Ethics in Accounting

Ethics in Accounting

John Doe

FIN 324

Ohio State University

John Doe

July 10, 2004

Ethics in Accounting

Ethics are not merely something, which is comprised of a person’s belief or thoughts, but that of what is best for an organization or company. Ethical decisions in business are handled everyday, and most organizations have some sort of established code of conduct to help guide management to make the correct decision. Ethical decisions are not always easy and may require some thought as to the reactions or impact of a decision. There are already established laws regarding employment, accounting, and regulatory rules when it comes to conducting business.

Laws are not always designed to make an ethical decision, but they may promote ethical behavior. According to the Answers.com, many organizations are implementing a “code of ethics is to provide guidance to employers and employees in ethical dilemmas, especially those that are particularly ambiguous” (Answers.com). In addition to the creation of codes, many governments require special licensure. This is meant to protect the general public from unscrupulous individuals. Furthermore, professional organizations may each have their own set of codes that members are expected to adhere to.

According to the text, many institutions have been struggling on how to incorporate ethics into accounting programs. What was developed was a series of modules that could be easily incorporated into existing programs. Recently the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) has “reemphasized the importance of teaching ethics to business students” (Mantzke, 2005).

The struggle to determine what is ethics also is a barrier for educators to overcome. This is due to the fact that ethics can mean so many various things to each individual. One of the solutions suggested is a simple framework by which an evaluation can be made on a potential decision. This simple framework is comprised of six steps, 1.Check the facts, 2.State the problem, 3.Identify the morally relevant factors, 4.Develop list of alternative solutions, 5.test the alternatives, and 6.choose the best alternative. According to the text, introducing real life examples along with lessons can simplify the ease of teaching and learning about ethics in business. Using this modular teaching approach allows for the exploration of theories, facts, and open discussions. The text showed how an average 14-week program would evolve from basic ethical dilemmas to being able to analyze each other on decisions and groups providing a presentation.

Providing real life examples and letting the students determine what they feel to be the correct decision is the best way for an instructor to present the materials. “Determining the "right" answer is not the point.”