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:
- first
- Is it the TRUTH?
- second
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- third
- Will it build GOODWILL and
BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- forth
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?"
Declaration
of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions |
