The role of human resource management in improvement of business ethics in Serbian enterprises
The scientific valorization of importance of the human resource management practice in application and
improvement of business ethics in the enterprise represent the basis to analyze the existing relation between the
human resource management system and business ethics in Serbian enterprises. It is our intention to evaluate whether
the practice of Serbian enterprises affects their application and improvement of business ethics and to which extent, as
well as to identify the issues facing the human resource managers with this regard. With this goal in our mind,
using a sample of 36 enterprises, we have attempted to gain an insight into conditions in Serbian organizations.
Research units (enterprises) in this research were individuals, members of human resource management, as
examinees. Data on the research issue were collected by means of survey. Survey with answers offered was the
research instrument. The next table (Table 1) shows our criterions to evaluate the importance of existing human
resource management practices in application and improvement of business ethics in Serbian enterprises. only at declarative level. While most of the individuals under surveillance answered that the existing human resource management practice highly affects the application and improvement of the enterprise’s business ethics, it is our impression that what were given were the socially desired opinions. Since only 22% of individuals under surveillance think that none of the employees were
TABLE 1. CRITERIONS
Frequency Percent
The rules of desirable ethical behaviour in the enterprise exist in form of document 6 22%
All employees are familiar with the rules desirable ethical behaviour in the enterprise 28 87.5%
In the enterprise there are clear rules for violating business ethics 11 34.4%
The role of human resource management practice in application and improvement of the enterprise’s business ethics is considerable 28 87.5%
In the enterprise, the profile of requirements of workplaces is clearly and accurately defined regarding the ethical behaviour
5 17.6%
None of the employees in the enterprise is employed based on somebody’s intervention 6 22%
When selecting candidates to be employed, attention is focused on verification of data on the candidate 19 59.4%
The enterprise frequently organizes courses and trainings on application of business ethics for all employees 6 22%
The system of ethical principles is deeply rooted into the system of evaluation of the employees’ performance 17 53.1%
Standards of evaluation of the employees are clear, understood by all employees and righteous 11 34.4%
In the enterprise, ethical behaviour is particularly emphasized and rewarded 14 43.8%
None of the employees in the enterprise is promoted based on somebody’s intervention 8 28.2%
Dismissals are based on clear, objective and righteous criterions 26 87.5%