The evolution of business ethics in India

Abstract

Purpose– Religion and culture can influence ethical behavior in business. It is suggested that there has been and continues to be, a deep interrelationship between religion, business ethics, and economic activity in India. As India is becoming a major global economic business partner, understanding its unique ethical business infrastructure is gaining in importance. The purpose of this paper is to intend to further the understanding of Indian (“Vendantic”) business ethics, as opposed to Greco – Roman business ethics, as the foundation of business culture in India. This paper further elaborates on the evolution of business ethics and its implications on doing business in and with Indian companies.Design/methodology/approach– The authors undertook a conceptual approach in order to understand the evolutionary process of Indian business ethics in a holistic view in order to understand better its workings and effect on business interaction.Findings– The paper explains the constructs of business ethics in India and shows its evolution over time.Originality/value– This original theoretical paper examines the evolution of Indian business ethics over time in line with environmental changes in the Indian business landscape.