The Ethical Imperative: Why Moral Leadership is Good Business

by John Dalla Costa

Book Overview

Ethics are becoming the defining business issue of our time, affecting corporate profits and credibility, as well as personal security and the sustainability of a global economy. From price-fixing to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201339838
• ISBN13: 9780201339833
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Perseus Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

For anyone who believes Business needs a conscience

This book wasn't written to convince anyone that the business community lacks a moral conscience. It was written to help employees, citizens, manager, owners and CEOs deal with the problem. It's a workbook for new and on-going businesses which want to incorporate ethical practices into the company. Dalla Costa names companies which have acted with a moral conscience and explains how this has not hindered their success, but has even stood them in good stead through a crisis. The words moral and business don't usually go together, in fact many people think they are opposites. It's all about money and many business people will tell you so...until a law suit arises. Then they whip out their ethics policy and blame a "rogue employee".Dalla Costa doesn't just concentrate on U.S. companies. His imperative for the global economy is global responsibility.He has the experience to speak knowledgeably and the plan to help us begin to change.Four stars because it was tedious at times but still worth reading.

Optimistically orienting us toward a global ethic.

The author demonstrates the connection between ethical conduct and successful business. He provides a critique of economic assumptions and tackles hard issues head-on. He argues forcefully against the pessimistic, fatalistic view that ethics are the ideal-but amoral behavior is the 'real.' He sees the emergence of a global ethic. To achieve a global ethic Dalla Costa offers a business model for an ethical orientation which includes: manage assets professionally; conduct interactions with humanity; be fair; be honest; strive for justice; and honor the environment. The author's view is that a global ethic involves the policies of nations and strategies of companies, but at its core is the ethical orientation of the individual. The current stuggle for achieving "transparancy" in financial matters in most parts of the world, however, points up the complex challenges the global economy presents on the most basic level. The ideas in this book are a tough sell, but they are persuasively and clearly presented, leaving one with hope. Dalla Costa is clearly one who sees light at the end of the tunnel. Excellent. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.