If everyone had the same sense and knowledge of right and wrong we wouldn't need business ethicists, codes of conducts, ethics committees and investigations, or policies describing for people what is acceptable behaviour.  The fact that all these systems, processes, procedures and committees exist is proof that there is an uncommon understanding of ethics and what is right and wrong.  So if this is the case, why in business do leaders simply extort to their organizations slogans such as "do the right thing", or "do what is right" or even "commitments matter" when the reality is that these are terms and messaging that is different to everyone that hears them.  Could this then be a possible source of the problems that organizations face - is that they themselves do not fully understand what they are asking or what the true "value" they are trying to communicate actually is, or are they purposefully vague and imprecise for some more nefarious or malevolent reason?  Leadership is about being clear about what they expect from their organization and their people and then communicate that expectation precisely.  No one can follow and live up to the expectation if it is not clear what what it is and that is one of the jobs of leadership.

In failing circumstances no one can be relied on to keep their integrity.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is nothing right and wrong until anyone defines it.  Anonymous

Ethics must begin at the top of an organization. It is a leadership issue and the chief executive must set the example.  Edward Hennessy