According to Edgar Schien a prominent theorist of culture, organisational culture is the collectively learned basic assumptions and beliefs of a group. Elements of organisational culture can include: (a) stated and unstated values; (b) customs and rituals; (c) dialect/terminology (shoptalk) unique to a group; (d) overt and implicit behavioural expectations; and (e) metaphors and symbols. The military is an example of organisational culture with subcultures such as Air Force, ARMY and Navy.
Organisational cultural models suggest reinterpreting ethical differences as a product of different experiences rather than viewing conflicts as “right” verses “wrong.” Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one’s own cultural groups system of beliefs and values as morally superior to others. Influences on ethical behaviour include (a) prior individual development as an ethical person; (b) the organisation as an ethical environment; and (c) implemented procedures that encourage ethical behaviour. Attempting to change someone else’s ethics requires investments of time and resources. Research indicates that observed ethical standards within an organisation will have a significant effect on individual behaviour. Informal values and norms also have a strong influence on individuals’ behaviour likewise do the actions of mentors and leaders within the organisation. Strategic leaders should review and understand that the importance of their actions, more than words alone, will have greatest impact to advocate idolised change in another’s ethics. Cultivating appropriate and rewarding ethical change from another can also be achieved through action, guidance, awareness, analysis and understanding an individuals’ primary and existing assumptions that lead ...
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...omply with jus in bello which illustrates a concrete example of military ethics with just war, providing more than a conceptual theory, rather evidences a correlation between military ethics and a just war.
Works Cited
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Martin L. Cook. The Moral Warrior – Ethics and Service in the U.S. Military (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2004) 21.
The United States Army, in its current state, is a profession of arms. In order to be considered a profession, the organization must have an ethical code rooted in values, strong trust with its clients, and be comprised of experts within the trade. These experts are constantly developing the trade for the present and the future and hold the same shared view of their trade culture. The Army currently has an ethical code embodied in the Army Values, which provides guidance to the individual and the organization. These values are universal across the Army, regardless of an individual’s personal background or religious morals.
In A Tactical Ethic, Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace, author Dick Couch addresses what he believes to be an underlying problem, most typical of small units, of wanton ethical and moral behavior partly stemming from the negative “ethical climate and moral culture” of today’s America (Couch, D., 2010, p. 15). In chapter one, he reveals what A Tactical Ethic will hope to accomplish; that is identify the current ethics of today’s military warriors, highlight what is lacking, and make suggestions about what can be done to make better the ethical behavior of those on the battlefield and in garrison. He touches on some historic anecdotes to highlight the need for high ethics amongst today’s military warriors as well as briefly mentions
Denise Dudzinski, PhD, MTS, Helene Starks, PhD, MPH, Nicole White, MD, MA (2009) ETHICS IN MEDICINE. Retrieved from: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/pad.html
Siegler, M., and W. Winslade. "Ethics in Medicine." Clinical Ethics. By A. R. Jonsen. 7th ed. N.p.:
justice of war and the justice in war in a great depth, and uses numerous historical
The second characteristic of professionalism is responsibility. General responsibility creates the moral responsibility of marines and helps us understand the set of values which guide us. In addition, however, marines must also possess the values of other human beings and question service to a society which does not respect these values. These values include justice, common courtesy, human dignity and humbleness. A government which does not respect these values is illegitimate and cannot be said to serve the society it directs. In the case of United States marines, the values of the United States must be examined in the context of the military profession. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution provide clear statements of these values and Ethics. Ethics are standards by which one should act based on values. Values are core beliefs such as honor, courage, and commitment that motivate attitudes and actions. Not all values...
Steinbock, Bonnie, Alex J. London, and John D. Arras. "The Principles Approach." Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine. Contemporary Readings in Bioethics. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. 36-37. Print.
The just war is a war that is deemed to be morally or theologically justifiable. It is a term created in order to reason about how nations should act within or before a war, such like a guideline. Of course, not every party who participates in a war tends to follow each guideline but, it is a way to keep things clean and fair. The guidelines or central features of a just war falls under two categories, jus ad bellum meaning before war and jus in bellum meaning while in war. Jus ad bellum basically says that it should consist of having right authority, just cause, right intention, proportionality, and hope of success.
War is a hard thing to describe. It has benefits that can only be reaped through its respective means. Means that, while necessary, are harsh and unforgiving. William James, the author of “The Moral Equivalent of War”, speaks only of the benefits to be had and not of the horrors and sacrifices found in the turbulent times of war. James bears the title of a pacifist, but he heralds war as a necessity for society to exist. In the end of his article, James presents a “war against nature” that would, in his opinion, stand in war’s stead in bringing the proper characteristics to our people. However, my stance is that of opposition to James and his views. I believe that war, while beneficial in various ways, is unnecessary and should be avoided at all costs.
The history of Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller is not well known outside of the U.S. Marine Corps, but as the most decorated marine in history his legend will live on and continue to inspire the marines of tomorrow. The enlisted corps has idolized him, frequently encouraging one another to do that last push up when motivated by fellow marines saying “Do one for Chesty!” The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that Chesty, using current day leadership theories, was a visionary and ethical leader who exemplified the characteristics that our nation’s military needed during World War II and still needs today. I will explain how he embodied some principles of Full Range Leadership Development that are taught today. Then I will describe how he demonstrated his ethical leadership through combat actions when faced with general military ethics situations. Finally, I will examine how my own leadership abilities, though noncombat focused, compare to how Chesty led his marines. Let’s begin by exploring the visionary leadership that Lt Gen Puller exhibited.
Ethics refers to the values and customs of a community at a particular point in time. At present, the term ethics is guided by the moral principles that guide our everyday actions. These moral principles guide the researcher into deciding what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The foundation of medical ethics is governed by two philosophical frameworks: deontology, and utilitarianism. However, ultimately, the ethics committees need to balance the risks, and benefits for the participants and the community associated with the particular research proposal.
The just war theory can be broken down into three components: jus ad bellum, jus en bello, and jus post bellum. Translated from Latin, these mean “justice before war, justice in war, and justice after war.” In this way, the Catholic Church is able to reconcile Jesus’s lofty teachings about loving your neighbor and causing no harm with protecting the innocent (Massaro 104).
War has always been, and will always be, a necessary action perpetrated by man. There are many reasons for war: rage, passion, greed, defense, and religion to name a few. When differences cannot be solved or compromised through mediation with an opposing party, war is the last remaining option. Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun wrote in fourteenth-century Spain, that “War is a universal and inevitable aspect of life, ordained by God to the same extent as the sky and the earth, the heat and the cold. The question of whether to fright is not a significant moral question because fighting is constant; the minor decision not to fight this war will be made only in the context of knowing that another war will present itself soon enough because it is simply always there.” (Peter S. Themes. The Just War)
20 Feb. 2014. Nardo, Don. A. Biomedical Ethics.
First, the affect that culture has on ethical behavior. Corporations and individuals, especially corporations doing business globally, must understand and evaluate the cultures of the people with which it wishes to do business in ord...