Do you believe that there is a universally right set of core values that apply to all companies? Why? Or Why not?

If you are a man of good character, beautiful, if you're an honest man, conscientiously, if you have God in your heart, if you are hardworking, If you are educated and you have one gram of wisdom, sure you know what to do, when, and how.

Generally yes, there are many fine values, such as courtesy, confidence, ingenuity, thrift, and so on. The trouble is that the list of values grows easily and can cause many employees to lose their focus. They fail to prioritize. A "short list" of values is far more useful in putting the workplace back on track.

Moreover, when the core values exceed four or five points, it becomes difficult to communicate and reinforce them. The following are five candidates for the practical values having foremost importance:

1. Integrity
2. Accountability
3. Diligence
4. Perseverance
5. Discipline

Theoritically  Yes, but ALL THE CORE VALUES are just black lines written on white papers.

And Practically NO, because the only core value of company is to earn profit and nothing else. For example, lets take CSR ( Corporate Social Responsibilites) do you think it is followed ethically ?

So it would be better to clear our minds that EXCEPT EARNING PROFITS BY THIS OR BY THAT comes in the core values of companies. 

yes, but industry , services industry may have some affect on the core values,,,,, basics remain the same

Generally yes but it differs from field to field and from company to company ....etc.

in another word any company must have a vision , mission and these are a general concepts

Yes, there can be basic core values that every company follow such as Integrity, Honesty, Treating people, etc.

There may be additional core values based on the industry the company serves..

100 % AGREE with Arinjay Dadhich. 

On paper and in terms of company statement and vison : Yes but the bold truth is that MAKING MONEY IS THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR75 %. Look behind the picture. 

I can see from your generous contributions that some treated Personal (Human) Values in the same way as Company Values and some companies do use some Personal values as being Company Values. Within that context I can also see the merit in their responses.

I look at them as two things and within that context, I don't believe that there is universally right set of core (company) values that apply to all companies. The point is that a great company decides for itself what values it holds to be core, largely independent of the current environment, competitive requirements, or management fads.

A company need not have as its core value customer service (Sony doesn’t) or respect for the individual (Disney doesn’t) or quality (Wal-Mart Stores doesn’t) or market focus (HP doesn’t) or teamwork (Nordstrom doesn’t). A company might have operating practices and business strategies around those qualities without having them at the essence of its being. Furthermore, great companies need not have likable or humanistic core values, although many do.

Do you believe that there is a universally right set of core values that apply to all companies?

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour,environment and anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary driver of globalization, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.

As social, political and economic challenges (and opportunities) — whether occurring at home or in other regions — affect business more than ever before, many companies recognize the need to collaborate and partner with governments, civil society, labour and the United Nations.

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:

Human Rights

Principle1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

Principle2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.  

Labour

Principle3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

Principle4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

Principle5: the effective abolition of child labour; and

Principle6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.  

Environment

Principle7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

Principle8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

Principle9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.   

Anti-Corruption

Principle10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. 

Agree with Mr. Zafar Abbas

Yes, the main goal of all facilities is about maximum customer satisfaction at the minimum cost possible 

that means the maximum profit for the company