The phrase 'it's just business' is often used to justify morally questionable behavior. The immense power business wields over the well-being of this country makes the issue of morality in business more important than ever.
Outside of the “sanctified” realm of business, where profit rules above all else, most of us are pretty good at knowing good from bad. Good is when someone is true to their word, when they act with generosity, respect and compassion, and when they treat others fairly. Bad is when someone exploits another for their personal gain or lies, steals and kills.
Strangely though, we have been letting businesses literally get away with murder. Why is this so? Who is to blame? Is it the individual decision makers, the businesses or the system? Over the recent years, we have had pyramid schemes that have broken families, many Kenyans have lost in millions as a result high blood pressure, heart failure, and alcoholism is driving Kenyans into morgues. The same period has seen extreme growth at the NSE will little to show for by the small timers. The names of such firms as Transcentury elicit envy at the small scale traders at the stock house.
Large firms with control of the NSE, as Chairmen, Stockbrokers, Investment Bankers and at the same time as major shareholders in the listed firms, have used their positions to play unfair in the business environment. It’s all for profit though. At what price do you sell or buy and feel morally satisfied? Many of our business people do not look at this aspect. In a capitalistic economy where the supply- demand and willing buyer-willing seller dictates business like ours, personal morality should provide the check and balance. It is worth noting that there is a very thin line between a thief and a businessman. In both cases we do get what did not initially belong to us. The thin line that separates these two is the level of fairness.
As an entrepreneur Kamlesh Pattni would easily claim high moral standards in his dealings through the Goldenberg. Overnight Lending as a mischief mechanism is clearly immoral considering that interest was paid for money not spent.
When it comes to money and profits, people in general seem quite prepared to throw the accepted norms of social decency out the window. Such group-think says: as long as we make money ASAP and don’t immediately or directly see the cost of that activity, we are a-ok.
Certainly the systems we have constructed around business perpetrate this lack of conscience. We actively celebrate the making of money and extravagant consumption. The individual leaders must also be held accountable.
All business decisions have moral implications that must be considered. Business is personal because it directly affects our lives and our futures. It is also personal because each and every one of us can use it to choose the sort of world we want to be part of building.
Google’s motto – don’t be evil – is a clear moral stance. It is no longer good enough to say “business is just business”. There is a price to be paid for every shilling we make.
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