Dear Top Leadership Team,
I am writing to you with the objective to address my concerns in regards to the compliance with our Corporate Code of Ethical Standards and in view of increasing complexity of organizations. There is no need to explain that recent Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) that took place in the Kuehne & Nagel (K&N) organization put a lot of pressure on our organizational identity and shared values culture. New colleagues, that recently joined the company, are not yet well aware of the standards of Ethical Decision Making Protocol. We, as the TLT, should be able to pass this message across the organization, creating an open and transparent channel of communication. Only transparency and guidance will enable smooth alignment of individual values and organizational business decisions.
There is no need to discuss with our team the reasons why the Code of Ethics exists, but rather address some of the critical issues and tools that should become the principal drivers in K&N decision-making process. The objective of this document is to reinforce our Ethical Decision Making Framework and further arrange departmental training on the subject. In order to ensure that the decision-making process in the company is clear, it is important to reinforce the three ethical principles that drive our company: respect individuality and diversity, prioritize Health, Safety and Security and treat others, how you would like to be treated. This framework is not a restrictive measure, but a guide for our team to ensure that decisions are made with clearly set values and arguments and that the framework is focusing on means rather than ends (Brusseau, 2011).
When we try to look at the business decision-making process, TLT should be able to set an example by applying a structural tool. First, it is critical to identify the ethical issue that surrounds the business decision. Secondly, the decision-maker should be able to identify the possible solutions to this ethical problem and try to foresee potential issues that may prevent him or her from resolving the situation. Often, in this situation, seeking for external and third-party advice can play a critical role in determining the best approach. We should empower our colleagues to consult and receive a feedback from their direct managers, co-workers and Human Resource Department (HRD) and to do that, Ethical Decision making framework should be explicitly communicated across the organization and available for new colleagues, coming from M&A. Final step in K&N Ethical Decision Framework is to choose the best approach to the resolution of the ethical problem that should be consistent with the Code of Conduct of the company. Moreover, every time the business decision is made, an individual, which makes a choice, should ensure that he feels comfortable about the example that his approach sets for the future and the impact that it has on organizational image.
Ethical Business Decision Making is the paramount part of the K&N shared values culture, and we should remember that the choices we make today will affect us, our community and our colleagues tomorrow. The suggested framework will help to build on the core values, which we mentioned before. First, it will enable respect to diversity is the key to successful business decision, by promoting inclusion and feedback from colleagues. Secondly, the framework is built in a way to test the beliefs and standpoint of the decision-maker and ensure that the solution is a result of an embracing analysis of the options. This ensures focus on Health, Safety and Security. Finally, our framework suggests that each decision should go through the process of analysis of ‘fit’ into the organizational culture that involves asking the right questions and challenging the best approach. This reverse test of consequences will ensure that the decision, taken by the individuals or groups are the ones that they would like to see being taken by others and, thus, treat others like they would like to be treated.
Works Sited
James Brusseau. The Business Ethics Workshop. Flat World Knowledge, 2011. Print.
