|
One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics
in the world is the Rotary 4-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert
J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of a company that was
facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company
mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word
code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional
lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising
and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company
is credited to this simple philosophy.
Herb Taylor became
president of Rotary International in 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted
by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than a hundred languages
and published in thousands of ways. Here it is in English:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
| 1. Is it the TRUTH? |
| |
| 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? |
| |
| 3. Will it build GOOD WILL
and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? |
| |
| 4. Will it be BENEFICAL to
all concerned? |
|
