Final answer:
Ethical behavior in sales organizations is heavily influenced by the overall culture of the firm and notably by the tone set by upper management. Upper management's role in setting ethical norms and the use of codes of ethics are critical for aligning corporate practices with societal values and regulatory frameworks, particularly in contexts that involve emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Much of what drives ethical behavior in sales organizations is the overall culture of the firm and the tone set by upper management. Organizational culture involves the values, beliefs, attitudes, and systems that influence employees' behavior.
Codes of ethics play a critical role in guiding these behaviors within businesses and technology sectors. Corporate responsibility often extends beyond compliance with laws to encompass social, economic, and environmental concerns, and establishing ethical practices can be especially challenging in the context of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The role of upper management is crucial in setting an example and establishing an environment that promotes ethical decision-making and actions, aligning with both societal values and legal requirements.
Businesses often construct a code of ethics to define permissible actions for an organization and its employees. These codes may address a range of issues from bribery to environmental and social goals. Within the fields of technology, organizations such as the IEEE Computer Society provide specific codes of ethics for software engineers, emphasizing the need to align with moral theories and political debates when making decisions that impact quality of life, privacy, or the environment.