In addition, individuals have ethical decisions when it comes to whistleblowing, because very often, when they bring attention to a problem or concern within an organization, they pay the ultimate price - they lose their jobs, or lose the respect of their peers and management. In this, the organization is to blame, and it indicates the ethics of the organization do not encourage truth and doing the right thing. A good case in point of whistleblowing that was ignored is the case of the Challenger space shuttle, which blew up in 1986. Engineers had called attention to the problem with the o-rings that caused the explosion, but NASA ignored their concerns and it resulted in a disaster (Cadbury, 2002, p. 108-116). There are many other examples of this kind of unethical behavior on the part of organizations, and it results in individuals who may be afraid to do the right thing because of fear of repercussions and reprisals.

In conclusion, business ethics and their application is one of the most important aspects of any successful organization. Individuals within the organization must be educated in ethical practices, and the organization must subscribe to ethical practices to make the best, most appropriate business decisions. Because ethical decisions are so important in business, ethics should be taught in the nation's business schools,...

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