Ethics

Ethics

Since organisations communicate with various audiences, ensure that communication stays honest and responsible.

Ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behaviour. It’s the standard for right and wrong behaviour. Ethical corporate communication ensures that the message is both legal and morally sound.

Law is what you CAN do. Ethics is what you SHOULD do.

Corporate Social Responsibility

1. Integrate social and environmental concerns into their operations

2. Operate ethically and sustainably

3. Philanthropic initiatives

Importance of Ethics

1. Trust and credibility — Build credibility not only for the organisation but also for the profession

2. Legal standing — Goes hand-in-hand with legal compliance. Intellectual properly laws, privacy laws, etc.

3. Transparency and accountability — Allows consumers to take informed decision. Transparency ensures accountability.

4. Stakeholder relations — Foster positive relations with stakeholders which make communication easy. Virtuous cycles.

5. Reputational management — Both of the organisation and the client. Not harmful slander.

Common ethical dilemmas

1. Misleading advertisement

2. Withholding information and giving false information

3. Overpromising

4. Greenwashing

Challenges to implementation of ethics

1. Profitability

2. Leadership bias

3. Culture differences