title: Establishing ethics in an organization by using principles.
abstract: Laws, codes, and rules are essential for any community, public or private, to operate in an orderly and productive fashion. Without laws and codes, anarchy and chaos abound and the purpose and role of the organization is lost. However, danger is significant, and damage serious and far-reaching when individuals or organizations become so focused on rules, laws, and specifications that basic principles are ignored. This paper discusses the purpose of laws, rules, and codes, to help understand basic principles. With such an understanding an increase in the level of ethical and moral behavior can be obtained without imposing detailed rules.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University College of Engineering and Technology, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. hawksv@byu.edu
authors.forename: Val D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Hawks
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Benzley
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Terry
mesh_terms: D003242:Conscience; D004989:Ethics; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D014481:United States