BUSI 570 Discussion Global Business Ethics 1
BUSI 570 Discussion- Global Business Ethics
School of Business Administration, Liberty University
Author Note
Introduction
Christians understand that they are direct reflections of our Lord and have a divine
calling to live purposeful lives in His honor (Hill, 1997). Believers understand that their calling, or
vocation, is an honor, privilege, and devotion that God has called them to, thus allowing them to
worship Him (Mekvabishvili, 2023). Therefore, believers must conduct business with a Christian
BUSI 570 Discussion Global Business Ethics 2
worldview that encompasses God’s attributes, such as honesty, love, mercy, and humility.
Therefore, ethical Christian interactions must include clear, honest, and effective
communication, rather than deceptive communication practices such as exaggerated speech
and indiscriminate use of hyperboles. This is especially true for ethical global organizations.
Exaggeration
Deceptive communication practices destroy trust and damage personal and professional
relationships. Exaggeration is one such example. Exaggeration misrepresents the truth by
embellishing it. This form of deceptive communication undermines trust, compromises integrity,
and causes communication errors. Hill (1997) cautions against exaggerated speech, as this
behavior contradicts his ethical business framework, which emphasizes the importance of
ethical, truthful, and respectful communication as a reflection of God’s love and character.
The Importance of Careful Word Choice
Dall’Agnol et al. (2025) emphasize the importance of word choice and language in
relation to an organization’s code of ethics and its effectiveness. The researchers noted that the
enforcement and impact of a code of conduct depend on language usage. Language is a
complex social construct that guides individual and collective cognition. Dall’Agnol et al.
acknowledge that language variables, such as wording, word count, and linguistic nuances,
significantly influence an individual’s behavior. Since language has a direct impact on human and
organizational behavior, individuals and organizations cannot afford to overlook the importance
of carefully choosing their words.
The Ethical Implications of Hyperbole Usage
There are ethical implications for the use of hyperbole when viewed through Hill’s (1997)
framework. Hyperboles are a form of exaggeration. While his framework emphasizes the
importance of ethical, truthful, and respectful communication, Hill acknowledges Jesus' use of
hyperbole in support of the knowledge obtainment. Jesus used hyperboles to emphasize a
BUSI 570 Discussion Global Business Ethics 3
learning point rather than to alter the truth. Therefore, Hill supports judicious hyperbole usage,
adhering to ethical business practices in alignment with a Christian worldview.
Biblical Integration
Scripture offers valuable insights into the importance of timely and effective
communication, which is especially true for ethically global business practices (New
International Version Bible, 1978/2025, Ecclesiastes 3:7). King Solomon also emphasized the
importance of actively seeking knowledge and engaging in ethical communication. After all,
individuals use honest, compassionate, and effective communication to obtain and share
knowledge. Humanity relies on such communication to build relationships, which are the basis
of society, families, community, and commerce. Similarly, deceitful communication damages
relationships and communities (Proverbs 18:15, 21).
Conclusion
Study results noted that an organization's moral transgressions harm both internal and
external stakeholders, including consumers, vendors, and employees (Yue et al., 2024). Global
businesses require accurate, honest, and timely communication to compete in the modern
marketplace ethically. Therefore, organizations should avoid deceptive communication
practices, such as exaggeration and indiscriminate use of hyperbole. Such practices impede
efficient and effective information exchanges. This results in communication failures, negatively
affecting work culture and organizational outcomes. These communication failures create
ambiguity and opportunities for sin, wickedness, or moral transgressions, thus damaging
relationships. As a result, organizations risk business failure due to decreased brand loyalty and
a negative work environment.
References
Dall’Agnol, M., Kabbach-de-Castro, L., & Redín, D. (2025). In the multitude of words, sin is not
lacking: Are codes of ethics promoting corporate responsibility or providing legal
shields? Business & Society, 64(2), 339–378.
BUSI 570 Discussion Global Business Ethics 4
https://doi.org/10.1177/00076503241255553
Hill, A. (1997). Just business: Christian ethics for the marketplace. InterVarsity Press.
Mekvabishvili, R. (2023). On the importance of altruism, prosocial behavior and Christian love in
behavioral economics research. Economic Thought: History, Philosophy, and
Methodology, 11(1), 37–53.
New International Version Bible. (2025). The NIV Bible. https://www.biblegateway.com
(Original work published 1978).
Yue, C., Song, B., Tao, W., & Kang, M. (2024). When ethics are compromised: Understanding
how employees react to corporate moral violations. Public Relations Review, 50(4),
102482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2024.102482
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