What are the moral values and beliefs that establish norms and acceptable behavior within an organization known as?

The moral values and beliefs that establish norms and acceptable behavior within an organization are best defined as ethics. Ethics pertain to the principles that guide the behavior of individuals and organizations, shaping their decision-making processes and influencing their interactions with employees, customers, and stakeholders. In an organizational context, having a strong ethical framework helps establish a culture of integrity, accountability, and trust, ultimately contributing to a positive work environment.

Regulations refer to formal rules set by governing bodies that organizations must comply with, but they do not encompass the broader moral and cultural dimensions of behavior that ethics does. Standards are generally more about established criteria of quality or attainment and do not specifically address moral values. Policies, on the other hand, are formalized guidelines that direct actions and decisions within the organization; while they can be influenced by ethical considerations, they do not inherently represent the moral values and beliefs themselves. Thus, ethics stands out as the most appropriate term to describe the foundational beliefs that define acceptable behavior in an organization.