Ethical Decision Making

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Introduction

Ethical decision making process has been a paramount criteria that must be given due consideration if there should arise an occurrence of the organisations. To ensure ethical decision making in an organisation, one must first accept how individuals settle on ethical decisions in an organisational environment. It is often expected that individuals in organisations settle on ethical decisions in the same way that they settle on ethical decisions at home and in their personal lives. The success of an organization to a larger extent depends upon the ability of its management to take good and effective decisions (Kinicki 2008, 249-50).

Ethics, the heart of leadership, as reflected in the title of the 1998 leadership book by Joanne B. Ciulla. Indeed, ethics and leadership should go as an inseparable unit. In her book, Ethics, the Heart of Leadership, Joanne Ciulla (2004) defines good as “morally good and technically good or effective” (Ciulla, 2004, p. 13). Ciulla believes ethics is the heart of leadership and a good leader is ethical and effective. Since the meaning of leadership is expressed in such a variety of comparable ways Ciulla brings up these definitions ought to now be balanced for good leadership in light of the fact that absence of ethics appear to be today's issue.

In his book Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership, Craig E. Johnson utilizes the similarity of heroes and villains when examining how leaders endeavour to influence change.
“The power that comes from being a leader can also be used for evil as well as good. When one assumes the benefits of leadership, one also assumes ethical burdens, “he affirms. In making ethical decisions, the leader tries to cast “light” not “shadow.” Despite the fac...

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...constant reminders of the importance of good ethics, participative decision-making should be applied. This will permit employees and managers to emulate the teachings they are given. Participative decision-making might be utilized with the decision making template. The more individuals creating alternative solutions and anticipating outcomes, the more likely the group will discover the best solution for any issue.

Ultimately, the ideal solution for promoting ethical comportment is not a punitive one, but a positive approach by the leaders of organisations. An ethical demeanour must be practiced by the leaders and modelled by those they lead. Ethical decision making ought to be acknowledged and rewarded. Ethics and leadership are united, and as Cuilla (1998), noted, ethics is the heart of leadership. One must return to that philosophy and make ethics a way of life.

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