That view fails to recognize that business cannot flourish in the midst of poverty, ignorance, disorder, disease, oppression, and lawlessness. It is the bottom line. Its purpose is to provide a service needed by society. Clearly, these men felt there is no tension between responsible behavior and business success. Companies that effectively exercise their social responsibility, in fact, maximize their stake holder value in the long term.
Global scandals make headlines daily.
To combat this, many global business are creating codes of conduct, like the ones such companies as IBM, Xerox and Shell Oil have had for years. Defining ethical behavior in a domestic setting is tricky enough. Not only do people respond differently to moral questions, but individuals interpret morality differently. So it is not for altruistic motives alone that we have been active in these areas. It makes sound business sense .