Which factor is NOT listed as a core component of ethical performance?

Which factor is NOT listed as a core component of ethical performance?

• A. Personal wealth of executives
• B. The personal character of managers and employees
• C. The values and virtues of the managers, and the traditions, attitudes, and business practices built into a company's culture
• D. The corporate governance structure

Answer: (A)

Ethical performance is shaped by the people and systems that guide everyday conduct: the character of managers and employees, the values and virtues that emerge from the company’s culture, and the governance structure that sets rules, provides oversight, and enforces accountability. Personal wealth of executives does not by itself establish ethical norms or governance; it isn’t a mechanism that promotes or constrains ethical behavior. The other factors—personal character, the organization’s values and culture, and the governance framework—directly influence decisions, expectations, and controls that sustain ethical conduct. Therefore, personal wealth of executives is not a core component of ethical performance.

Ethical performance is shaped by the people and systems that guide everyday conduct: the character of managers and employees, the values and virtues that emerge from the company’s culture, and the governance structure that sets rules, provides oversight, and enforces accountability. Personal wealth of executives does not by itself establish ethical norms or governance; it isn’t a mechanism that promotes or constrains ethical behavior. The other factors—personal character, the organization’s values and culture, and the governance framework—directly influence decisions, expectations, and controls that sustain ethical conduct. Therefore, personal wealth of executives is not a core component of ethical performance.