Business ethics in small businesses: A case of Adapazari

When the share in total enterprise number and the ratios of providing employment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which have a significant position in the economies of both our country and world countries are taken into account, it is seen that almost all of these two items are fulfilled in this sector. The positive contribution or the negative situation which occurred in adverse conditions, of work ethics to the efficiency, the value in the public opinion and profitability of an enterprise has made it vitally important for enterprises to behave in accordance with work ethics. This study aims to depict how the notion of work ethics whose being has become an issue of existence is perceived in SMEs which have a significant position in the national economy and especially to measure their affinities and distances to the work ethics approaches which are mentioned in the text. Since is not a research a was defmed for this study and the scope was designed as the SMEs which operate in center district of Adapazarl. After the necessary literature was reviewed and theoretical substructure was formed, survey was chosen as the most appropriate method for samples in this size for the application study. By visiting all the enterprises one by one in the survey method which is applied by delivering and receiving by hand; the opportunity of formal interview method in question-answer style was found and the observations and information acquired from this are used. The results which were derived from the findings which were acquired in the end of the study are those: The sample is not significantly prone to Hedonism Approach. Similarly, Pragmatism and Ethical Egoism Approaches are not adopted by the sample. Relativism also was not accepted with a less strength than other three approaches. However, it does not seem convenient to interpret about rights approach. Another result stemming from the study is that some certain ethical norms exist especially in the works which are fulfilled with masterapprentice relations and, in general, in all enterprises although "work ethics" does not exist as a notion in SMEs. However, the institutionalization level of work ethics mentality is not quite high in SMEs.