According to integrative social contracts theory,

a. a company's first duty and responsibility is to be respectful of and responsive to the ethical standards and norms of the each of the countries in which it operates.

b. universal ethical principles or norms based on the collective views of multiple cultures and societies combine to form a "social contract" that is binding on all individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses; however, within the bounds defined by universal ethical principles, there is legitimate room (or "moral free space") for local cultures or groups to specify what other actions may or may not be ethically permissible.

c. the slippery slope of ethical universalism should be rejected and the principles of ethical relativism should be embraced.

d. each country's ethical norms and customs form a "social contract" that all individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses in that country have a duty to observe; this contract draws a clear and bright the line between actions and behaviors that are ethically permissible and those that are not and must be strictly observed in all circumstances in that particular country.

e. the Code of Expected Ethical Conduct developed by the United Nations represents a pragmatic and effective compromise of the best parts of the ethical standards advocated by the school of ethical universalism and the ethical standards advocated by the school of ethical relativism.