The Effect of Religion on the Formation of Ethical Behaviors and Practices: A Study on Family Businesses

It is possible to define ethics as all of the moral principles that are the basis of people’s behavior, values, principles, and standards that help and guide in determining how things should be done. It is accepted as a reference point that guides decision-making processes in both social and business life and directs our choices and actions in the environment we live in. Today, especially in business life, the concept of ethics has become a frequently emphasized concept. Business ethics are a set of rules that define the principles of ethical behavior in certain business and professional fields. The existence of ethical rules in business life is a guide that prevents inappropriate behavior. The principles of business ethics define the principles of behavior for a business area that will benefit all stakeholders within the common value judgments of the relevant segments. These principles may be special rules to be applied for a particular business, profession, or industry, or they may be framework texts reflecting the general ethical principles determined for industries operating universally. In the studies conducted, it has been determined that ethical rules cause an increase in the financial performance of companies, contribute to business sustainability, and are effective in establishing trust and respect in the business environment. Many ethical principles and rules such as justice, impartiality, equality and honesty, social responsibility, sensitivity, and respectfulness are adopted by businesses, and the ethical rules and practices adopted by each organization as well as each individual may vary. At this point, it is necessary to focus on the factors affecting the determination of which ethical principle will be adopted and put into practice. This study aims to investigate the effect of religion on the adoption and implementation of ethical rules. Each belief has its own values and rules. Looking at the background of ethics, it can be seen that the concepts of ethics and morality are most prominent in religious discourses. In this context, this study aims to investigate the effect of religion on the ethical rules adopted by businesses and the implementation of these rules. The definition of family business, the concept of ethics and ethics/religion in family businesses will be discussed in the study, the results of qualitative research conducted in accordance with the purpose of the study will be included and the results obtained will be interpreted.