Which term signifies a commitment to follow established moral standards in actions and decisions?

The term that signifies a commitment to follow established moral standards in actions and decisions is ethics. This concept encompasses the principles that guide behavior in both personal and professional contexts, emphasizing the importance of adhering to values such as honesty, fairness, and respect for others. Ethics provide a framework for evaluating actions and making choices that align with what is considered right or wrong in society.

While integrity, authority, and leadership are also important characteristics in professional settings, they do not specifically define the commitment to moral standards in the same way ethics does. Integrity is often viewed as a personal quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, but ethics refers to the broader system of standards and rules that determine what is considered acceptable behavior. Authority relates more to the power or right to give orders and make decisions, and leadership involves guiding or influencing a group. However, ethics fundamentally underpins all of these concepts by establishing the moral foundation for behavior and decision-making within any of these roles.