Ethical considerations are very critical in business operations and should be keenly observed. If not properly governed, unethical practices could result that could compromise general operations within the entity resulting into undesired results. Unethical practices in the context of a business organization could result from different dimensions. Incidences of exploitations within the business operations are common cases of unethical practices that often emerge. Organization managers could exploit employees and other stakeholders within the workplace by providing unfavorable conditions. Poor working conditions are exploitative actions that employees could face. In addition, in the course their engagements in organization’s activities, employees should be entitled to favorable remunerations (Jeurissen&Rijst, 2007). The paper will majorly focus on unethical practices witnessed in the operations of Toyota Company that saw the security levels of the produced vehicles highly criticized.
Among the gross cases of unethical cases ever witnessed in that by Toyota Callbarks. It has been argued that the company over the years has ignored the need to fix safety problems that has faced its vehicles. Despite the numerous cases of accidents resulting from its produced cars, the company has delayed to carry out extensive investigation into the matter and adopt necessary courses of action. As a result of this, customers’ dissatisfaction has constantly been witnessed hence reducing the overall sales of the company. This is unethical conduct by the company since it has valued profit in its sales at the expense of customers’ safety. In the year 2009, the company was on the spotlight for allegedly hiding the high number of cases caused by its produced vehicles. Contrary to the actions assumed by the company, it is a requirement that producing entities should be very responsive to claims being raised by the public.
In the light of the criticism that the Toyota Company faced in regard to the safety levels of the vehicles it produced, certain course of action was desired. Firstly, it was prudent for the company to assume extensive research into the allegations in order to ascertain the truth. In the event of truth in the allegations, corrective measures should be embraced that improves the safety levels of the vehicles. In addition, apart from adopting technical measures to improve hitches in the brake pedals of the vehicles, the company ought to initiate measures that seek to restore public confidence on the products of the company.
Moreover, in order to eliminate unethical conducts in the production activities of the company, Toyota, it will prudent for the management to adopt the use of certain rules of ethics that offers directive on appropriate causes of actions. Some of ethical rules assumed by business entities include promotion of integrity, honesty and responsibility in all business operations. Integrity directly relate to values that are considered worthy. Besides this value, the rule of honesty demands that every conduct is adopted with utmost good faith hence helping in monitoring of possible unethical practices in the business.
Unethical practices could be very devastating in a number of ways. In the case of exploitation in an organization, dissatisfaction will be made manifest. Internally, dissatisfaction will contribute to low performance hence failure to achieve the set objectives. Externally, unethical business operations will result in a poor public image of the business. As a result of the compromised image, low sales and other related benefits will be significantly reduced.
- Jeurissen, R., &Rijst, M. W. (2007). Ethics in business. Assen, The Netherlands: Van Gorcum.
