Politics and Ethics In the Workplace
In the vast world of business there is a constant and inevitable struggle to achieve a more powerful position or leadership role. Power is the shear essence of most corporate endeavors and the need for more power drives most individuals to excel at their current positions, so they may catapult to the next level. The ability to obtain a powerful position solidifies the feeling of having control over the future of your career and well being. Power is a multifaceted resource that most individuals crave, and would go to any lengths to obtain. Although it is important to solidify your future, you must also remain ethically and morally sound while doing so.
Having read a scenario from a case study that proposed an ethical dilemma, I found that the rise for power and political gain in the workplace can test both an individual’s ethical judgment and strength. The issue here is that Michael is faced with an ethical dilemma regarding whether or not to participate in politics in order to capture a higher position within another sector of his organization. He is aware that his opponent Danielle has entered workplace politics at full speed, and is using every opportunity to gain leverage against Michael. The executive that will choose the best person for the position is Pierre, who is fair and diligent when choosing the appropriate candidate for the job.
Michael however, has a real problem with trying to strategically place himself at the center of Pierre’s attention for the U.S. job. He has observed Danielle making great strides to win over Pierre by attracting him with her new ideas and the social alliances she is making within the company.
Gomes and Grant are not the only two employees that have faced an ethical issue in the workplace, employees in numerous different organizations encounter similar dilemmas. However, they should all consider the consequences that will follow if they choose to act unethically. Rather, employees should possess and abide by a code of ethics so as not to potentially put their reputation and future in danger along with that of the organizations they work for.
Pfeiffer, R., & Forsberg, R. (2005). Ethics on the job: cases and strategies (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
The case study of Jacob Franklin, aged 25, offers an analysis of how unethical decisions can damage a company and the repercussions that these decisions cause. Jacob was aware of the unethical situations happening around him, but he was new and unexperienced to the business and it seems that at some point, his hands were tight and he did not have much control to change them. On the other hand, he had plenty of opportunities to make ethical decisions.
Over the last several years it has been difficult to ignore the recent abuse of power, corruption and unethical behaviors by individuals in corporate America and government. To deny bad leadership without taking corrective action may catapult others to continue exhibiting these behaviors. Based on the reading by Kellerman (2004), American...
Moral and ethical leaders are essential for any successful business because these leaders are the essential links between the organization’s objectives and its stakeholders. Leaders are the face of any organization, and their actions reflect the values and the ethics the organization they represent. Therefore, if a leader’s action and decision is ethical, the stakeholders and other organizations will respect the leader and the organization. Recent history has shown that ethical behaviors are important in sustaining businesses; large corporations such as Enron, Chevron, and Worldcom, destroyed people’s lives through unethical business behaviors (Josephson, M., 2013). If these corporations and its executives have operated morally and ethically, they would have been able to avoid bankruptcy and escaped going to prison (The Economist, 2002). Having ethical leadership in organizations will help to eliminate the negative impact executive’s gre...
Ethical behavior is behavior that a person considers to be appropriate. A person’s moral principals are shaped from birth, and developed overtime throughout the person’s life. There are many factors that can influence what a person believes whats is right, or what is wrong. Some factors are a person’s family, religious beliefs, culture, and experiences. In business it is of great importance for an employee to understand how to act ethically to prevent a company from being sued, and receiving criticism from the public while bringing in profits for the company. (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, & Langvardt, 2010) Business ethics is when ethical behavior is applied in an business environment, or by a business. There are many situations that can arise in which a person is experiencing an ethical dilemma. They have to choose between standing by their own personal ethical standards or to comply with their companies ethical standards. In some instances some have to choose whether to serve their own personal interests, or the interest of the company. In this essay I will be examining the financial events surrounding Bernie Madoff, and the events surrounding Enron.
I wholeheartedly agree with the results from the study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology by Katherine A. DeCelles and her co-authors in 2012; which concluded that power does not corrupt; it heightens pre-existing ethical tendencies. I believe this because I have personally experienced both sides of the coin as it pertains to power. I mentioned one example above which was a negative experience. I have also had positive experiences which showed that persons who are ethical and honest use their power to lead by example and are positively influential as
When a person is in power, situations arouse where they can acquire anything by lying, bribing, conning, or stealing. With these in mind anybody in power could easily become a powerful foe.
For this paper Washington Mutual has been selected to show how the ethical decision making process can be achieve. When it comes to business ethics in the workplace Washington Mutual has designed what can be considered a well balanced workplace with behaviors that are aligned with their moral values and business ethics. Business ethics are sometimes depicted as resolving conflicts where one option can appear to be the correct choice. There are many different ethical dilemmas that are faced by managers and leaders everyday that are highly complex and have no clear choice or guidelines to assist in making the choices for resolution. There are times when an employee has to decide whether or not to cheat, lie, steal, or break their contract. These ethical decisions are real-life situations where they are forced to make on a daily basis. This is why it is ultimately important that all employee know the six steps to ethical decision making that the company uses.
Many ethical dilemmas are philosophical in nature, an ethical issue can be described as a problem with no clear resolution. In order to solve the issue or dilemma a consensus between the parties involved must be reached. There are several reasons to come to an agreement over an ethical dilemma, it is the basis for all aspects of personal and professional dealings. Each one of us is part of a civilized society and as such it is our responsibility to be rational, honest and loyal in our dealings with others. (Alakavuklar, 2012) states that individuals make decisions for different situations in business life involving various ethical dilemmas. Each time either consciously or unconsciously individuals may follow some ethical approaches
The literature generally suggests that effective leaders express their needs and motives in ways that benefit the organization. These needs or motives, are considered to be; tenacity, power, drive and work ethic (DuBrin et al. 2006). The power motive is significant, as it plays a major role in the relations taking place within the organization. Power over others is an inevitable part of leadership, but it also carries with it the risks associated with the misuse or abuse of power (Wikipedia, 2008).
Everyone in this world has experienced an ethical dilemma in different situations and this may arise between one or more individuals. Ethical dilemma is a situation where people have to make complex decisions and are influenced based on personal interest, social environment or norms, and religious beliefs (“Strategic Leadership”, n.d.). The leaders and managers in the company should set guidelines to ensure employees are aware and have a better chance to solve and make ethical decisions. Employees are also responsible in understanding their ethical obligations in order to maintain a positive work environment. The purpose of this case study is to identify the dilemma and analyze different decisions to find ways on how a person should act
In Module 1, Kindred Todd faced quite a few ethical dilemmas that included her values and technical ineptness. The first predicament was tested her personal morals and ethics. According to, Cumming and Worley, OD practitioners are dealing more and more with value conflicts with powerful outside groups (Cummings & Worley, 2008). Kindred was immediately faced with the issue of knowing what was ethically correct but being told the unethical approach was the best in order to benefit the client and her job security. Although compromising is one of the many skills of organization developers there are still morals that should be followed on each assignment. Kindred, know that deceiving the clients was unethical, took the first step to working on behalf of the client and immediately involved her superior, Larry, to resolve a potential conflict In the project. While her actions went in vain when she told her boss to remove her from the project and provide the client with a more qualified resource, Kindred did what she thought to be the best approach.
Legitimate Power – This is power that comes from holding a position within an organization
When I think of ethics, I think of the angel on my left shoulder telling me to do the “right” thing, and the devil on my right, tempting me to join the dark side. This scenario deals with what is “right” or what is “wrong” and where my morals will lie in the end. But who is to say what is right and wrong? Ethics is such a trivial word because every person, company, and culture has a different idea of what is considered ethical or what is considered unethical. Throughout this paper, I will address my personal view on ethics, and how I believe it effects the workplace and today’s society.