Depok, June 12th 2023. Professors at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a webinar to explore crucial issues regarding ethics in the context of the business and economic world on Saturday (10/06). Strong ethics based on moral values is an important foundation in creating a business environment that is healthy, sustainable and has a positive impact on the community and the surrounding environment.
At present, it cannot be ignored that the world of business and the economy is often colored by cases of ethical violations that have caused controversy and negative impacts on various parties. Several cases of ethical violations that have emerged in recent years include Corruption and Bribery Scandals, such as bribery scandals within companies, or corrupt practices among government officials and business actors that destroy public trust and undermine the integrity of the business system.
Apart from that, there is also Misuse of Data and Privacy. In the digital era, violations of ethics in terms of misuse of customer data by companies, violations of privacy, and violations of information security have an impact on individual losses. Then, the case of Environmental Destruction, in which companies violate ethics by destroying the environment through business practices that are not environmentally friendly, use of hazardous chemicals, or excessive exploitation of natural resources.
Next, Discrimination and Violation of Human Rights. Ethical violations occur when companies engage in racial, gender, or other human rights violations, such as the use of forced labor or inhumane working conditions.
These cases remind us of the urgency and importance of upholding ethics in business and the economy. In the webinar, these cases were analyzed, the root causes of ethical violations were explored, solutions and preventive steps were sought to promote ethical and responsible business practices.
Acting as a moderator in the Ethics in Business, Economics seminar is the Chairperson of the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.M., M.Sc. According to her, this webinar had provided an opportunity to explore ethical values in the increasingly complex world of business and economy. “In our journey today, we have discussed various challenging issues, seen cases of ethical violations that occurred, and sought solutions to build better business practices. This seminar is our first step to strengthen our commitment to ethics, integrity, and responsibility in all aspects of business and the economy,” said Prof. Riri.
She hoped that the spirit of the event would carry over into practicing ethics in every business decision taken, prioritizing human values, and contributing to creating a more just, sustainable and inclusive business world.
According to Prof. Cynthia Afriani Utama, discussing “Message of Ethics from Campus”, business and government executives made a strong call to adopt moral values and social responsibility in the world of business and government. Prof. Cyntia underlined the importance of transparency, sustainability, and a positive impact on society. The hope is that executives and government leaders will take this message seriously and apply it in daily practice. She also said that there are still many companies dealing with taxes (transfer pricing), unclear policies, and an unethical culture. It takes good governance, it needs good ethics, and profits must be obtained in an ethical way, she said.
She added, “moral conscience” is a term that refers to the ability or moral awareness of individuals to distinguish between right and wrong actions. Moral conscience plays a role in guiding individual behavior, helping to avoid unethical actions or violating moral norms, and encouraging individuals to act according to values that are considered right. Efforts are needed to build stakeholder trust and role models from the highest leadership.
The second presentation was delivered by Dr. IG. Nyoman Yetna on “What Does an Ethical Violation in Practice Look Like?” Based on the paper entitled “Experience as an Assessor of Business Practices in Indonesia: Ethical Violations and Strategies to Address Them”, several conclusions that could be drawn from the review were that ethical violations in business practices in Indonesia are serious problems that can damage the integrity and reputation of the company and destroy public trust.
Some of the common forms of ethical violations that occur in Indonesia include corruption, bribery, monopolistic practices, environmental pollution, non-compliance with fair work standards, and fraud. Business practice reviewers and monitors have an important role in identifying and disclosing ethical violations.
Strategies that can be used to deal with ethical violations include raising awareness and training regarding business ethics, implementing an effective supervision system, protecting whistleblowers, improving regulations and governance, and imposing strict sanctions on violators. Cooperation between governments, the business sector, and civil society is critical in combating ethical violations and promoting fair and responsible business practices. This conclusion emphasized the importance of upholding strong business ethics and joint efforts to create a business environment with integrity in Indonesia.
The third speaker, Prof. Eko Prasodjo discussed the “Ethics of Public Policy Holders”. This presentation highlighted the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in carrying out government functions and making public policies, including the challenges that exist in the bureaucracy. In the context of business practice, strong integrity and ethics from public policy makers can create a conducive environment for sustainable business growth. Enforcement of good ethics among public policy makers can also encourage investment, increase investor confidence, and create fair competition in the market.
This presentation provided good insight into the challenges faced in promoting ethics among public policy makers in Indonesia and illustrates the positive impact that can be generated when ethics is properly upheld. One source of ethical violations in Indonesia is conflict of interest. This presentation made a valuable contribution in raising awareness and encouraging improvements in business practices and state administration in Indonesia.
Prof. Ruslan Prijadi delivered a presentation on “The Impact of the Non-Market Economy on Businessman’s Behavior”. His discussion provided in-depth insight into the complexities of the non-market business environment, where factors such as politics, law, regulation, and stakeholder interests play an important role. Emphasis on analysis of weak points in the application of ethics provides a better understanding of the problems and gaps that need improvement. He comprehensively discussed the non-market business environment in Indonesia and highlighted the importance of implementing ethics in it.
In addition, he described how companies respond to the non-market business environment by developing appropriate strategies and approaches. Companies must understand and overcome weak points in the application of ethics in this environment to build business sustainability and integrity.
The general conclusion from this presentation was that the need to integrate ethics in business strategy and adopt appropriate policies is an important step to create a business environment that is responsible and with integrity. His descriptions provided valuable insights into the complexities of the non-market business environment and provided challenges and opportunities for improving ethical practices within them. This conclusion triggered further discussion on the importance of ethics in the context of non-market business in Indonesia and encouraged steps that can be taken to promote sustainable and ethical business practices.