To realize added value, production activities must occur. In other words, added value arises from production activities. Production involves bringing into existence things that did not previously exist in the world. This can be accomplished by combining existing items to create new ones or by processing raw materials into new products. Production includes physical manufacturing, knowledge generation, and service creation. Wealth represents the accumulation of added value. Consequently, to become wealthy, one must be productive. However, value is determined through relative comparison. A product can only be exchanged if it can be priced, and added value can only be actualized by exchanging this product. This process is referred to as commerce. In other words, it is known as a transaction. Through trade, humanity distributes this added value. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Some question the need for ethics and a mission in business, even when the company is profitable. A transaction involves meeting needs and recognizing values, both of which connect to “morality.” Trust underpins all transactions, and morality is its foundation. While anyone can err, it is our moral obligation to make amends. Though it may be tempting to disregard that morality by persisting in trade, there are decisions that, without an ethical framework, can lead to irreversible consequences. This is not merely a mistake. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”