VALUES AND ETHICS IN BUSINESS

Concept of Values

Value has been taken to mean moral ideas, general conceptions or orientations towards the world or sometimes simply interests, attitudes, preferences, needs, sentiments and dispositions. But sociologists use this term in a more precise sense to mean “the generalized end which has the connotations of rightness, goodness or inherent desirability”.

These ends are regarded legitimate and binding by society. They define what is important worthwhile and worth striving for. Sometimes, values have been interpreted to mean “such standards by means of which the ends of action are selected”. Thus, values are collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper or bad, undesirable, and improper in a culture.

The main functions of values are as follows:

1. Values play an important role in the integration and fulfillment of man’s basic impulses and desires in a stable and consistent manner appropriate for his living.
2. They are generic experiences in social action made up of both individual and social responses and attitudes.
3. They build up societies, integrate social relations.
4. They mould the ideal dimensions of personality and range and depth of culture.
5. They influence people’s behavior and serve as criteria for evaluating the actions of others.
6. They have a great role to play in the conduct of social life.
7. They help in creating norms to guide day-to-day behavior.

Value Based Environmental Education:

1. Human Values: Preparation of text-books and resource materials about environmental education can play an important role in building positive attitudes about environment. The basic human value ‘man in nature’ rather than ‘nature for man’ needs to be infused through the same.
2. Social Values:

Love, compassion, tolerance and justice which are the basic teachings of most of our religions need to be woven into environmental education. These are the values to be nurtured so that all forms of life and the biodiversity on this earth are protected.

3. Cultural and Religious Values:

These are the values enshrined in Vedas like ‘Dehi me dadami te’ i.e. “you give me and 1 give you emphasize that man should not exploit nature without nurturing her. Our cultural customs and rituals in many ways teach us to perform such functions as would protect and nurture nature and respect every aspect of nature, treating them as sacred, are it rivers, earth, mountains or forests.

4. Ethical Values:

Environmental education should encompass the ethical values of earth-centric rather than human-centric world-view. The educational system should promote the earth-citizenship thinking. Instead of considering human being as supreme we have to think of the welfare of the earth.

5. Global Values:

The concept that the human civilization is a part of the planet as a whole and similarly nature and various natural phenomena over the earth are interconnected and inter-linked with special bonds of harmony. If we disturb this harmony anywhere there will be an ecological imbalance leading to catastrophic results.

6. Spiritual Values:

Principles of self-restraint, self-discipline, contentment, reduction of wants, freedom from greed and austerity are some of the finest elements intricately woven into the traditional and religious fabric of our country. All these values promote conservationism and transform our consumeristic approach.

The Importance of Values

Values are part of the makeup of a person. They remind us as to what is important in our lives, such as success or family, but also, by the virtue of their presence, they provide contrast to what is not important. For example, if family is important, then potentially, achievement in a high-powered job is not important. Since you value family, it would be hard to value a high-powered job that might take you away from your family. Thus, all values exist in a balance within us.

That is not to say that, over time, values cannot change. As we grow and change as individuals, we will begin to value different aspects of life. If we value family when we are younger, as our children get older, we might start to value success in business more than family so we can pay for things like college, cars, etc.

Regardless of what we value or why, the importance of values cannot be ignored. They are the guideposts of our lives, and they direct us to who we want to be. By doing that, they help us become who we are and are a huge part of our makeup, ethical compass, and, ultimately, personality.