURAL VARIATIONS WITH AN ASSUMPTION THAT ONE’S
OWN CULTURE IS MORE HUMANE, MORE “CIVILIZED”. AND ,MORE ADVANCED THAN OTHERS
• WHILE ETHNOCENTRISM EVALUATES FOREIGN CULTURES USING THE FAMILIAR CULTURE OF THE
OBSERVER AS A STANDARD OF CORRECT BEHAVIOR, CULTURAL RELATIVISM VIEW PEOPLE’S
BEHAVIOR FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR OWN CULTURE
• IT PLACES A PRIORITY ON UNDERSTANDING OTHER CULTURES, RATHER THAN DISMISSING THEM
AS “STRANGE” OR “EXOTIC”

XENOCENTRISM
(ANTONYM OF ETHNOCENTRISM)
• IT IS THE BELIEF THAT THE PRODUCTS, STYLES, OR IDEAS OF ONE'S SOCIETY ARE INFERIOR TO
THOSE THAT ORIGINATE ELSEWHERE
• IN A SENSE, IT IS REVERSE ETHNOCENTRISM
• CONSUMERS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS FREQUENTLY TURN THEIR BACKS ON LOCALLY
PRODUCED GOODS AND INSTEAD PURCHASE ITEMS IMPORTED FROM EUROPE OR NORTH
AMERICA

NATIONAL CULTURAL VARIABLES
National Cultural Variables
EducationLaws & RegulationsEconomics
Religion Social NormsPolitics
Language

PEOPLE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS EDUCATION
a. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF MIDDLE MANAGERS?
b. TO WHAT DEGREE IS EDUCATION OF WOMEN SUPPORTED IN THE COUNTRY?
MANAGEMENT EDUCATION- INCLUDING TRAINING IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION- IS MORE
PREVALENT (WIDE SPREAD IN A PARTICULAR AREA IN A PARTICULAR TIME) IN THE UNITED
STATES THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES. SOME COUNTRIES HAVE NO ACADEMIC COURSES IN
COMMUNICATING TRAINING.
Education

EDUCATION LEVELS OF CHINESE, ASIAN AND U.S MANAGERS
Highest Level of Education Chinese, % Asian, % U.S, %
Less than High School 5.4 2.5 0.1
High School Graduate 31.8 12.4 3.2
Some College 34.6 19.4 16.9
Undergraduate Degree 27.6 65.4 79.8
Postgraduate Degree 0.7 25.0 30.0

A QUICK ASSUMPTION MIGHT BE THAT ASIANS, PARTICULARLY CHINESE ARE
LESS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION. IF YOU MADE SUCH AN ASSUMPTION, YOU
WILL BE WRONG. WE MUST GO BEYOND SURFACE CONCLUSIONS AND ASSES
THE REASONS THAT CHINESE MANAGERS LACK EXECUTIVE EDUCATION.
1. IN RELATION TO ITS SIZE, CHINA DOES NOT HAVE MANY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATIONS, BY 1985 THERE WERE ONLY 1016 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
2. CHINA IS AN AGRARIAN ECONOMY. OVER 800 MILLION PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE; 69 % OF THE LABOR FORCE IS AGRICULTURAL. SOME EARLY
CHINESE LEADERS FELT THAT EDUCATION WAS NOT NEEDED IN SUCH AN
ENVIRONMENT.

Laws & Regulations
➢ Laws & Regulations; Degree of formality
❖ To what extend are the laws of the country codified (organized)?
❖ Is there uniform enforcement of the laws & the regulations of the
country?
❖ Are the laws & regulations of your country accepted and enforced?

IN BOTH THE DEVELOPED AND UNDER DEVELOPING NATIONS, VARIOUS
GOVERNMENTS REGULATIONS AFFECT BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND
THE SALES OF PRODUCTS. FOR EXAMPLE
❖ Advertising directed at children is restricted in USA & Canada.
❖ Advertisement of Cigarettes is restricted in Europe.
❖ Countries like France, Mexico have restriction on the use of
foreign languages in advertisements.

CAN YOU FIND ADVERTISEMENT OF LIQUOR IN ANY NEWSPAPER
IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES LIKE THIS?
No! Because Laws and Regulations in Muslim countries
restrict such an advertisement in any newspapers.

ECONOMICS
➢ ECONOMICS; PAST HISTORY AND PROJECTIONS
a) WHICH ECONOMIC CHANGES HAVE ACCURRED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS THAT
WILLAFFECT THE FUTURE?
b) IS THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTIVE OF THE ECONOMIC CHANGES ACCURRING?
c) HOW WELCOME ARE OUTSIDE INVESTORS IN YOUR HOST COUNTRY?

SOME EXAMPLES OF THE ECONOMIC VARIATIONS
IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES/CULTURES
❑ UNDER THE U.S FREE-ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, COMPETITORS USUALLY
SET THEIR OWN PRICES.
❑ OPEC (ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES) AS A
CARTEL, SETS OIL PRICES.
❑ ISRAELI AGRICULTURAL COMPETITORS MUTUALLY AGREE ON A
PRICE.
❑ JAPANESE BUSINESSES HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE GOVERNMENT
BEFORE INITIALING MAJOR PRODUCTION AND TRADING CHANGES.

POLITICS
➢POLITICS; PAST HISTORYAND PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE
❖WHICH POLITICAL CHANGES HAVE ACCRUED WITHIN PAST 5 YEARS?
❖HOW SUPPORTIVE IS THE GOVERNMENT OF OUTSIDE INVESTORS?
FOR EXAMPLE
❖IF YOU ARE INTENDING TO DO JOB OR BUSINESS IN NORTH KOREA, YOU NEED TO BE
CAUTIOUS OF SAYING/WRITING ANYTHING DIRECTED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT NEED TO FACE SEVER CONSEQUENCES.

RELIGION: DIVERSITY OF BELIEF STRUCTURE
➢ ARE YOU AWARE OF THE MAJOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIPS?
➢ WILL THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS AFFECT YOUR RHYTHM OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS?
➢ WHAT PERSONAL BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE AND NONACCEPTABLE?
FOR EXAMPLE
• BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WITHIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THERE ARE
MAJOR DIFFERECES, IF NOT UNDERSTOOD, CAN RESULT EVEN IN PERSONAL HARM.
• FOR INSTANCE; MUSLIMS FORBID CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL; THUS NO LIQUOR IS SERVED
AT BUSINESS AFFAIRS.
• BE AWARE OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS AS THEY AFFECT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION,
INTERRUPTING WORK SCHEDULES OR DELAYING RESPONSES TO REQUESTS.
Religion

SOCIAL NORMS: IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY
SOCIAL NORMS ARE CUSTOMARY RULES OF BEHAVIOR THAT COORDINATE OUR
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS.
❖ ARE YOU AWARE OF THE SOCIAL HIERARCHIES OF THE COUNTRY?
❖ IS THERE A RANK ORDER OF IMPORTANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS AT MEETINGS?
❖ WHO WILL REALLY MAKE THE BUSINESS DECISIONS?
❖ IN MANY COUNTRIES A MALE LINE OF THE FAMILY PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCE SOME
BUSINESS DECISIONS.
Social Norms

EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL NORMS:
• SMILE WHEN YOU ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO SOMEONE YOU DONT KNOW.
• YOU SAY PLEASE WHEN YOU ASK FOR SOMETHING.
• CHEWING FOOD WITH NO SOUND.
• YOU OFFER AN ELDER MAN/WOMAN TO BE FIRST AT ANYTHING LIKE STANDING IN LINE,
HAVING YOUR SEAT...ETC.
• WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS AT HOME YOU MUST, OFFER THEM DRINKS OR FOOD.
• TREAT MANAGERS, PROFESSORS OR ANYONE ABOVE YOU "DIFFERENTLY“.
• WEARING SPECIFIC CLOTHES FOR EACH OCCASION OR TIMING, FOR NOT TO "FEEL
ODD“.
• MEN PAY FOR DINNER MOST OF THE TIME.

➢LANGUAGE: ENGLISH, AND OTHER LANGUAGES ARE USED IN
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
❖IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER AT BUSINESS
SESSIONS?
❖IS ENGLISH UNDERSTOOD AT THE ORAL OR WRITTEN LEVEL?
❖ALL AGREE THAT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR HOST
COUNTRY IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION, ON PERSONAL AND BUSINESS LEVEL.
Language

WHY TO STUDY AND ANALYZE ALL THESE FACTORS?
“FAILURE TO PREPARE IS
PREPARING TO FAIL”
(COACH JOHN WOODEN)

INDIVIDUAL CULTURAL VARIABLES
Thursday, February 20, 2020 30
Individual Cultural
Variables
TimeSpaceFood
Decision Making
Verbal CommunicationManners
Nonverbal CommunicationAcceptable Dress

Time
➢Prescriptions of Time
Persons in Latin America and Middle East treat time more
casually than do Americans, who usually prefer promptness.
In some cultures, arriving late is a socially accepted custom.
It should not take you long to recognize which is the time-
conscious culture and which is less concerned with the
precision of time.

➢PERCEPTION OF SPACE
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE ACCEPTABLE PERSONAL SPACE
BETWEEN NATIVE AND THE HOST COUNTRY?
• HOW CLOSE MAY STRANGERS STAND TO YOU?
• MOST AMERICANS FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IF A
STRANGER COMES CLOSER THAN 18 INCHES.
• TO SOME CULTURES (ARABS, LATIN AMERICANS), WHO
DO NOT STAND CLOSE SEEM UNFRIENDLY.
• ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME CULTURES CONSIDER
THOSE WHO STAND CLOSE TO YOU AS RUDE.
Space

➢Perceptions of Food
❖Are you aware of the eating habits of your host?
❖Are their table conventions you should be aware of?
❖Are there foods you might find disagreeable?
• It may be a good idea to know the food of your host country before visiting it.
• Pork is forbidden in middle eastern countries and beef is hard to find in India.
• In Asia, dark and light tea are national drinks. French workers enjoy a glass of wine
with lunch.
• You may get into trouble by carrying liquor into some countries.
Food

➢PERCEPTION OF MANNERS
❖WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF PERSONS IN A
BUSINESS SITUATION?
❖WHAT ARE THE RULES OF GIFT GIVING?
❖IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KNOW THE MANNERS OF THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE
HOST COUNTRY YOU ARE VISITING.
Manners

➢ PERCEPTION OF DRESS
❖ HOW MUCH SKIN MAY BE EXPOSED IN THE BOTH AN
INFORMAL AND IN A FORMAL SITUATION?
❖ ARE CERTAIN COLORS DISTURBING?
❖ WILL WESTERN DRESS BE ACCEPTED?
❖ IT IS BETTER TO ASK ABOUT THE MODE OF DRESS OF AN
OCCASION IN YOUR HOST COUNTRY THAN TO RISK MAKING
AN EMBARRASSING MISTAKE.
FOR EXAMPLE
Acceptable Dress
Hijab may be believed decent in Muslim countries but will
people accept this as a business dress code in USA, Europe
or any other western country?

Decision Making
➢Perceptions of Decision Making
Patience above all is needed in Intercultural communication, in doing business with other
countries. American are too quick in asking for a decision. Chinese, Japanese, and Italians
take time in making decisions.
Thus patience – and your understanding of the decision process – add to your success in
dealing with a foreign environment.

❖VOLUME VARIES CULTURE TO CULTURE AND COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
❖DIFFERENT VOICE VOLUME SHOWS DIFFERENT ATTITUDE OF THE HUMAN
BEHAVIOR.
Verbal Communication

THEY SAY: “ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER
THAN THE WORDS”
NONVERBAL SYMBOLS EXIST FOR EVERY
CULTURE, EVEN IN SUBCULTURES.
KNOWING THESE NONVERBAL SYMBOLS
HELPS US AVOID MAKING MISTAKES
WHILE COMMUNICATING.
Nonverbal Communication

ETHICS
• A MAJOR BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY, IS THE STUDY OF VALUES AND CUSTOMS
OF A PERSON OR GROUP.
• IT COVERS THE ANALYSIS AND EMPLOYMENT OF CONCEPTS SUCH AS RIGHT
AND WRONG, GOOD AND EVIL, AND RESPONSIBILITY. …

ETHICS……
♦ THE APPLICATION OF GENERAL ETHICAL CONCEPTS TO THE UNIQUE
SITUATIONS CONFRONTED
IN BUSINESS. IT ASKS WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG BEHAVIOR IN BUSINESS
AND WHAT PRINCIPLES OR RULES CAN BE USED AS GUIDANCE IN
BUSINESS SITUATIONS.

ETHICS IN CORPORATIONS – A HISTORICAL
VIEW
• COMPANIES HAVE LONG FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF CORPORATE CORRUPTION. BECAUSE CORPORATIONS ARE
RUN BY PEOPLE AND NO HUMAN BEING IS MORALLY PERFECT, ETHICAL ISSUES ARE BOUND TO ARISE. HOW
THESE ISSUES ARE HANDLED IS THE BEST INDICATOR OF A CORPORATION’S ETHICAL COMMITMENT. ESTABLISH
ETHICALLY MORAL BEHAVIOR IN YOUR CORPORATION BY TAKING THE TASK SERIOUSLY.
• WHEN COMPANY EXECUTIVES BEHAVE UNETHICALLY, THAT BEHAVIOR OFTEN ENDS UP IN THE NEWS. WHILE
MOST COMPANIES HAVE ETHICS POLICIES, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ENFORCE OR EVEN FOLLOW THEM. BY
INCORPORATING ETHICS INTO THE VERY HEART OF THE BUSINESS AND REINFORCING THE IDEA OF ETHICAL
BEHAVIOR, BUSINESSES CAN RUN EFFICIENTLY, LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY.

ETHICAL SITUATIONS
• A PERSON CAN MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS EVERY DAY AND THE DECISIONS
BUILD ON A CONCEPT OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
• CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS. HOW WOULD YOU REACT?

• DURING AN ON CAMPUS INTERVIEW A RECRUITER ASK YOU WHY HE
SHOULD HIRE YOU OVER ANOTHER CANDIDATE (A CLASSMATE OF YOURS).
YOU HAVE SOME NEGATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PERSON. DO YOU
SHARE IT WITH THE RECRUITER?
• YOU WITNESS ANOTHER STUDENT CHEATING DURING AN IMPORTANT
ACCOUNTING EXAM. DO YOU CONFRONT THE STUDENT? DO YOU TELL
OTHER STUDENTS OR A PROFESSOR ABOUT THE INCIDENT?

• A FIRM INVITES YOU FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW AT ITS CORPORATE OFFICE.
YOU ARE NOT ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THIS COMPANY, BUT YOU ARE
CONSIDERING TAKING THE TRIP BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GOOD FRIEND YOU
WOULD LIKE TO VISIT IN A DISTANT CITY AND YOU COULD USE THE
FREQUENT FLYER MILEAGE. DO YOU ACCEPT THE INTERVIEW??
• A QUICK RESPONSE TO THESE QUESTIONS IS THAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS
MAKE THE RIGHT AND MORAL DECISION.

ETHICS AS A COMMUNICATION ISSUE
• WE COMMUNICATE OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS TO OTHERS VIA VERBAL AND
NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR.
• WE ARE DEFINED IN THE EYES OF OTHERS ACCORDING TO THE WAY WE
BEHAVE.
• WE ALSO NEED TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHER THE IMPORTANT AND
NECESSITY OF GOOD ETHICS.
• ETHICAL LEADERS SPEAK OUT WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG; ETHICAL
PEOPLE INFLUENCE OTHER BY ACTING IN LINE WITH THEIR PERSONAL
VALUES.

INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL ETHICS
• THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR INFLUENCES SHAPE IN OUR PERSONAL ETHICS
1.INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE(FAMILY, CLOSE FRIENDS, OR A ROLE
MODEL)
2.CULTURAL NORMS
3.PHILOSOPHICAL POSITION
4.LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT GOVERN INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
5.PERSONAL REGIONS VIEW

INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL
ETHICS
♦PEOPLE
♦CULTURE
♦PHILOSOPHY
♦LAW
♦RELIGION

•INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL ETHICS
PEOPLE
♦FAMILY AND FRIENDS
FIRST OF ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBER AND FRIENDS EXERT STRONG
INFLUENCE ON OUR ETHICS.
♦ PARENTS
THE PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS SHAPED OUR ETHICAL VALUE
SYSTEM EARLY ON.
♦TEACHERS
TEACHERS ARE ALSO INFLUENTIAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PERSON IS
YOUNGER, MAY HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR ETHICAL DECISIONS.

INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL ETHICS
CULTURE
“ ALL THAT HUMAN BEINGS LEARN TO DO, TO USE, TO PRODUCE, TO KNOW,
AND TO BELIEVE AS THEY GROW TO MATURITY AND LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES
IN THE SOCIAL GROUPS TO WHICH THEY BELONG.
♦MYTHS(A TRADITIONAL TALE, ESPECIALLY ONE CONCERNING THE
EARLY HISTORY OF A PEOPLE OR EXPLAINING A NATURAL OR
SOCIAL PHENOMENON, AND TYPICALLY INVOLVING
SUPERNATURAL BEINGS OR EVENTS.
♦STORIES
♦LEGENDS
♦ CULTURAL DANCES

• INFLUENCES ON PERSONAL ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY
• THEORIES OF PHILOSOPHY HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNED WITH ETHICAL
AND MORAL ISSUES.
• WITH BUSINESS ETHICS WE ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH WHAT IS
MORAL AND RIGHT AND CONTRIBUTES POSITIVELY TO THE HUMAN
EXPERIENCE.
♦DESCRIPTIVE ETHICS(ALSO KNOWN AS COMPARATIVE ETHICS, IS THE
STUDY OF PEOPLE'S BELIEFS ABOUT MORALITY)
♦ NORMATIVE ETHICS(NORMATIVE ETHICS IS THE STUDY OF ETHICAL
ACTION. IT IS THE BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS THAT
INVESTIGATES THE SET OF QUESTIONS THAT ARISE WHEN
CONSIDERING HOW ONE OUGHT TO ACT, MORALLY
SPEAKING)

PHILOSOPHY
➢THEORIES OF PHILOSOPHY HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNED WITH ETHICAL AND MORAL ISSUES.
➢PHILOSOPHY IS THE STUDY OF GENERAL AND FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING
MATTERS SUCH AS EXISTENCE, KNOWLEDGE, TRUTH, JUSTICE, BEAUTY, VALIDITY, MIND AND
LANGUAGE.
➢A PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT SERVES AS AN INTRODUCTION TO YOU, FOCUSING
MORE ON YOUR BELIEFS AND VALUES THAN ON LIFE EXPERIENCES AND BIOGRAPHICAL DATA.

THE 4 CONCEPTS OF ETHICS IN PHILOSOPHY
• THEOLOGISM
• TELEOLOGY
• UTILITARIANISM
• DEONTOLOGISM

• PHILOSOPHY……
THEOLOGISM
♦A MORAL PERSPECTIVE THAT ATTEMPT TO PATTERN ACTIONS ACCORDING
TO GOD’S WILL“
• “WHAT WOULD GOD HAVE ME DO IN THIS
SITUATION?”

DEONTOLOGY
♦DERIVED FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR DUTY
♦ACTIONS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED BY
THEIR CONSEQUENCES. FACTORS OTHER THAN GOOD
OUTCOMES DETERMINE THE RIGHTNESS OF ACTIONS
“THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TELL TRUTH”

• PHILOSOPHY…….
TELEOLOGY
♦CONSEQUENCE DRIVEN APPROACH
• “THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SINGULAR DUTY IS TO MAXIMIZE GOOD
CONSEQUENCES”

• PHILOSOPHY…..
UTILITARIANISM
♦THE MORALITY OF AN ACTION CAN BE DETERMINED BY ITS
CONSEQUENCES
♦AN ACTION IS ETHICAL IF IT PROMOTES THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE
GREATEST NUMBER

• EXAMPLE: A DERANGED GUNMAN IS HOLDING FIVE PEOPLE HOSTAGE AT
GUNPOINT IN A LOBBY OF BANK. HE ASKS IF ANY OTHER CUSTOMERS OR
EMPLOYEES ARE IN BANK YOU KNOW THAT THREE CUSTOMERS ESCAPED
TO BACKROOM ALONG TELLER. DO YOU TELL THEM TRUTH?

• DEONTOLOGISM
♦DERIVED FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR DUTY
♦ACTIONS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED BY
THEIR CONSEQUENCES. FACTORS OTHER THAN GOOD
OUTCOMES DETERMINE THE RIGHTNESS OF ACTIONS

LAW
• SOME INDIVIDUALS VIEW ETHICS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE: ACTING ETHICALLY MEANS
FOLLOWING THE LAW.
• CODES OF ETHICS FOR VARIOUS PROFESSIONS, SUCH AS ACCOUNTING, LAW, AND MEDICINES
REQUIRE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT EXCEED THE LAW.

COMMUNICATION & ETHICAL ISSUES……….
LEGAL ISSUES
♦DEFAMATION AND PRIVACY
-AN EMPLOYEES PERSONAL DISABILITIES
-AN EMPLOYEES PERSONAL IDENTITY AND PRIVATE FACTS
-AN EMPLOYEES RECORDS, REPORTS, LETTERS, ELECTRONIC DATA
♦DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
♦PLAGIARISM
♦COPYRIGHTING

LEGAL ISSUES
• COMMUNICATING ETHICALLY IN THE BUSINESS ARENA CHALLENGES YOU ON SEVERAL LEVELS.
• LEGAL ISSUES HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU PERSONALLY AND ON THE ORGANIZATION TO WHICH
YOU BELONG.
• LEGAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS BECOME MORE COMPLEX WITH THE ADVANCING
IMPROVEMENT TO TECHNOLOGY. USE OF NEW DEVICES INCREASES EFFICIENCY AND ALLOWS FOR
MORE PRODUCTIVITY, BUT IT ALSO RAISES LEGAL CONCERNS AS A BUSINESS WORRIES ABOUT THE
EROSION OF PRIVILEGE, INTERCEPTION OF DATA OR STORAGE OF COMMUNICATIONS.

RELIGION
• RELIGION IS BELIEF IN SUPER NATURAL AND DIVINE POWER OR POWERS AND
HOW WE RELATE TO THEM. IT COMPRISES OF BELIEF AND PRACTICE.
• RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOWERS ABOUT WHAT'S
RIGHT AND WRONG. THAT IS, BELIEF SYSTEMS DEFINE WHAT IS OR ISN'T
ETHICAL. IN SOME RELIGIONS, UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR IS PUNISHED AND
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IS REWARDED. IN OTHER RELIGIONS, TEACHINGS PROVIDE
GUIDELINES FOR ETHICS, BUT LEAVE LATITUDE FOR THE BELIEVER TO INTERPRET
WHAT IS ETHICAL AND WHAT ISN'T.
• RELIGIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE MAJOR FOUNDATIONS FOR
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AMONG FOLLOWERS.
• USING RELIGION AS THE GROUNDING FOR YOUR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR MEANS
YOU AT ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.

• KEY AREA FOR ETHICAL COMMUNICATION
• YOUR MESSAGES, BOTH WRITTEN AND SPOKEN, DEMONSTRATED NOT ONLY THE
MESSAGE, YOU INTENDED BUT ALSO A MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR VALUES AND
INTEGRITY.
• USE THE GUIDELINES TO EVALUATE YOUR PURPOSE AND MOTIVES IN EACH SITUATIONS.
PERSONAL WRITTEN AND SPOKEN MESSAGES
1.MESSAGE PURPOSE
2.RESEARCH METHODS
3.SELECTION MATERIAL
4.DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS
5.USE OF LANGUAGE
6.ETHICAL CONTEXT
7.SELF-ANALYSIS

KEY AREA FOR ETHICAL COMMUNICATION
• NEVER BEFORE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES LIVED AND WORKED TOGETHER.
• THE WORLD HAS BECOME A GLOBAL VILLAGE, AND THE WORK FORCE REFLECTS THAT DIVERSITY. BECAUSE WE
HAVE SUCH DIFFERENT CUSTOMS AND WAYS OF COMMUNICATING, IT IS NATURAL THAT MISUNDERSTANDINGS
OCCUR IN THE WORKPLACE.
• THE CROSS-CULTURAL ETHICAL OUTLINE WILL HELP YOU ASSESS YOUR ETHICALITY IN MULTICULTURAL
SITUATIONS.
CROSS-CULTURAL MESSAGES
1.CULTURAL CONTEXT
2.MISUNDERSTANDINGS
3.LANGUAGE
4.ACCOUNTABILITY

KEY AREA FOR ETHICAL COMMUNICATION
• IT IS ETHICALLY WRONG TO ADVERTISE PRODUCTS IN WAYS THAT CONFUSE. WHETHER PROMOTING A
COLLEGE JAZZ EVENT, A GATEWAY WEEKEND, OR A LINE OF PRODUCTS FOR A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR
COMPANY, THE RULE FOR ETHICAL ADVERTISING IS CONSISTENT:
• TELL THE TRUTH, DON’T MISREPRESENT , AND DON’T MANIPULATE LANGUAGE TO CREATE A FALSE
IMPRESSION.
• ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR ADVERTISING:
ADVERTISING MESSAGES
1.LANGUAGE
2.GRAPHICS/PRINT
3.OMISSION
4.TRUTH
5.ACCOUNTABILITY

ETHICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
• BUSINESS CORPORATIONS EXISTS FOR ONE REASON: TO MAKE MONEY . TODAY, HOWEVER, CORPORATIONS
ARE MINDFUL OF THEIR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, OR CSR (CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY),
ALSO KNOWN AS THEIR "TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE," WHICH INCLUDES A CONCERN FOR PROFITS, BUT ALSO AN
ETHICAL TREATMENT OF PEOPLE AND THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. PROPONENTS OF CSR MODELS SAY
THAT BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY MORE PROFITABLE WHEN THEY EMPLOY HIGH CSR STANDARDS, BUT THAT
IDEA IS STILL DISPUTED BY SOME CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL ANALYSTS.
➢ ENVIRONMENT
➢ HUMAN RIGHTS
➢ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
➢ EMPLOYEE WELFARE

ETHICS & ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
FORMAL COMMUNICATION
♦PUBLIC MESSAGES
♦EMPLOYEES MANUALS AND POLICY STATEMENTS
♦MISSION STATEMENT AND ETHICAL CODES
INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
• OVERTIME, THROUGH WORKERS AND MANAGERS OR THROUGH
ORGANIZATION ITSELF.

UNIT 2: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

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UNIT 2: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT