On becoming a professional: The

role of Ethics
Vasanthi Srinivasan
Chairperson Centre for Corporate
Governance and Citizenship

What is the difference between

Ethics, morals and values?

What is Ethics?

What is Ethics and morality?

It is possible for a person to claim a high moral status,
either as a vegetarian, or as a truthful person, or as a
good parent, and yet live with others who do not abide
by such norms. On the other hand, it is not possible to
be ethical alone. Ethics is setting up rules of interaction
where other people matter. This is the reason why
ethics demands transparency and accountability in
public life. It becomes much more realizable as it is
built into our conduct and is not an outcome of
individual will power or exceptional conduct.
Dipankar Gupta, Sociologist at JNU

You cant be value free

Every time you make a decision, you are
making a value choice
e.g. A is promoted rather than B, because
A is more efficient though B is more loyal
Objective and rational decisions are
also based on an implicit hierarchy of
values

Norman Augustines four point

checklist for ethical behaviour
Is it legal?
If someone else did this to you, would you
think it was fair?
Would you be content if this were to appear
on the front page of your hometown
newspaper?
Would you like your mother to see you doing
this?

Ethics @ IIMB

Which is of this is unethical?

Copying a paragraph from a book without acknowledging
the author
Making sure books are available in the library by
deliberately mis-shelving/hiding them or removing pages
from them
Lying about personal circumstances for an extension
Obtaining and using an essay from a previous years
student
Making up references to put in the bibliography
Not contributing a fair share to group work that is assessed
for a group mark
(www.ldu.leeds.ac.uk/plagiarism/docs)

Ethics @ IIMB
Copying in assignments, exams, term
papers always wrong
Expect strict punishments if caught
Both source & actual copiers punished equally
In group assignments/projects, all members
get the same punishment
Be responsible: Do not leave
assignments/project reports on public
computers

Ethics @ IIMB
Plagiarism Presenting the words or
thoughts of another as ones own is
unacceptable in the academic context
Do not copy and paste from the internet
without full citation (complete URL, date of
download)
While sourcing material from other
articles/books, use footnote/endnote feature
of MS-Word to link every quote to full
reference of source

Ethics @ IIMB
Attendance
No proxies, be on time
Sign the attendance sheet

Professional behaviour
Preparation for class, group meetings
Keep your word (trust begets trust)
No free-riding
Punctuality

Ethics @ IIMB
Community Responsibility
Treat common property carefully
Do not abuse positions of responsibility or
trust
Follow hostel rules guests, noise, no pets
Keep library books carefully

Ethics is Important

BJ
BJ was a high-profile student of PGP 19992001
Graduate of one of the IITs
Did his summers at Lehman Brothers
Was found to have falsified information
about his performance at IIT
Debarred from placement
Not allowed on campus

MK
MK was a PR in PGP 2001-03
Got excellent job offers but they were
disproportionate to his academic performance
Found to have mis-stated CGPA in resume
Had tampered with CGPA in master-list
Job offers cancelled, graduation delayed
Because of his reputation, is unable to move
to larger companies

Indian banker dismissed in London

<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articlesho
w/1376432.cms>
Economic Times India, January 18, 2006
Anshul Rustagi, 26, an MBA from IIM-Bangalore
and a rising star in the Deutsche Bank London,
was dismissed on Monday for gross misconduct
after a disciplinary hearing. A week ago, he had
been suspended and was facing disciplinary
action for allegedly overstating his profits by 30
million pounds.

Rustagi or Rusty as he was popularly known was

reportedly dealing in a market for securities
known as collateralised debt obligations, or CDOs.
Reports say that Rustagi dealt largely in iTraxx
indices - derivatives that reflect a basket of credit
default swaps. A colleague, managing the desk
while Rustagi was on holiday, reportedly
discovered the losses. ....

Beware of
the Standard Excuses
I didnt know it was wrong

I didnt think it would hurt anyone

Everyone else does it

It was the only way to get the job done

What is my personal compass?

Recognizing that what you are doing is unethical
without rationalization and denial
How do you know this??? Friends, acquaintances
and peers (typically the phrases used are it
doesnt sound right or who is going to pay for
this?
Start with what is the worst that will happen if
this is found out?
Use the three tests mom test, newspaper test
and mirror test
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What is in it for me by being ethical??

Good sleep
Clear conscience
Long term respect
Credibility
Referrals in business and access in personal
life
Respect this is earned never demanded
it is good to be good
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