Instituto Superior da Maia Porto Portugal

Physical Education and Sport Faculty

ETHICS AND BEHAVIOR IN

BUSINESS

PORTO, PORTUGAL
2012

Cuprins

1. Generalities about ethics.

Ethics (or the word ethics) - has several meanings:

A. may be the honor, humanity, justice system and at the same time fair ideas;
B. comprising all the rules of behavior within a circle of activity;
C. a frame of philosophy, studying a form of social relations and also a form of personal
conscience, the individual ego.
In modern XXI century, the economy, which includes more branches - including the general
economy, national economy, business, government, etc. And that includes all general rules, the
bases of society, organizing, and sometimes changing value systems.
Studying and learning all the ethical and moral rules is necessary, first, because the rule of
law operates on the bases of rules established and recognized internationally.
It is well known that besides all this characteristics, behavior has a basic core moral, not forever
does not fall under the laws and penalties.
Character, personality, the spirituality, our general and professional knowledge of
requirements amount to moral, ethical.
Based on these requirements, the moral value of each individual can be classified as
positive or negative. This determines that compliance with moral norms do not affect personal
rights, even if in some cases requires a rigorous self control.
Need to study ethics and morality in business is a continuing dispute in now a days, in
many circles, is that ethics has no place in business, because - they say - the ethics of privacy is
not applicable in business. Others, with supporting arguments, say otherwise. But the fact
remains that the study of business ethics is mandatory in professional faculties.What is
interesting is that in that time and long afterward, economics field studies were part of
universities, faculties studying ethics.
In higher education, was introduced as mandatory teaching of business ethics, which
includes the following fields: history of ethics, business ethics, ethics characteristic of enterprises
and institutions and individual behavior to discharge standards.
Professor Adam Smith (1723 - 1790) based his concept of activity in the economy
especially the feelings of sympathy. "Act so that observer bias to sympathize with you," says in
his Theory of Moral Sentiments entitled (1795). By his conception of the economy based on
individual interests was the father of liberal economic school.

2. Market economy and methods of divide property.( ethical

meaning)
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Nowadays, the consensus is that the market is the most important element in the future
economy. For the normal course of business is in desperate need of law and legal ways.
Permanent changes to laws affecting the economy and could distort the economic system.
Division of the ethical is an old problem that mankind has so far not found an answer,
just only alternatives.
A. Equal share for everyone! egalitarian view - all goods would divide equally even the
goods that people dont need.
B. For everyone as needed! Communist opinion -but because the word "necessity" has
several meanings, how can be needed, a luxury good.
C. For everyone by capacity! We look at the ability of people, but, some skills (eg music) is
a special ability and requires no effort.
D. For everyone after the effort! Persisted opinion. Making activity with effort; only does
not take into account that is performing the load on the capacity usually remains
submerged.
E. For everyone by the achievements! liberal view. We analyze the result, to divide the
property, but the result need ability and effort. But you can not take this statement as a
basis for the sick, the disabled, children, elders because they can not perform work
activities.
F. For everyone relative to the contribution at the common good.
G. For everyone properly! social opinion. To take care of the weak, but in the same time to
meantime development for others.

3. Business behavior
A. Showing respect!
Respect is defined as a high consideration for an elder or a superior. In the business world
its need to know how to show respect to the visitors from abroad too. We must learn how to do
this, and do it in the early career and continue to practice it, till becomes to deserve this respect
from the others!

A1. To stand up or to sit .

When someone enter in the office, people in management and any current employee
from the office should stand up and welcome respectful the person. When a visitor arrives,
company people present there, shall rise, like this the visitor feels welcomed and honored.
A2. The place where you should seat .
A young manager must learn when and where to sit. There is an unwritten protocol of
where and when people should seat. The younger must sit just after the elders show them where
to sit or to be placed before the oldest. Once the older person or the superior show to the young
man to sit, he must immediately go to that place and say out loud "thank you". It is ridiculous
that people stand in a room wondering where to sit. So who will chair the meeting must indicate
the exact location of each round the table at that meeting , and the host must indicate the place to
sit in the living room.
B. The art of making presentations
The most important thing about how to make presentations is that you must do it, even if
you remember or not the correct procedure. Make presentations is one of the most important
obligations of the business world and yet very few people know how to do it. Make presentations
correctly is only a matter of pure logic:
present to the elder the younger
present an member of your company to a member of another company
present an informal to an official
present a young directory to a higher director
introduce an employee to a client
Usually presentations are given and explanations about the persons, such as:
"Mr. Timothy, I would like to introduce my daughter Simona. He is Mr. Timothy, our president."
B2.How you say hello to the others.
How to get acquainted with other people - how our voice and body react - shows what
kind of persons we are. If you take an interest when you know, showing good manners, they will
answer you in the same way. (We must remember that we will never have the opportunity to
produce what is called the first impression!)
When someone is presented to you and you're sitting on a chair and you dont get up
shows to that person that you dont want to be disturbed, even if is not like this. Your body
language shows lack of interest.

When you are presented is important to :

- Get up stand
to make a step forward and smile
tell your name or "Nice to meet you, Mr. Abram"
to shake hands with that person
B3. Shaking hands
It's good to know that for example: Americans get used to shake hands less often than
people in other countries. It is a pity because it is an important contact - a natural approach between two people. Many people can do a first impression about somebody from the way he
shakes hands with someone. When a businessman shakes hands easy, but firmly, he influences,
in fact, on his comrades to do the same. A handshake is correct that:
is made firm but not very strong or without energy
three or four seconds, not more
C. Visit the office of a person from the management.
Managers must act with confidence and in a courteous, from the beginning, when you go
in to the office. To make a good impression must respect the following requirements:
arrive on time - even earlier
pronounce your name clearly, and the name of the company and the person you came to see
too. It is smart to give your business card protocol, like this its easy for the other person to deal
with your name and company
waiting to be told where to hang your clothes
sit down and wait in silence
do not insist with the protocol questions
once inside the office, take the chair indicated by the host, put the bag gently next to you and
sit comfortably
if there are more people, shakes hands with the oldest first or head group or person you
encounter, then shaking hands with all other
estimate how long you can stay there (immediately after you greet)
when it is time to go, get up, thanks the host, shakes hands with him and say "goodbye".

D. The art of entertainment

Generalities: Any private business meeting is the subtext which can attract potential
customers. In the business world we can have fun for the following reasons:
- want or need someone to reward hospitality
- realize that is an opportunity to "know" someone
- there are services for which to thanks and services that we request
- there is a reason to celebrate
- a person, a group or an institution deserves to be rewarded
- we need more new contracts to do more business
- want to develop our image and corporate citizenship in our community
Entertainment is a powerful tool for business but need to be handled with care. Success
requires planning, efficient and effective staff, creative spirit and above all a careful attitude to
the guests. Careful attitude is hosting a business lunch to treat isolated guest with the same
attention you would give it to an important dignitary. This attitude makes careful to inform the
host about the most important detail in all aspects, from how the stamped are envelopes with
invitations to the presence of the towels for the guests in the restrooms for the night party.
D1. How to entertain them?
The most popular form of entertainment business is based is the face to face contact, a
small group involving invitations to breakfast, lunch or a drink after work.
An executive must be willing to be known as someone who has style. That means he knows how
to extend invitations and where to have fun.
Some options or ways to entertain anyone:
- breakfast in a restaurant or a cafe nearby
- having a meal together in the office
- Lunch in a modest restaurant nearby
- serving a drink after work
- you are really close to someone and his family can give him an invitation for the whole family
in your home or in an activity that concerns the whole family
- an invitation to the executive and his family to spend the weekend with you (at home or at a
picnic)
How to have fun are generally based on:
time available
resources available
the price of what we do
importance of your objectives in business in connection with the person you want to have fun
E. Art of conversation. Important skills for conversation.

Generalities: we can not really talk about effective presence without a cultivated voice.
The way you communicate with others is almost as important as the context of your message.
A letter must be written using appropriate words and a special calligraphy, on good quality
paper.
A conversation is conducted using the words chosen, with a pleasant voice and
modulation suitable for the situation. The way you make verbal communication is an important
part of your image and presence. You can have an exceptional IQ but still not be able to
successfully expose your ideas before your peers or in a conference room .A transmission of
your message, successful, even if you hold a speech or try to persuade someone in front of you,
depends on:
a good vocal timbre
careful use of vocabulary
your body language
a rational thinking
E1. A Good voice which corresponding to the professional status of a person from the
executive compartment:
does not have a specific accent (could be from anywhere in the country)
is strong, denoting authority
reflects a correct breathing
has a low intensity, comfortable to say almost everything, making it seem very confident in
what he says
has a warm tone excited, especially when you feel excited about something
seems lively
is distinct
is comprehensible to the speaker pronounced correctly
has a good inflection that changes from time to time so as not to seem monotonous
a voice cultivated crops involves a vocabulary
appropriate language of gestures is part of a spelling

E2. Important skills for a conversation. General requirements.

Person is always : polite and careful

1) It is well documented and can talk about many and varied topics. It may also discuss politics,
sports, religion, science, art, literature (the person who can talk only about business, will bore
very fast even their own colleagues).
2) Show interest in how others earn their living.
3) Do not know everything, but is aware of major news in the world.
4) Is able to easily change the discussion topic.
5) Adapt the person speaking.
6) Make statements and exhibits his opinions based on knowledge and experience, not only on
assumptions.
7) Looks the person straight in the eye when he speak .
8) Avoid correcting grammatical or pronunciation errors committed by others in public (it is
humiliating for somebody to be shown their mistakes in front of their peers. This can only be
particular).
9) Are interested in good news about colleagues.
10) Do not interrupt. Know the art of listening (a break or find a way to speak).
11) Talk to a stranger in a friendly manner rather than indiscreet.
12) Accept compliments with grace and intelligence.
13) Knows how to take compliments gracefully. Praise should be sincere and without
exaggeration.
14) Know when and how to address any non-business topics.
15) Addresses to everyone in the group, not just one or the other.
16) Know how to make a shy person to feel as part of the group.
17) He realizes when he began to bore the listener.

18) Try to fill the gap when embarrassing pause.

19) Manifests diplomacy at all times, even when it has a lot of work, but is with someone who
insists on talking.

4) Business ethics in Romania

Compliance issues in business ethics has become more and more approached by
managers in Romania, especially in the present conditions in our business environment is
becoming more frequently affected by powerful media scandals that bring to the fore big
businessmen or directors of major corporations in the national economy. As a concept recently
introduced in the vocabulary specialists, managerial ethics is regarded by many as that branch of
applied ethics which specifically refers to the type of conduct, and the actions that managers take
in the organizations.
A renowned financial newspaper ZIARU FINANCIAR published in 01.10.2011 an
article with the results of a study based on a questionnaire in which the respondents were 95%
specialists or top managers from the most important romanian companies.
According to responses received from the respondents we could observed that , business
ethics has become in many romanian organizations a priority on the list of activities. Thus,
approximately 50% of those given a score depending on the degree to which business ethics is
promoted in their organization, have checked maximum response. Only a small percentage of
respondents (5.72%) showed that firms in which they activate are not concerned, do not promote
or do not respect ethical codes.
However, at the question "moral standards in business are in a continuous decline in
Romania?" Proportion of those who said yes is approaching 55% of responses. In these
conditions we can understand that although many believe that economic activity should be
guided by principles of morality and ethics, many are tempted, in some cases, to forget to carry
this mentality and use unethical behavior.
??This can be supported by the fact that 65.71% of respondents believe that the main
purpose of a business is profit, and the way it is done can be chosen taking into account the
ethical or not "imposed" by theory.

Actions practiced in business, classified as immoral were captured in questionnaire:

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Most of those who answered to the questions are part of the departments that are responsible for
developing and implementing ethics strategies.

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