Any time a problem, decision, or opportunity arises that requires a choice between two or more alternatives that can broadly be evaluated as right or wrong, an ethical situation has arisen. This leads us back to what is right and what is wrong. Two types of law guide our actions in society. Civil law defines our rights and duties. Violations of civil law usually result in fines or other forms of financial compensation.
Criminal law prohibits certain acts and dictates non-financial forms of punishment.
Despite the complexity of the legal system, there is a lot of room for individual interpretation. Where laws can't govern all our actions, societal influences generally guide us. For example, what we consider a gift or bribe in this country may be a common practice in another country. Ethical issues relate to customers in general or business relationships. Issues of honesty and communication are often closely monitored by consumer groups or other regulatory bodies.