Ethics, Leadership, & the Organization

Leadership & Ethics

Ethical Behavior

James Crawford

jcrawford71@cox.net jamescrawford10@skype

What, then, is Ethics?

Ethics is two things. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. And, ethical standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate standards of ethics because they are supported by consistent and well-founded reasons.

Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. So it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.

Source: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html

What, then, is Ethics?

Ethics is two things. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. And, ethical standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate standards of ethics because they are supported by consistent and well-founded reasons.

Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. So it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.

Source: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html

Ethical Decision Making Framework

Source: Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. , Ferrell, L. (2008). Business Ethics. Ethical Decision Making and Cases (7 th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston.

Ethics or Unethical Behavior

Opportunity

Organizational Factors

Organizational Factors

Business Ethics Evaluations and

Intentions

Individual Factors

Ethical Issue Intensity

Ethical Decision Making

Source: Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. , Ferrell, L. (2008). Business Ethics. Ethical Decision Making and Cases (7th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston.

“Leadership, the ability or authority to guide or direct

others toward achievement of a goal, has a significant

impact on ethical decision making.”

Leadership in a Corporate Culture

Source: Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. , Ferrell, L. (2008). Business Ethics. Ethical Decision Making and Cases (7th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston.

Leadership Traits for Ethical Decision Making

Critical Thinking: Can a leader make ethical decisions without these traits? Explain.

Source: http://josephsoninstitute.org/MED/index.html

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_values-based.html

Critical Thinking: Which style is most effective? Least effective? Why?

Source: http://www.gp-training.net/training/leadership/results.htm

Leadership Styles

Source: http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/shared_values.html#GE%20Values%20Guide

Transactional Leadership vs. Transformational Leadership

Spark Question: Can transformational leadership be unethical?

Source: http://www.theahriproshop.com/ss.html

1.Ethical leaders have strong personal character.2. Ethical leaders have a passion to do right.3.Ethical leaders are proactive.4.Ethical leaders consider stakeholders' interests.5.Ethical leaders are role models for the organization's values.6.Ethical leaders are transparent and actively involved in organizational decision making.7.Ethical leaders are competent managers who take a holistic view of the film's ethical culture.

Source: http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/gallop/S08%20Chapter%20Summaries/Chapter%205.pdf

1.Ethical leaders have strong personal character.2. Ethical leaders have a passion to do right.3.Ethical leaders are proactive.4.Ethical leaders consider stakeholders' interests.5.Ethical leaders are role models for the organization's values.6.Ethical leaders are transparent and actively involved in organizational decision making.7.Ethical leaders are competent managers who take a holistic view of the film's ethical culture.

Source: http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/gallop/S08%20Chapter%20Summaries/Chapter%205.pdf

7 Habits of Strong Ethical Leaders7 Habits of Strong Ethical Leaders

Strong Personal Character

Source; http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y8ag4VGcCHo/Sul0oeAM7zI/AAAAAAAACr8/T9lwZaHmErA/s200/

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&tbnh=137&tbnw=159&prev=/images%3Fq%3DEthical%2BLeaders%2Bbefore%2B1960%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1260%26bih%3D632%26tbs

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Ethical Leaders Passion to do What's Right

Source: http://ethisphere.com/?s=questionnaire

Ethical Leaders are Proactive

Source: http://www.pacrao.org/docs/resources/writersteam/EthicalBehaviorforTodaysWorkplace.pdfhttp://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=839319&show=html

Ethical Leaders Consider Stakeholder Interests

Source: http://www.ethicsmanagement.info/content.php?pagina=4&type=0

What An "Ethical Organization" Looks LikeWhat An "Ethical Organization" Looks Like

Source: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/publications/comptrollership-dec2003.asp

Challenges Facing Ethical Leaders

Corporate Culture Communication Style Organization Direction Decision Making Feedback Mechanisms

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Are-You-Handling-The-Five-Biggest-Challenges-Facing-Managers-and-Business-Owners-Today?&id=285712

Source: http://www.research-live.com/talk-normal/4001001.bloglead

Spark Question: How much emphasis does your firm place on CSR?

The world has been utterly transformed in recent years by a phenomenon affecting us all, what we call globalization. Although there was a time when it was possible for citizens of one country to think of themselves as owing no obligation to the people of other nations, admittedly that was long ago. Today national borders have less meaning as issues of trade, environment, and health, along with incredible technological advances of the last century, have left us with a legacy of connectedness we cannot ignore.

The world has been utterly transformed in recent years by a phenomenon affecting us all, what we call globalization. Although there was a time when it was possible for citizens of one country to think of themselves as owing no obligation to the people of other nations, admittedly that was long ago. Today national borders have less meaning as issues of trade, environment, and health, along with incredible technological advances of the last century, have left us with a legacy of connectedness we cannot ignore.

Spark Question: Assume you’re the leader of a Transnational Corp. What is your organizations policy for global ethics?

Source: http://www.cceia.org/resources/transcripts/164.html

Employee PilferingEmployee Pilfering

Source: http://www.stoutsecuritysolutions.com

“Spark” Questions

The following practice questions are designed to spark your thinking about leadership and ethics. They are intended to inspire you to think creatively about the topic. The goal is that your insights with these questions will lead to greater discussions and written papers.

1.What is the most significant influence on ethical behavior in your organization?2.Describe the conditions that prohibit or encourage ethical behavior in a firm.3.How does obedience to authority hinder ethical development?4.Are transactional or transformational leaders more equipped to lead an ethical organization?