University of Makeni Sustainable Enterprise – 2 Leadership and environmental ethics Ethical leadership

Ethical principles provide the foundations for various modern concepts for work, business and organisations, which broaden individual and corporate priorities far beyond traditional business aims of profit and shareholder enrichment. Ethical factors are also a significant influence on institutions and public sector organisations, for whom the traditional priorities of service quality and cost management must now increasingly take account of these same ethical considerations affecting the commercial and corporate world.

The modern concept of ethical organisations encompasses many related issues including:

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  corporate social responsibility (CSR) - or simply social responsibility
  
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  the 'triple bottom line'
  
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  ethical management and leadership
  
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  'Fairtrade'
  
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  globalization (addressing its negative effects)
  
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  sustainability
  
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  corporate governance
  
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  social enterprise
  
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  mutuals, cooperatives, employee ownership
  
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  micro-finance, and
  
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  well-being at work and life balance, including the Psychological Contract.
  

There are no universally agreed rules of ethics, no absolute standards or controls, and no fixed and firm reference points. This is fascinating given how hugely important ethics have now become in modern life and society.