Ethical Perspectives

Essay by rick2476University, Bachelor'sA-, January 2010

download word file, 5 pages 0.0

Ethical perspectives in my organization start with how the individuals of an organization perceive what is morally right and wrong. Each person's ethical perspective style contributes to the overall organizational behavior within an organization. The effects of unethical behavior can cause major damage if issues such as character and virtue, obligation and deontology, results and utilitarianism, and equity and relativism affect organizational values. Individuals have different characters and ethical perspectives which make up his or her personality which affects their judgment and behavior. A commitment to personal ethics is about developing a moral self capable of dealing with ethical issues as they arise (University of Phoenix, 2008). This report discusses the elements of my ethical perspective style, the results, and how my perspectives impact my workplace.

The Carbajal's come from middle class family whose roots descended in Mexico and therefore, was taught that values such as honesty, wisdom, and integrity were to be demonstrated as respect to society.

According to the character style, not everyone has the equal opportunity as I did to develop the virtues I value so much. I disagree that at times I get frustrated when realizing that all people have similar traits on the contrary I like people such the same characteristics as me. My belief in character is built slowly during the first few years of employment and development. The City of Dallas, an organization that relies heavily on its values and image, is viewed as a sincere and honest organization with morals and values. I work and live on this image today, the city has not only made me become more of good character, but it has allowed me to view myself with the same qualities and values of this shared amongst this immense organization.

Formerly, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps, an organization of virtues and values that are instilled in every member since stepping on their depot at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, San Diego, California. This organization is built on character, virtue for the ones that lacked it, confidence for the ones who need, obligation to do the right thing, results come afterward, and equity. These individual traits were obligated to be memorized and remembered as part of a code of conduct. Image was another aspect of Marines; the Marine Corps has an image of professionalism and dedication to duty. The Marine Corps Motto: "Semper Fidelis," Latin for always faithful is a moral that is taught and never forgotten as long as I live. This motto means dedication, integrity, duty, commitment, and respect for the history and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

While in the U.S. Marine Corps, dilemmas such as integrity and character were questioned to individuals, for example, lying about getting married not for love with the high school sweet heart but for getting marriage pay with separations pay. This was one of the most common dilemmas in the Military, young Marines were getting married to go overseas and get separations pay, Basic Housing Allowances (BHA), and married quarters on base housing. If found guilty of braking a military policy or conduct of unbecoming of a Marine, one could be put in a jail or lose pay, placed on restrictions, and lose rank. These are some of the consequences that the military has kept in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and every Marines duty and obligation is to follow them.

On the contrary, I have noticed unethical behavior from superiors and management. Some of the activities conducted by management are perceived by employees as the right thing to do if management is doing it. This is where dilemmas begin, employees are warn a taught during training of unethical behavior and consequences of these actions. The senior management staffs are the ones breaking the rules and policies of the organization and are now being criticized by their employee's of such conduct. This is why I disagree with the assessment style behavior; at my organizational the outcome of unethical behavior might not have a consequence depending on the position or title of the individual.

According to my obligation style results, human beings have the right to individual respect. But to get respect one must give respect. I also believe that people have a choice to make ethical decisions. At times I mentor coworkers on ethical decisions and values that I have been brought up with. Everyone has an individual choice whether to take or refuse my advice. My personal choices might not be good or bad, right or wrong, or good and evil. For that there are choices, my belief in moral duty and obligation should not be compromised when ethical principles are being violated. I totally support any rule or obligation to individuals and no room for compromise and surrender. At times I believe to have higher standards than my subordinates because I do not like the way conflicts are handled by my management staff. At times they are too nice and lenient to employees need discipline and a wake up call. There has been an instance where employees broke a policy and received nothing but a slap in the wrist from their superiors. Others see this behavior as unethical and may questions the leadership and the system. I also disagree with the results of this obligation style characteristic because my ethical perspective has allowed me to excel and move up in the Military and in the City of Dallas's management positions and has not affected me economically.

In the results assessment I believe everyone must have a moral duty to achieve the good life. I agree with the results that if someone is unhappy, something is morally wrong and needs to be fixed. The statement, "if I don't know it's broken I can't fix it," reflects my very own view of situations which I can't fix. I'm always concerned with the safety and well being of my colleagues and employees under my supervision. I like to get my team to come together and work as a team not as individuals, teamwork drives and make the organization productive. The views that I perceive as an individual in my society as a whole, might not impact my society At all and probably change or impede me from achieving my ethical approaches. I agree with what is best for the greater of society may not be the best.

In the equity results I'm perceived to believe in no absolute standards of right and wrong. I disagree with the results because I do not distrust institutionalized codes of ethics; I follow and live by them. I question the individuals who break their own institutional codes and should be the ones setting the examples for others to follow. I would not like to be in question of what the right thing to do is but what is ethically right. I always tell advice my colleagues not to be in unethical situations. I like to consider other viewpoints rather than considering what is the right decision at a specific time. The only thing that I agree within the equity results is that I'm frustrated that those with the most power are attempting to define what is important to individuals under their control.

In conclusion with the ethical perspective characteristics, I disagree with the results summary where I'm considered to be experiencing internal moral conflict within myself and of two different ethical perspectives. All my answers were based on my beliefs of what is morally right and wrong and that's why I disagree with some of the summaries. I do agree where I'm experiencing two types of categories of ethical perspectives, where I support the notion of ethical principles without virtue are powerless and virtue without some standards and principles is ineffective. Individuals must have virtue in order to follow and practice ethical principles or standards in any organization. I have viewed myself and compared to what is morally right and is what is right in organizations of principles and standards.

ReferencesUniversity of Phoenix (2007). Ethics Awareness Inventory. Organizational Behavior. Retrieved February 4, 2008, from the University of Phoenix, GEN 344 rEsource, Week three, eBook Library, University of Phoenix Web site https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary/content/eReader.h