Business ethics (also known as corporate ethics) is not only important in an environment wherein interactions and business relations with colleagues, clients are done under one roof. This must also be present even when you are to deal with people in distance.

Offshore sourcing is one example of dealing people in distance. Through the Internet, businesses are linked together forming a network of networks. Offshore sourcing is a multi-billion dollar industry today with lots of jobs outsourced worldwide.

Individuals working for clients through outsourcing companies must uphold their commitment to business ethical standards. This is very important most especially that information are constrained by distance - prone to miscommunication which may result to misunderstanding and may later on can cost your business.

If you are working for client offshore or if you are leading employees who are rendering services for clients offshore, you must be aware that there are four major areas that ethical problems in business could occur:

(1) while providing services to clients - services for clients must be rendered according to what is being offered or what has been agreed by a service provider and customer. However the process itself is vulnerable to unethical acts. Some common practices that can be considered unethical are: decreasing production (intentional); reporting false or edited time of work - and the like.

(2) how employees perform their duties and responsibilities - unethical acts occur when particular employees do not adhere to the company policies or when they are making their own agenda despite clear work designations.

(3) how your company treats other competitors - the way your company compete with other service or product providers must be carefully examined. Companies must see to it that they are for healthy competition and not a destructive one. Black propaganda is one common example for this.

(4) in providing a price that is fair to all concerns who may have direct or indirect contribution for your production - I think this is self-explanatory. The price that you impose for a particular product or service for your client must be fair to everyone who contributed for that. Business owner should not sale his products or services at $100 when the production cost is just $1.

Business ethics, wherever or whatever corporate environment you belong, is really important to maintain good relations and to keep your business running.