The Caux Round Table Principles and White’s Biblical Principles

The Caux Round Table Principles and White’s Biblical Principles

     The article make a link between the nonspiritual and Biblical principles within which business that will be considered responsible and just should follow to. It is going to draw from principles enlisted by the Caux Round Table and those by White. (White, 1978) Caux focus mainly on the secular section of the principles without putting any emphasis on any one religion but rather as a guidance for proper business dealings for the improvement of society and not just benefit the one conducting it alone White drew his principles from teachings in the Bible therefore caters to those business with practicing Christian stakeholders. These two are drawn from what can be seen as two realms that exist, they have many similar points dictating how business dealings should be carried out.

          Honesty is encouraged by both and it should be seen in the way the services and products are offered. This will apply whereby the business will be conducted in a clear and concise manner where the employers, employees and customers will be truthful and honest about the business. (CRT, 2015) “Just weight” as quoted from Deuteronomy 25:13-15 is encouraged by White and it is corresponding to Caux’s open and fair trade. Employees should be able to provide a service for which they are being salaried for. The business should sell products that are equivalent in value to what the customers are paying for but not cheating them out of their money for substandard products or wanting services. (Cotton, 1998) Personal responsibility as White refers to it is the ability of a person to come out and be transparent if they have done wrong. Humans are prone to error but the ultimate test will be whether one is able to fess up to their mistakes and be held accountable for them. Business should have this sense and stop making excuses for mistakes they commit and stop "scapegoating". (Hinnells, 2010) Some major differences can be seen between the two principles. As manufacturing in big factories and rapid population growth there has created a need to protect the environment, something not catered for in the Bible. Caux states that any responsible business will ensure they do not become wasteful and jeopardize the future of future generations in a bid to make profits for themselves.

           Caux also support for a business that is oriented to benefit the whole society and even the world. The business will have the responsibility to upgrade the living standards of its community and be an active participant in reforms that benefit all. (Hinnells, 2010) This means that the business will take into account the culture and beliefs of the surrounding community and be mindful of them. The business will make sure to operate within the confines of the laws stated. It will be accountable to the laws of the state and the international laws but should make a provision a not all laws are beneficial to the customers it should not be firm in the way that it is conducted such that the customer ends up suffering like jacking up prices of basic commodities simply because the government needs an extra source of income through taxation. In such an instance, the business has a responsibility to the community to oppose this move and encourage other channels to achieve the same goal. (Srinivasan, 2003)

         Another major principle encouraged is that businesses should not be involved in any scandals, and illicit activities that affect the quality of life of the community. This includes working to reduce and prevent incidences of corruption, funding terrorism and unscrupulous activities. The business role is to build not destroy but to improve not be negative to the society.        White says servitude is an important part of a good business, this simply refers to the shareholders of the company being at the disposal of the customer. The services to be offered should be to serve the maximal benefit of the customer only. (Srinivasan, 2003) This is the customer service, a business should invest in training its employees the phrase, “The customer is always right” and that they should be patient and fair in their dealings especially in their face to face dealings. This principle is somewhat ignored in the Caux principles and doesn’t really outline these types of encounters. The employees will encounter with all kinds of people, rude, black, white and even polite ones. This type of servitude leads to increase in the value of the service/product as they have a good reputation they have built.