"On Leadership: Views on Google's refusal to continue censorship in China"

[geckosfeet]

On Leadership: Views on Google's refusal to continue censorship in China
Benjamin W. Heineman Jr. is a business ethics expert and senior fellow at Harvard University's schools of law and government. Excerpts from a variety of sources touch on the decision to let China host the olympics to human rights to business ethics.

When is it right for a company to pursue higher profits even when doing so empowers the oppression of a people and the denial of basic human rights?

Granted, on one level the piece is simply pointing out that Google's business goals/model/philosophy is at odds with China's political and social engineering goals. But it also presents some general discussion regarding businesses role in society. Can/should business be guided by ethical considerations as well as monetary, social and political considerations? Probably academic questions for most business students and professionals, but Google decided for itself and Wall Street is making them pay for it.

When an organization has the capacity and courage to act on values that are fundamental to its operations, its leaders must act or risk undermining the group's purpose and foundations. If Google is an organization that believes in net-neutrality, stands for something greater than itself and wants to continue to be a leader in world affairs, it has no choice but to strengthen its resolve and do no evil.

Not so sure about the net-neutrality aspect - although Google is promoting the unlocked phone model with the Nexus One, and is exploring providing free high bandwidth wi-fi to some lucky US city.

But in general I like the perspective - that there are no clear cut well defined universal boundaries for all businesses working in the multitude of political climates that our world presents. Each company feels it's way along and decides what is right for it's own business goals. In my mind Google seems to have done a good thing by finally shaking itself free of China's domineering and oppressive requirements. I wonder though - how information services react with our own governments demands for private information and surveillance?

All powerful business leaders inherit a responsibility to use their power wisely. Along with the power Google enjoys as the No. 1 search engine comes a responsibility to use its influence and business tactics in an ethical manner. Yes, Google employees are people with families, and business deals affect whether someone will have a job at the end of the month, but you have to know where your loyalties lie as a leader before you face decisions like that of Google vs. China. Are you loyal to the well-being of your employees or that of human-rights-deprived people half a world away?

It's a short article and well worth the read.

On Leadership: Views on Google's refusal to continue censorship in China