NAME : SHAIK MOHAMMAD KHADIR ROLL NO :20691E00G9

INDIAN ETHOS AND BUSINESS ETHICS

ASSIGNMENT-2

HOW ETHICS HELPS AMAZON ORGANIZATION

IN CONDUCTING THEIR BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION:
The concept of Ethics comes from the Greek word” Ethos” that
means both an individual’s character and a community’s culture.
Ethics are principles and values an individual uses to govern his activities
and decisions. In an organisation, a code of ethics is a set of principles that
guide the organisation in its programs, policies and decisions for the
business.

The ethical philosophy an organisation uses to conduct business can affect

the reputation, productivity and bottom line of the business. Ethics in
business matters because there is much evidence to prove that unethical
behaviour can cost the company its reputation, affect its share price,
lower its share price and lower its profits. Some of the scandals in business
world have had their origin in scant regard to morality. Ethics has
become a part of business because it has been realized that ethics and
profits go together. In the long run good ethics is good business.

Business Ethics :
Business ethics, connotes the  which studies ethical principles, morals and
problems that take place in form of applied ethics,the business
environment. It is nothing but the integration of day to day morals and
ethical norms to business and applies to all types of business.
In finer terms, it implies the good or bad, right or wrong behaviour, in
pursuing business, determined on the basis of expected behaviour approved
by the society. E.g. Charging reasonable prices from customers, just and
fair treatment to workers, earning a legitimate profit, providing a good
environment to employees, etc.
The way an Business should respond to external environment refers to
organization ethics.Organization ethics includes various guidelines and
principles which decide the way individuals should behave at the
workplace.
It also refers to the code of conduct of the individuals working in a
particular organization.
Every organization runs to earn profits but how it makes money is more
important. No organization should depend on unfair means to earn money.
One must understand that money is not the only important thing; pride
and honour are more important. An individual’s first priority can be to
make money but he should not stoop too low just to be able to do that.
Children below fourteen years of age must not be employed to work in any
organization. Childhood is the best phase of one’s life and no child should
be deprived of his childhood.
Employees should not indulge in destruction or manipulation of
information to get results. Data Tampering is considered strictly unethical
and unprofessional in the corporate world. Remember if one is honest,
things will always be in his favour.

BASIC ETHICAL ELEMENTS:

There are at least four elements that aim to create an ethical culture and
behavior of employees within an organization. These elements are:
 A written code of ethics and standards (ethical code)
 Ethics training for executives, managers, and employees
 The availability of ethical situational advice (i.e. advice lines or
offices).
 confidential reporting systems.

Code Of Ethics for Business:

A code of ethics, also called a code of conduct or ethical code, set out the
company’s value, ethics, objectives and
responsibilities. A well written code of ethics should also give guidance to
employees on how to deal with certain
ethical situations. Every code of ethics is different and should reflect the
company’s ethos, values and business style.
Some codes are short, setting out only general guidelines, and others are
large manuals, encompassing a huge variety of situations.
Key Components of a Code of Ethics in Business:
Business code of ethics, also commonly referred to as a code of conduct, is
the set of rules you determine to establish both the legal and moral
character of your company. When writing your company's code of ethics,
look at both the legal, compliance and value-based components that are
important in defining and running your company successfully.

Legal Issues
You may think that clearly expressing all employees must follow the law is
something that shouldn't need to be said. It does. While some industries or
specific occupations have legal requirements, all employees in any business
must follow state and federal laws. Bank employees are screened for money
laundering. Delivery drivers are subject to periodic driver's license reviews
for excessive speeding tickets or DUIs.
Compliance and Regulations
Compliance and regulation is another aspect of legal requirements that
some industries must follow. Failure to do so results in fines, penalties, and
potential legal action against the company, its leaders, and the employee
breaking the rules. Highly regulated industries include the financial
services industry, banking, real estate, health care and senior care
providers.
Value-Based Components
Value-based components in a code of ethics can range widely. The code of
ethics usually includes the six universal moral values that state you expect
employees to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good
citizens. You can also include values such as celebrating diversity, using
green standards in the workplace, or dress codes. Include anything that is
important to the overall mission and vision of company success as part of
the code of ethics.

AMAZON COMPANY:

Amazon.com, Inc.[4] (/ˈæməzɒn/ AM-ə-zon) is an
American multinational technology company which focuses on e-
commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It is
one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry,
along with Google (Alphabet), Apple, Facebook (Meta), and Microsoft.[5][6][7]
[8]
 The company has been referred to as "one of the most influential economic
and cultural forces in the world", as well as the world's most valuable brand. [9]
[10]

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon from his garage in Bellevue, Washington,[11] on

July 5, 1994. It started as an online marketplace for books but expanded to
sell electronics, software, video games, apparel, furniture, food, toys, and
jewelry. In 2015, Amazon surpassed Walmart as the most valuable retailer in
the United States by market capitalization.[12] In August 2017, Amazon
acquired Whole Foods Market for US$13.4 billion, which substantially
increased its footprint as a physical retailer.[13] In 2018, its two-day delivery
service, Amazon Prime, surpassed 100 million subscribers worldwide.[14]
Amazon is known for its disruption of well-established industries through
technological innovation and mass scale.[15][16][17] It is the world's largest online
marketplace, AI assistant provider, live-streaming platform and cloud
computing platform[18] as measured by revenue and market capitalization.
[19]
 Amazon is the largest Internet company by revenue in the world.[20] It is the
second-largest private employer in the United States[21] and one of the world's
most valuable companies. As of 2020, Amazon has the highest global brand
valuation.[22]
Amazon distributes a variety of downloadable and streaming content through
its Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Twitch, and Audible subsidiaries.
Amazon also has a publishing arm, Amazon Publishing, film and television
studio Amazon Studios, and a cloud computing subsidiary, Amazon Web
Services. It produces consumer electronics including Kindle e-
readers, Fire tablets, Fire TV, and Echo devices. Its acquisitions over the
years include Zoox, Ring, Twitch, Whole Foods Market, and IMDb. Amazon is
currently in the process of purchasing film and television studio, Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer.

AMAZON Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

In performing their job duties, Amazon.com employees should

always act lawfully, ethically, and in the best interests of
Amazon.com. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the
"Code of Conduct") sets out basic guiding principles.
Employees who are unsure whether their conduct or the
conduct of their coworkers complies with the Code of Conduct
should contact their manager or the Legal Department.
Employees may also report any suspected noncompliance as
provided in the Legal Department's reporting guidelines
referred to in paragraph IX below.
I. Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
Employees must follow applicable laws, rules and regulations
at all times. Employees with questions about the applicability or
interpretation of any law, rule or regulation, should contact the
Legal Department.
II. Conflicts of Interest
In performing their job duties, employees are expected to use
their judgment to act, at all times and in all ways, in the best
interests of Amazon.com. A "conflict of interest" exists when an
employee's personal interest interferes with the best interests of
Amazon.com. For example, a conflict of interest may occur
when an employee or a family member receives a personal
benefit as a result of the employee's position with Amazon.com.
A conflict of interest may also arise from an employee's
business or personal relationship with a customer, supplier,
competitor, business partner, or other employee, if that
relationship impairs the employee's objective business
judgment.
Because an employee's receipt of gifts or services could create
a conflict of interest, the Legal Department will develop and
maintain guidelines for disclosure of gifts or services received
from customers, suppliers, competitors or business partners.
Employees should attempt to avoid conflicts of interest and
employees who believe a conflict of interest may exist should
promptly notify the Legal Department. The Legal Department
will consider the facts and circumstances of the situation to
decide whether corrective or mitigating action is appropriate.
III. Insider Trading Policy
Federal and state laws prohibit trading in securities by persons
who have material information that is not generally known or
available to the public.
Employees of the Company may not a) trade in stock or other
securities while in possession of material nonpublic information
or b) pass on material nonpublic information to others without
express authorization by the Company or recommend to others
that they trade in stock or other securities based on material
nonpublic information.
The Company has adopted guidelines designed to implement
this policy.
All employees are expected to review and follow the
Amazon.com Insider Trading Guidelines. Certain employees
must comply with trading windows and/or preclearance
requirements when they trade Amazon.com securities.
IV. Discrimination and Harassment
Amazon.com provides equal opportunity in all aspects of
employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or
harassment of any kind. For more information, see the
Amazon.com policies on Equal Employment Opportunity and
Workplace Harassment in the Amazon.com Owner's Manual.
V. Health and Safety
Amazon.com provides a clean, safe and healthy work
environment. Each employee has responsibility for maintaining
a safe and healthy workplace by following safety and health
rules and practices and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe
conditions, procedures, or behaviors.
Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted.
Employees must report to work in a condition to perform their
duties, free from the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
VI. Price Fixing
Employees may not discuss prices or make any formal or
informal agreement with any competitor regarding prices,
discounts, business terms, or the market segments and
channels in which the Company competes, where the purpose
or result of such discussion or agreement would be inconsistent
with applicable antitrust laws. If you have any questions about
this section or the applicable antitrust laws, please contact the
Legal Department.
VII. Bribery; Payments to Government Personnel
Employees may not bribe anyone for any reason, whether in
dealings with governments or the private sector. The U.S.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and similar laws in other
countries, prohibit offering or giving anything of value, directly
or indirectly, to government officials in order to obtain or retain
business. Employees may not make illegal payments to
government officials themselves or through a third party.
Employees who are conducting business with the government
officials of any country must contact the Legal Department for
guidance on the law governing payments and gifts to
governmental officials.
VIII. Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Financial Integrity
Amazon.com's books, records, accounts and financial
statements must be maintained in appropriate detail, must
properly reflect the Company's transactions and must conform
both to applicable law and to the Company's system of internal
controls. Further, Amazon.com's public financial reports must
contain full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure
as required by law. The Company's financial, accounting and
legal groups are responsible for procedures designed to assure
proper internal and disclosure controls, and all employees
should cooperate with these procedures.
IX. Questions; Reporting Violations
Employees should speak with anyone in their management
chain or the Legal Department when they have a question
about the application of the Code of Conduct or when in doubt
about how to properly act in a particular situation.
The Amazon.com Legal Department has developed and
maintains reporting guidelines for employees who wish to
report violations of the Code of Conduct. These guidelines
include information on making reports to the Legal Department
and to an independent third party. Please see the reporting
guidelines for information and instructions.
Amazon.com will not allow retaliation against an employee for
reporting misconduct by others in good faith. Employees must
cooperate in internal investigations of potential or alleged
misconduct.
Employees who violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to
disciplinary action up to and including discharge.
X. Periodic Certification
The Legal Department will designate certain employees who,
based on their level of responsibility or the nature of their work,
will be required to certify periodically that they have read,
understand and complied with the Code of Conduct.
XI. Board of Directors
With respect to their service on behalf of the Company,
Amazon.com's Board of Directors must comply with the
relevant provisions of this Code of Conduct, including conflicts
of interest, insider trading and compliance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
XII. Waivers
Waivers of this Code of Conduct may be made only in a
manner permitted by law.
CONCLUSION:

“The powerful economic, political social and cultural forces at play” lead
individuals and organizations to “weigh their alternatives and make
choices in light of personal values and goals, but also with consideration to
organizational and professional success” (Leadership: Facing Moral and

Ethical Dilemmas, 2017, p. 3). Meanwhile, it is important to observe the

culture and social environment in the community, and align them with the
corporate culture. This will provide information, which is not readily
available or accessible that may guide the organization on how to design
strategic plans incorporating ethical policies and procedures (Bolser, 2012).
Furthermore, it is significant for organizations to devote time and energy in
the development of leaders with ethos, integrity, honesty in order for
tomorrow’s corporate world to be less corrupt and more compassionate
and ethical. Organizations able to “survive and compete in the ever
changing marketplace will be those that have proactively and strategically
prepared themselves for future challenges through effective leadership
development programs, practices, and systems”