Within our society the concept of fashion is usually limited to haute couture and its accessories. This includes the opposite concepts of being ‘in fashion’ and ‘out of fashion’. This indicates the presence of a cycle as what was ‘in fashion’ becomes ‘out of fashion’. This also indicates the possibility of a fad, a fashion that rises quickly but fades just as fast.

This cyclic motion is also visible within management theory. The rise of management gurus spouting quick fixes and easy steps to success is rising. This creates the concept of the ‘management’ fashion.

Managers are eager to find this quick fix or easy steps to help combat their problems. Donaldson & Hilmer (1996) believe this to typical of what they see ‘happening to the practice of and writing on management, namely, th

Society does indicate that there will be an increasing call for transparency, social responsibility and ethical dealings in the business world. As hale (1999) points out that with the increasing shrinking of governments and the increasing growth of companies there is a need for regulation to be taken over by the companies. Society is already voting with the cash registers by boycotting those companies that do not seem to be conforming to certain moral standards. One question still remains though. Will it be our ethics that changes rather than the pursuit of ethics? That is, will we remain searching for high ethical standards but merely change the standards by which we judge the business world?

One of the major problems that seem to arise with business ethics is that it is a long-term investment. As businesses tend to get bogged down in short term profits they see no advantage by creating an ethical structure. Bartlett and Preston conducted a soft survey of colleagues and friend regarding business ethics for their article ‘Can ethical behavior really exist in business?’ They found that most of their colleagues believed that business ethics was an oxymoron. Bartlett et al went on to point out that all people have moral standards however the overwhelming belief was that business is not required to be morally responsible. It seems that employees are not part of good communication of the wants and needs of the organisation. Because there is no clear definition of the organisation and where it is heading it creates an air of what is expected not necessarily what is right.

Some topics in this essay:
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