J.F.D.B. Wempe

Twelve gordian knots when developing an organizational code of ethics

Following the example of the many organizations in the United States which have a code of ethics, an increasing interest on the part of companies, trade organizations, (semi-)governmental organizations and professions in the Netherlands to develop codes of ethics can be witnessed. We have been able to escort a variety of organizations in this process. The process that organizations must go through in order to attain a code involves a variety of difficult decisions. In this article we will, based on our experiences, describe twelve dilemmas which will have to be ‘solved’ during the development of such a code. When one or more of these dilemmas is ignored or an ungrounded choice is made, the effectiveness of the code will be negatively affected. Furthermore, the twelve dilemmas could be used as twelve dimensions to exemplify organizational codes of ethics. In this article we will also discuss a method to organize ethics within the organization. This will serve as a guide as to how, with respect to the dilemmas described, adequate considerations can be made. The article will be concluded with a description of our experiences at the Dutch Schiphol Airport. This case demonstrates how the aforementioned reasoning can be applied in practice.

Business Challenging Business Ethics: New Instruments for Coping with Diversity in International Business

The 12th EBEN Annual Conference was held in Amsterdam from the 1st to the 3rd of September 1999. It was organised by the European Institute for Business Ethics (EIBE) and the Nijenrode University. The conference facilities of the Grand Hotel, the old city hall located in the centre of Amsterdam, proved to be a perfect venue for the main event and for other social activities.

Three General Theories of Ethics and the Integrative Role of Integrity Theory

This paper consists of a discussion of the three general theories of ethics, on the one hand as a framework for “solving” ethical dilemmas and on the other, as a stepping-stone, for the ethical analysis and evaluation of behavior and practices. We conclude this paper with an exposition of the Integrity Approach that integrates consequentialist, deontological, and virtue ethics.

The Corporation as Social Contract

In this paper, we argue that the different relationships of corporations can be understood as contractual relationships. The aim of the contract is to do justice to the claims of all parties, including that of the corporation. This renders the notion of a contract eminently suitable as a conceptual model for formulating the moral standards appropriate to the corporate context.