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Each enterprise should:
- Be started by a person (or persons) with a vision.
- Have a purpose (other than just to make money).
- Generate a product or provide a service that is beneficial.
- Customers should benefit from the output of the enterprise.
- Suppliers should benefit from the procurements of the enterprise.
- Employees should benefit from expending their time, talent, and effort on behalf of the enterprise.
- Owners should benefit from the risk they have invested in the enterprise.[1]
- Have a game plan.
- Have a publicly visible and identifiable leader.
- Be a positive contributor to society.
- Require work be expended.
- Provide employment for one or more persons - including the owner(s).
- Be free of unnecessary regulation;[2]
Readily comply with necessary regulation.
- Be allowed to set its prices such that it has an opportunity to make a reasonable profit.
- Be able to earn a profit that is commensurate with the value of the work expended.
- Expect to participate on a level playing field.
- Be protected from unfair competition;
Not be protected from fair competition.
- Be able to attract more customers;
Be able to attract customers from a competitor by providing more desirable value.
- Be willing to earn fewer points than a more worthy competitor.
- Be permitted to introduce new ideas for its products, processes, and services.
- Play fair in the marketplace.
- Follow the golden rule (or equivalent).
- Respect its neighbors, its neighbors' property, its neighbors' rights, ....
- Treat its suppliers, customers, employees, other business associates fairly.
- Pay for its fair share of benefits received from society, government, etc.
- Tell people factual information about its products and services.
- Be accountable for its actions;
Be accountable for the results of its actions.
- Pay for any damages it causes.
- Not benefit from unfair advantages.
- Not benefit from unfair actions on its behalf.
- Exhibit good citizenship.
- Protect the health and safety of its employees, customers, and neighbors.
- Be faithful to its employees, customers, suppliers, ....
- Pay its bills in a timely fashion.
- Respect, and be respected by, its peers.
- Take risks but only prudent risks.
- Reward customers for repeat business, prompt payment, etc.
- Reward employees for extra effort.
- Be proud of its work.
- Continuously improve it products, services, and general contribution to society.
| Notes: |
| [1]
| Unfortunately, too many "owners" of large corporate enterprises have not actually invested in the enterprise itself. They have only invested (through their favorite bookie) in "speculation" of the future value of company ownership. (See Stakeholders.) |
| [2]
| Undoubtedly no regulations would be necessary if the world consisted only of good people (good intentions, good ethics, good morals, good integrity) but, unfortunately that is not the case.
(See "Do we really need regulations?") |
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