How Ethic Can You Get

How Personal Can Ethics Get?

Tiffany M. Bills

Dr. Paulette H. Burney, PhD

BUS 520-Leadership and Organizational Behavior

October 22,2010

This is the case of an immigrant worker named Valerie Young. She is currently working

in the United States on a temporary work visa and has come into a situation that calls into play

her ethics and moral fiber. As the integrating case state, Valarie has discovered an ethical

shortcoming on the part of her manager who is clearly violating company policy by taking

kickbacks, under the name of his private company from his fragrance suppliers. His willingness

to funnel monies through his private company, with disregard for company policy is a clear case

of the Might-equals-right principle, because the manager feels that he can act in this manner due

to his position in the department. This discovery puts Valerie in a precarious position, in that by

reporting it immediately, there is a chance that there may be retaliation against her by her current

employer and forced to leave the country due to her citizenship status.

Discuss how personal differences and preference can impact organizational ethics.

Hellriegel (2009) argues that although ethical problems in organizations continue to seriously concern society, organizations, and individuals, the potential impact that organizational culture can have on ethical behavior has not really been explored. The challenge of ethical behavior must be met by organizations if they are truly concerned about survival and competitiveness. An effective organizational culture should encourage ethical behavior because an organization cannot operate if its prevailing culture and values are not congruent with those of society. This is just as true as the observation that, in the end, an organization cannot survive unless it produces goods and services that society wants and needs. Organizations have to ensure that their employees know how to deal with ethical issues in their everyday work...