Personal Ethics Development
Personal Ethics Development
My personal ethical system is consequentialist and can be classified under the utilitarianism system. In this ethical system the focus is in achieving the maximum happiness. In the system, rules are followed for the benefit of the majority, but if faced with an ethical dilemma then societal rules are disregarded for the system. Ethical dilemmas are situations or choices that one faces where there is no right or wrong choice (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). For instance, one might be caught in a choice of whether to expose your best friend to the school authority after stealing exams or just keeping quiet. Although it is easier to be loyal and just keep quiet, it is very unethical and hence the choice becomes an ethical dilemma.
The primary principles of utilitarian ethical system are: using ‘intuitive’ moral thinking, promoting the least evil or harm, measuring the utility of a choice or population, and satisfaction of a choice rather than entire happiness if it is elusive (Ferrel & Fraedrich, 2011). Morals in this system are guided by scientific principles where there is no distinction between wrong or right choice prior to a problem. Right or wrong choices are decided upon when an action requiring a decision has occurred; hence the system has no pre-determined laws on morality. Scientific principles used here are recognizing the dilemma, analysing it, and concluding through deciding on the choice makes the major people happy or satisfied (Ferrel & Fraedrich, 2011).
There are many sources that helped me shape my ethics. The educational system which I have been involved in has been a major source of my ethical system. Ever since I was a young person at elementary school, emphasis has been in empirical analysing before decision making. This strategy promotes consequentialism where the results of actions have to be looked into before decision is made. For instance, at school it is considered bad to talk in the classroom because the majority students would be disturbed when they want to do their private studies. My family is another source of my ethics where my parents have encouraged me to use my knowledge to come up with decisions that promote lesser harm to the majority. For instance, coming home hungry from a long day’s work and finding little food. A dilemma ensues where you can ether eat the whole food or eat a little and leave a little for someone else who will come after you. Therefore, my family taught me to always look out for the happiness of the majority and so I would always eat little and leave food for someone to find something after me. This habit always promoted trust and promoted happiness and satisfaction in the household.
Several events have also shaped by ethical system like when I was working as an intern at a local hospitality firm; the manager had an ethical dilemma of convincing a woman Muslim waiter to remove her hijab while working. The action of the Muslim was right on a religious perspective but it was wrong for the manager to allow her to serve clients with that attire because of security and employment policies. The dilemma was solved by the manager offering the employee a job in the back room away from clients. This was beneficial to everyone as clients would be happy and more comfortable, and other employees would feel the rules were fairly applied.
Apart from learning the basic concepts of utilitarian principles from learning institutions, my family, and working environment, there are other factors that enabled me to revise my ethical system. The factors include: number of people affected by an ethical decision or action, duration and intensity of pain or pleasure, and chances of the pain or pleasure appearing again. If the number of people affected by the action is high then, I would act against the action. Also, if the duration and intensity of the pain is very high then the decision would be against the action. Similarly, I would take the same action if the probability of the action to reoccur is high.
The utilitarianism ethics system is very effective in an organization that treasures team-work and commitment (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). In this case, focusing on satisfaction and maximum happiness of everyone in the workplace at the expense of personal happiness will enable organizational goals to be achieved faster without conflict. In addition, the system promotes well-being in an organization where the majority of employees would always be motivated and happy to work in the company; hence lower turnover rates. For instance, if I got a job as an executioner in the death row prison might be against my belief which is preservation of life, but I will continue to work so as to achieve goals of the prison and to provide for my family. My family and the prison represent a greater population that I have to make happy at the expense of myself which is a lesser number.
Importance of ethics
In an organization, ethics are important as they enhance public relations, reduce theft, and lead in attracting and retaining the best human resource (Ferrel & Fraedrich, 2011). In the public relations criteria, an organization that insists of proper ethical systems has the confidence of the public. There is less corporate cynicism which comes about by the lack of confidence on the intentions of corporates. For instance, if a company comes with a corporate social responsibility program that requires protection of the environment, the public would have confidence and support the program if the company had ethics. Theft reduction would be reduced and culprits quickly identified if managers integrated a proper ethics. Furthermore, the protection of human rights and comfortable working environment would assist in attracting and retaining the best employees.
In achieving an organizational goals and directives, there are some strategies that must be implemented to integrate ethics. Ethics can be integrated through programs such as: seminars, educational retreats, usage of case studies, and reward schemes (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). Seminars can be planned monthly or bi-monthly with an aim of discussing importance of ethics in organizations, and ways they can best be integrated in the company. Educational retreats can be organized monthly founded on ethical norms such as loyalty, teamwork, societal responsibility, and environmental safety. Also, companies that have integrated ethics in their culture can be studied and their integration strategies customized to suit the company. Lastly, reward schemes can be used to encourage employees to follow certain ethical guidelines. For instance, the best work group in societal empowerment can be given bonuses.
References
Ferrel, O.C., Fraedrich, J.F (2011). Business Ethics: Ethical decision making & cases (9th ed.). Ohio: Cengage Learning. Pp. 5-178
Trevino, L.K., & Nelson, K.A. (2007). Managing business ethics: straight talk about doing it right (4th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Pp. 2-121
