List The Ethical Issues You Observe
List The Ethical Issues You Obser
Assignment 2: Incident at Morales 1. List the ethical issues you observed in Incident at Morales. 2. From your personal perspective, prioritize these ethical issues from most critical to least critical. 3. Discuss the movie from three additional perspectives: a) Fred’s Perspective, assuming you are Fred, what specific ethical issues do you face, what considerations should you have, and from whom or where should you seek guidance? b) Wally’s Perspective, assuming you are Wally, what specific ethical issues does Wally face, what was his motivation for having “One Rule,” what do you think about this rule, and what decisions would you change if you were Wally? c) Responsibility Perspective, if you were in charge with authority and funding, what steps would you take to improve company culture, who would you involve, and how and when would you communicate these policies to employees, clients, and the public?
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The incident at Morales reflects complex ethical issues rooted in organizational culture, individual integrity, accountability, and leadership responsibilities. Analyzing this incident involves identifying ethical lapses, prioritizing issues based on severity, exploring diverse perspectives, and proposing constructive changes to foster a more ethical organizational environment.
Introduction
The Morales incident pertains to a scenario where ethical boundaries within an organization were challenged, possibly involving misconduct, dishonesty, or neglect of ethical standards. Understanding these issues requires a comprehensive examination from multiple viewpoints to ensure that the organizational culture aligns with ethical best practices. This paper explores the key ethical issues, ranks them in terms of urgency, and discusses perspectives from Fred, Wally, and organizational responsibility, culminating in strategic recommendations for fostering ethical integrity.
Ethical Issues Observed
The first step in analyzing the Morales incident is to delineate the observed ethical issues. These might include breaches of honesty, conflicts of interest, neglect of duty, lack of transparency, and failure to uphold organizational values. For instance, if employees or leaders engaged in misrepresentation or covert actions, this would constitute a breach of fundamental ethical principles such as honesty and fairness (Trevino & Nelson, 2021).
Additionally, organizational pressures or a culture that permits or rewards unethical behavior can exacerbate these issues, making it crucial to scrutinize the underlying motivations and systemic factors. An ethical analysis also considers the impact on stakeholders, including employees, clients, and the public, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity and accountability.
Prioritizing Ethical Issues
From a personal perspective, the ethical issues observed can be prioritized based on their potential harm and the urgency of intervention. At the top of the list might be dishonesty or deception, as this undermines trust and damages stakeholder confidence. Following this, conflicts of interest and neglect of duty could be deemed less critical but still significant, as they compromise the fairness and effectiveness of organizational operations.
Factors influencing this prioritization include the scope of impact, legal implications, and the potential for long-term reputational damage. Addressing the most critical issues first ensures that immediate risks are mitigated, and a foundation for organizational integrity is established.
Perspectives from Different Stakeholders
Fred’s Perspective
Assuming the role of Fred, an employee or a concerned stakeholder, the specific ethical issues faced might include dilemmas surrounding honesty, transparency, and loyalty. Fred may grapple with whether to expose misconduct or to remain silent to protect his position (Kidder, 2005). Considerations should include legal obligations, personal integrity, and the potential repercussions for himself and others.
Seeking guidance from professional codes of ethics, human resources, or trusted mentors would be advisable. Legal counsel or ethics committees can also serve as valuable resources to navigate difficult decisions responsibly.
Wally’s Perspective
Assuming the role of Wally, whose motivation for having “One Rule” (which might be to prioritize loyalty or success over ethical concerns), Wally faces dilemmas related to justification, rationalization, and consequences of this rule (Baier, 1985). The “One Rule” could be perceived as a pragmatic approach to organizational success, but it risks enabling unethical behavior.
My view on Wally’s “One Rule” is that, while understandable in high-pressure environments, it might perpetuate unethical practices if it dismisses integrity. If I were Wally, I would reconsider this rule, emphasizing transparency, fairness, and accountability to align actions with ethical standards (Ferrell et al., 2015).
Responsibility Perspective
As a leader with the authority and resources, implementing comprehensive policies that promote ethical behavior would be essential. Steps could include establishing a clear code of ethics, providing ongoing ethics training, and creating a safe environment for reporting misconduct without fear of retaliation.
Involving stakeholders such as employees, HR, legal advisors, and possibly external ethics consultants would foster buy-in and compliance. Communication should be transparent, consistent, and ongoing, with policies introduced during staff meetings, incorporated into onboarding processes, and publicly shared through corporate websites and press releases (Kaptein, 2011). The timing of these communications should coincide with policy implementation to ensure clarity and buy-in from all parties.
Conclusion
Analyzing the Morales incident underscores the importance of ethical vigilance at all organizational levels. Prioritizing issues, considering diverse perspectives, and proactively implementing cultural reforms can mitigate risks and enhance integrity. Cultivating an organizational culture rooted in ethical principles is an ongoing process that demands leadership commitment, stakeholder engagement, and transparent communication.
References
- Baier, A. (1985). Moral Prejudices: Essays on Ethics. Harvard University Press.
- Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2015). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
- Kaptein, M. (2011). Understanding Ethics in Organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(2), 187-197.
- Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices. HarperCollins.
- Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2021). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How to Do It Right. Wiley.