Business ethics are not divorced from personal ethics, which are generally accepted principles of right and wrong governing the conduct of individuals. our personal ethical code exerts a profound influence on the way we behave as businesspeople. why do managers behave in an unethical manner? there is no simple answer to this question, for the causes are complex, but some generalizations can be made. many managers have made poor ethical decisions while engaged in international business. many of these ethical issues are rooted in the variations among nations in their political systems, law, economic development, and culture. what is considered normal practice in one nation may be considered unethical in another.