A difference between business ethics and social responsibility is that business ethics

relates to an individual's or a work group's decisions that society evaluates, whereas social responsibility concerns the impact of an entire business's activities on society.

relates to an individual's values and standards of conduct, whereas social responsibility concerns the values and standards of conduct of an organization as a whole.

is determined solely by an organization itself, whereas a social-responsibility decision is made by an organization's stakeholders.

is a voluntary norm for business organizations, whereas social responsibility is mandatory for every organization.