Introduction
Ethics includes norms, values, and principles that define professional interactions within an organization (PĂUN, 2014). The ethics explain what to do when one faces an ethical issue. This easy will examine the ethical issues of Education First (EF) Company and suggest management responses that will reduce or eliminate unethical practices. Additionally, the essay will analyze the strengths and weakness of the company.
Types of ethical issues within EF Company
Every organization faces different ethical dilemmas according to its operation and employees. Importantly, the beliefs, values and compliance level of the employees determine the nature and frequency of the ethical dilemmas. Education First Company faces various ethical issues as it strives to offer quality services to all students. The ethical issues of EF mainly lie in the management, technology, culture, and safety. Ideally, the company combines students from various parts of the world who have different cultures and values. Also, it relies on technology to connect students, tutors, and other stakeholders. Hence, the company faces lots of challenges in its operations, and it requires establishing moral guidelines to solve the ethical dilemmas. The EF ethical issues include;
Management
The leadership of the EF faces various ethical dilemmas since it has the responsibility of making decisions and planning. The administration of EF has to plan, organize, communicate, hire and motivate employees as well as enroll students. In these activities, the company faces situations where it has to determine what is wrong or right. Also, the company faces matters of fairness, justice and honesty. Even within the leadership, the leaders face issues that require ethical decisions.
Ethics is desirable in the management to inspire other stakeholders of the company including students and tutors to operate ethically. Additionally, the management has a corporate social responsibility (CSR). If the management observes the set ethics, it will realize the CRS which includes making profits, operating ethically, obeying the law, and practicing philanthropy (Carroll, 1979).
Managers should be ethical to ensure they practices openness in various roles such as offering a detailed report and budget to the stakeholders. Other reasons for ethics in management include the trust creation, instilling confidence, elimination of oppression and unfairness, and creating a good public image (Kidder, 2001). These reasons will help to determine if a manager is ethical and moral.
Technology
The Education First strives to use technology to connect students and tutors in a global space. The company relies on an IT team (NEMO) which as the responsibility of handling all network related issues. However, the reliance on IT still poses some ethical problems and moral predicaments. First, the company may face ethical issues based on their data. Other organizations and governments may have access to the students and tutors data. When malicious individuals get access to the data through hacking or other ways, the company may experience tremendous ethical dilemmas. Also, the privacy of the institution data is usually at risk. It is not clear what privacy measure EF uses to ensure unauthorized persons do not access the collected data.
Since EF deals with students and tutors from different parts of the world, there may be cases of database merge. Further, there may be an exchange of data between various stakeholders of the company. These factors raise ethical issues and predicaments of the IT systems. Ownership of the collected data is also another problem that arises. Education First entrusts NEMO to handle all the company’s data. If the handlers claim ownership of the data, EF may face an ethical dilemma. The company should also inform the students and tutors how it will use the collected information. Most importantly, the stakeholders should be aware of how the company intends to manipulate or edit the information, and they should also sign an agreement.
Most of the ethical issues that arise due to technologies revolve around data collection, storage, processing and transfer. That calls for proper data management and signing of agreements since EF entrusts other parties to handle its information.
Culture
Education First Company manages students and tutors from different parts of the world. These groups of people have diverse cultures and hence, the company may face ethical dilemmas. However, the company has a mission of breaking down the barriers of culture, language and geography (Education First, n. d.). This mission is mainly meant to solve ethical dilemmas that arise between individuals. Cultural, ethical dilemmas arise since different cultures have differing beliefs, norms, values, and practices. Also, different individuals have divergent views regarding interactions, illegal practices, and education.
EF solves these cultural issues by bringing together students and tutors from over 122 countries. Also, teaching different cultures and languages eliminates ethical dilemmas that may arise due to culture. Nevertheless, the company needs to innovate ways of dealing with the varying cultural beliefs and practices among the students and tutors.
Safety
Security is a fundamental aspect of every business and especially organizing that use modern technologies like the EF. Safety is critical in the handling the company’s information and funds. Ethical dilemmas arise when the company loses money through electronic transfer. Also, the company faces moral issues in the adjustment of costs. Notably, EF is keen to eliminate these ethical issues. The company relies on third -party payment operators to process purchases and also to collect donations. Additionally, EF utilizes its online site to collect payments and gather information.
Despite these methods, computer crimes may still impact the company's operations negatively. Hacking or cyber crime can still expose EF to moral issues. Thus, EF has to adopt measures that will ensure total safety when collecting payments, donations, and information.
Suggested Management Responses
EF can establish and implement different measures to compact the possible ethical dilemmas. The management should involve all employees and stakeholders of the organization when enacting the measures. Most importantly, a good understanding among the company stakeholders will ensure efficient compliance with the code of ethics. The suggested management responses include;
Be aware of the issues
The Education First should have the knowledge of the existing ethical issues. The understanding of the issues will ensure proper innovations are taken to prevent ethical dilemmas. The administrators should look into the background of an issue and seek all possible causes. That will also allow EF to evaluate alternatives to the issues. The management may have to interview different stakeholders of the company in a bid to understand the situation.
Make an ethical framework
After the administration identifies the issues and their causes, it should implement an ethical framework to handle the situation. The moral framework might be a code of ethics that defines how to handle a particular issue. The ethics should also determine what is wrong and right for a given situation. Ideally, the principles should consist of dos and do not’s when the organization faces an ethical dilemma. It should also offer examples of situations with the right and wrong action in the specific dilemma.
Be consistent
The company should show consistency in the observance of the implemented framework. It should have a culture of operating ethically in all its departments. The administration should lead the other employees by example. When the organization develops a culture of ethics, ethical dilemmas will be minimized or eliminated.
Well communicate
After the implementation of the code of ethics code, there should be sufficient communication to ensure all stakeholders of the company understand its provisions. Seminars, workshops, and online conferences are ideal platforms for the communication. All interested parties including students and tutors should be encouraged to attend. The company can elect an ethics officer who will steer the communication of the principles. Ideally, all stakeholders should strive to understand the principles. The employees should practice peer discussion to promote understanding of the established ethics.
Remain caution
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Education First has many qualified tutors from different parts of the world. These instructors help to train students different languages which they enroll. Also, EF has access to technology that allows it to accomplish its operations. The technology enables EF to collect payments, donations and offer students a chance to register or request information online. Additionally, the company is readily available through its site. That allows interactions between the administration and people from other parts of the world. Further, EF offers value to students through trips and free brochures. This strength enables the company to reach more students and realize the advantages of ethics.
Weaknesses
First, EF does not accept students from all countries around the world. Thus, it is not accessible to some students who may want to acquire an abroad degree. The curriculum is not stretched to accommodate all students. Ideally, some student failure to enroll or book a chance in EF since it does not have a course that they require. The company does not offer scholarships which limit its reach. Accepting students from different cultures is also a weakness of EF. These students pose challenges in running the institution. These shortcomings raise moral issues in interactions during learning.
Conclusion
Education First faces various ethical issues including management, culture, safety and technology. These factors threaten to result in ethical dilemmas since there is an interaction between the students, tutors, and the administration. However, the company can implement different methods to deal with these challenges including being aware of the issues, establishing an ethical framework, being consistent, proper communication and remaining consistent. The strengths of EF include culture diversity, accessibility through the site and availability of many tutors. However, the EF faces some weaknesses which include lack of curriculum diversification, threats of online data and lack of scholarships for students.
References
Carroll, A. B. (1997). A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate social performance. Academy of Management Review. Balckwell Publishers: Oxford.
Education First: Our company. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.ef.co.uk/about-us/our-company/
Lindorff, M. (2007). The ethical impact of business and organisational research: The forgotten methodological issue?. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 5(1), 21-28.
Kidder, R.M. (2001). Ethics is not optional. Association Management. Washington. 53(13), 30-32.
PĂUN, C. (2014). Ethics - Conceptual Delimitations and Use in the Educational System. Valahian Journal Of Economic Studies, 5(2), 105-112.
