Final answer:
The statement not true about business values is that a value is subject to a single, concrete definition, which is why they are valuable in decision-making. Values are complex, varying, and culturally dependent, and they inform the ethics and purpose behind business decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
All of the following are true of business values EXCEPT:
- (a) Values help inform the purpose we will fulfill by making particular decisions.
- (b) Ethics are derived from the interplay of a firm’s values.
- (c) A value is subject to a single, concrete definition, which is why they are valuable in decision-making.
- (d) Values are ideas that underlie conversations about business ethics.
- (e) Values are positive abstractions that capture our sense of what is good or desirable.
The statement that is not true about business values is (c) A value is subject to a single, concrete definition, which is why they are valuable in decision-making. Values are in fact not subject to single, concrete definitions; they are complex and can vary among different cultures and individuals. They reflect what is considered good or desirable, which often encompasses a wide range of concepts and interpretations.
Values represent a culture's standard for discerning what is good and just in society. They are critical for teaching a culture's beliefs, and while they suggest how people should behave and what is considered ideal, they do not necessarily reflect real behavior in practice.
Ethical decisions in business are based on the wider understanding that values are representative of a culture, an ideal, and collective beliefs that guide actions and judgments. Therefore, the intrinsic value of business ethics and decisions are never just rooted in singular definitions but are informed by the complex interplay of societal values and ethics.