Ducks in a Row: “Do The Right Thing” Circa 2017
by Miki Saxon
“Do the right thing” used to be an accepted mantra, as well as a point of pride.
That’s changed; think Volkswagen’s “defeat device” to Nissam’s 20+ years of using untrained inspectors (due to a “shortage”) to Uber’s Greyball, and others too numerous to list.
The companies involved only fixed/changed/stopped because they were caught.
These days, the mantra is “do the right thing if
- caught doing the wrong thing;
- it doesn’t interfere with revenue;
- it removes the spotlight from a scandal;
- it generates good press; or
- it counteracts bad press,
In other words, do the right thing as a sop to the masses until they forget and then it’s business as usual.
And why not?
The same attitude has worked well for politicians, religious leaders, and business executives for decades, if not centuries, so why change a formula that works so well?
The same attitude is in play for individuals, especially these days when personal convenience and comfort are paramount and ethics, morals, integrity, decency and responsibility play second fiddle to expediency.
Like companies, people go their merry way lying, cheating, and stealing their way to the top.
And if they happen to walk into/over/stomp on someone they will look around and, if caught, do the right thing by helping them up and apologizing.
Maybe.
But whether enterprise or individual, permanent change is unlikely.
Image credit: Kurt Bauschardt
