What if someone is an excellent plumber, but often overbills his customers for the hours he works? This plumber will not be in business very long. ExxonMobil believes that the way the company conducts business is as important as the results obtained. For nearly 40 years, the companies now known as ExxonMobil have promoted business ethics and integrity through a 12-page booklet titled "Standards of Business Conduct ." Some of the topics included in this booklet are ethics, antitrust, conflicts of interest, environment, product safety, and alcohol and drug use.

In 1999, Exxon and Mobil merged to form the ExxonMobil Corporation, a multinational giant in almost every aspect of the energy and petrochemical business. With oil and gas explorations on six of seven continents, the company is the largest non-government gas marketer and reserves holder. Fuels are marketed under the Exxon, Mobil, and Esso brands. ExxonMobil regards a well-founded reputation for scrupulous dealing as a valuable company asset.

If all companies established a corporate ethics code, would that eliminate company financial scandals? Why or why not?