3. Difference Between Unethical and Illegal Behavior in the Business ContextBy definition, ethics refers to "a set of principles of good conduct." It is also defined as "the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or members of a profession" (www.thefreedictionary.com) and, in business, may be considered the standards governing the conduct of people in the business environment. Business ethics is the behavior that a company adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. It relies on values ​​to guide behavior in business. Business law is the body of law that governs business and commerce, such as the regulation of corporate contracts, hiring practices, and the manufacturing and sale of consumer goods. (www.bitpipe.com/tlist/Business-Law.html) In business, the main goal is to maximize returns for the owners or shareholders. The way a business behaves while attempting to make a profit may or may not be considered ethical. For example, a company that has a positive sense of social responsibility will strive to have a positive impact on society, contributing in some way to the well-being of the community in which it operates. Unethical practice in business could include the opposite, that is, a company is only concerned with its profit and does not attempt to mitigate the impact of its operations on that society. For example, a mineral exploration company that does not attempt to alleviate the discomfort and inconvenience of people displaced by its operations could be considered unethical. Illegal behavior in business is that which is prohibited by law, it is illegal or criminal. It is behavior that violates clearly established rules or laws that govern business. This is easier to detect than unethical behavior because it is simply weighed against written laws. The penal code defines the basic requirements for behavior and any behavior outside of what is described in this code may be considered illegal. Unethical behavior is more conscience-based and the line that separates black from white is not as easy to identify. Although companies may have written guidelines or codes of conduct, it is not possible to anticipate every possible unethical behavior and, because people have different values, it remains possible to adopt unethical behavior. By distinguishing between illegal and unethical behavior, a company could gain a bad reputation for its unethical behavior, even if, technically speaking, it does nothing to break the law..