Business Ethics Module 3
Business Ethics Module 3
Business Ethics Module 3
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Business Ethics and Social Responsibility – Grade 12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module 3: Code of Ethics in Business
First Edition, 2020
Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
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respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.
Team Leaders:
School Head : Reynaldo B. Visda
LRMDS Coordinator : Melbourne L. Salonga
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Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions,
exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can
best help you on your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And
read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the
tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
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Few years from now, you will be employed whether in a public office or in a
private enterprise. As an employee, it is very important that you display good ethics,
especially in your workplace. This module was prepared for you so that you will have
a good interpersonal relationship with all the people around you, specifically with
the ones you will work with.
1. define ethics;
2. explain why ethics is important in business;
3. classify the given ethical issues; and
4. create a good situation from the choices given.
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What I Know
A B
Directions: Read each statement below and classify it according to its ethical issue.
Write only the letter of your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
A. Ethical Issues in Production
B. Ethical Issues in Sales and Marketing
C. Ethical Issues in Finance
D. Ethical Issues in Human Resource Management
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Lesson
Ethics in Business
1
What’s In
Directions: Analyze each situation below and identify what core principle is
applied. Write the letter of your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Your choices:
A. fairness
B. accountability
C. transparency
1. The treasurer of a cooperative withdrew P20,000 cash from a bank. On her way
to the office, she passed by the public market and since it was market day,
there were a lot of people in the area. A man suddenly snatched her bag where
the money was placed. Although shocked and sad, she promised to pay the
P20,000 through salary deduction.
2. The manager of the company ordered materials for their office extension.
He/she declared the actual amount and attached the official receipt for future
reference.
3. The boss noticed that his/her two clerks were not talking to each other. He/she
ordered the two to come to his/her office one at a time to listen to both sides
before he/she decides.
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What’s New
Directions: Read and understand the situation. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
Chona opened an online food service for an additional income. She hired
one female helper in the kitchen and two delivery boys. The business was doing
very good for a month. But one day, she got a call from an online client
complaining that the food delivered to her was already spoiled and could not be
eaten. He/she was demanding for a refund.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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What is It
Definition of Ethics
The term Ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos which means
“characteristic way of thinking”. Ethics, as a science, does not only evaluate the
morality of our human conduct but also provides us with a common understanding
of the universal, objective, and irreversible moral principles that should govern our
human behavior and guide our moral decisions (Roa, 2011).
Ethics are moral principles that guide the conduct of the individual (Racelis,
2017). These are rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and
bad (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
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Examples of Ethical Issues in Business
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What’s More
1. destruction of habitats
2. encountered misleading financial reports
3. overweight applicants are not allowed
4. hiring limited to religious affiliations
5. honesty in prices
6. truthfulness in advertising
7. fraud on securities
8. harm to environment
9. manipulation in prices
10. exaggerated advertisements
Ethical Issues:
in Human
in Sales and
in Finance Resource in Production
Marketing
Management
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Directions: Complete the given phrases below for at least three to five sentences.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
What I Can Do
Directions: What would you do under the following situations below. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Being an advertising artist, you were instructed by the manager to make two
layouts, but you will only receive the price for one.
3. Being one of the food processors in a manufacturing company, you know that
the ingredients listed on the label of your product are not completely true.
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Assessment
Directions: Read each sentence below and classify each according to the ethical
issue where it belongs. Write the letter of your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word/s to make each sentence
correct. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
13-14 The term ethics is derived from the Greek word _______ which means
characteristic way of __________.
15. Ethics are rules of _______ based on ideas about what is morally good
and bad.
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Additional Activities
Directions: Give a situation where ethics could be applied. Choose only one from the
following places. Write your answers in three to five sentences on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. At the airport
2. In the marketplace
3. In a public office
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Lesson
Code of Ethics in Business
2
You have learned that ethics is the interpretation of what is proper or not,
what is right or wrong, what is just or unjust, and what is good or bad in human
behavior. It allows you to establish the standards (norms) on which rational decision-
making is guided and measured.
In this next lesson, you will get to know about the Code of Ethics, and you are
expected to:
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What I Know
Directions: Choose which action below is more acceptable. Write the letter of your
choice on a separate piece of paper.
2. With the “No Smoking” policy of the company, Elvis, being a smoker, _____.
a. will not follow because it makes him uncomfortable
b. will follow because it could irritate the people around him
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What’s In
What are the four ethical issues that you have learned? Discuss each in
two sentences.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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What’s New
The new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lee Ching Chemical Company, Max
Ching, has found that the firm has been dumping its toxic waste into the local river
for the last four years and falsifying information to officials about the amounts of
alleged cancer-causing materials in the waste. The plant overseer claims there is no
evidence that the waste will cause cancer. Besides, within a hundred kilometers
downriver, there are only a few fishing villages. If the company had to treat the
substance to neutralize its potentially harmful effects and transport it to a legal
dumpsite, the operating costs of the company would rise to a level that could render
the company uncompetitive. When the organization loses its competitive advantage,
five thousand local workers can become unemployed and the economy of that town
could collapse.
Question: If you were the COO, what would you do? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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What Is It
Code of Ethics is a set of rules about good and bad behavior. It is a guide of
principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with
integrity. A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the
business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems,
the ethical principles based on the organization's core values, and the standards
to which the professional is held.
Saucer and Sims (2013) offer recommendations for developing Code of Ethics in
business organizations:
1. Adopt code of ethics (use the Code of Ethics of other companies as a reference
and modify according to the needs of the company).
2. Offer training on ethics (for management and employees).
3. Hire and foster individuals with ethical value.
4. Deal with immoral activities. Employees must know the implications and
effects of making unethical actions, and should be ready to accept
consequences.
5. Take constructive measures. For example, give rewards to employees who
admit their mistakes. If the company is conscientious and smart, it can
encourage warehouse workers to take responsibility for their mistakes and
even praise them for coming forward, apologizing and ensuring that a faulty
product is not purchased by the customer. At first it seems counter-intuitive
to reward an employee for a mistake, but in the end, it provides everyone with
the best result.
6. Carry out a social audit. Conduct survey to employees once in a while.
7. Cover all whistleblowers. These people detect illegal activities within
organizations and disclose the actions to the authority or managers. A
whistleblower who works sincerely, correctly reporting an issue, should be
praised for his/her courage and integrity, as opposed to being disciplined and
ostracized. If an individual blasts the whistle, it is possible that the company
itself has failed internally to motivate and improve fair and ethical
conversations.
8. Empower the defenders of integrity. Support those who work with honesty
and integrity.
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9. Ensure executive commitment. The anonymity of those who report the
problems should be practiced.
10. Communicate the principles of conduct within the company and across the
industry.
11. Assign an officer who is clearly responsible for the enforcement of ethical
standards. He/she can be consulted for advice.
12. Establish a procedure for violations of ethical standards, and fully review any
offenses reported.
13. Ensure high perseverance by the company's board of trustees.
14. Lead by example, above everything else.
It should be remembered that when faced with an ethical situation, the outcome
of the decision-making process should be considered. One way to tackle ethical
situations is by using the four-way test to evaluate decisions.
4. Principles- moral rules or beliefs that help you know what is right and
wrong and that influence your actions (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
Examples:
Customers have to be respected.
Make sure to deliver quality product.
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Simplified Sample of Code of Ethics: XYZ Company
Our Principles:
1st: XYZ Company shall adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards bribery
and corruption in whatever form;
2nd: All company officers and employees shall conduct business in
accordance with Philippine laws and regulations; and
3rd: We shall act in good faith and observe sense of professionalism at
all times.
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Directions: Answer the following questions and write your answers in two to three
sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
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What I Can Do
Directions: Read the situation and formulate a Code of Ethics for the business. Write
your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Situation:
You just started an online business selling bags and shoes made in Laguna.
You employed one bookkeeper, one clerk, two utilitymen, and four (4) delivery
personnel. Follow the format given below:
Our Core Values
Our Vision
Our Values
Our Mission
Our Principles:
1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Rubrics:
Relevance to the business 6 pts.
(one point for each - vision, values, mission, and three principles)
Mechanics 4 pts.
(one point for each – vision, values, mission, and principles) ________
Total 10 points
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Assessment
Directions: Read each sentence below and write the words thumbs up if it is true or
thumbs down if it is not. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Directions: Complete each statement by filling the appropriate word in the blank.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
11-12 Code of Ethics is a set of rules about _____ and _____ behavior.
13. The possibility of giving _____ action often minimize doing offensive behavior.
14. The people who detect illegal activities and report the same to proper authorities
are called _____.
15. It is highly suggested that administrators should lead by _____.
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Additional Activities
Directions: Write a short script that shows how a General Manager should respond
to an employee-whistleblower who had witnessed a bribing incident of a big client to
the new Sales Manager. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Rubrics:
Content 4 pts.
Mechanics 3 pts.
Ethical implication of decision 3 pts.
10 pts.
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References
"5 Marketing Practices for Your Service-Based Business". Medium.
https://medium.com/the-mission/5-marketing-practices-for-your-service-
based-business-c3f9a024f34d.
DepEd. 2016. DepEd’s Curriculum Guide for Business Ethics and Social
Responsibility, s. 2016
DepEd. 2020. DepEd’s Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) for Business
Ethics and Social Responsibility, s. 2020
Hayes, Adam. "What Everyone Should Know About Price Skimming". Investopedia,
2020. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/priceskimming.asp.
Hayes, Adam. 2020. How Codes of Ethics Work". Investopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/code-of-ethics.asp.
Jordan, Brent. 2020. Brown Wooden Blocks on White Table [Image]. Retrieved from
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-blocks-on-white-table-
6037812/.
Jordan, Brent. Brown Wooden Blocks on White Table. 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-blocks-on-white-table-
6064131/.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Racelis, Aliza. 2017. Business Ethics and Social Responsibility. Manila: Rex Book
Store, Inc.
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