Values and Ethical Decision Making

Values and Ethical Decision Making

MGT/521

November 29, 2011

Clark Mc Carrell

Values and Ethical Decision Making

Within any organization, differing values and ethics come into play. Just as everyone has their own opinions, everyone has their own morals to follow. However, it is important to understand how to deal with opposing values and decisions when conflicts arise. When belonging to a branch of an organization such as the military, the best solution to deal with values and ethical decision making is following a decision making process that follows standards of duty, honor, and integrity.

Nikisha, a member of the team, completed the awareness inventory which indicated that her ethical perspective stems from a belief of duty or obligation. The inventory indicates that Nikisha’s belief system is based on what a rational person should morally do. This belief is in line with the military. The military focuses on what is right and morally correct. The military also instills a core sense of value and a code of honor. The military provides structure and creates the guidelines that enlisted men follow. This structure is based on the importance of duty and obligation.

Nikisha’s ethical style inventory indicates that she believes that all human beings have a right to individuality and individual respect. The inventory indicates that Nikisha does not believe in decisions that occur based on what is in the best interest of the majority. This contradicts with the style of the military. The military makes decisions based on the greater good and the overall goals of the organization. Each person in the military is directed to operate in the best interest of the military. Each person is a part of a team, in most cases, and the needs of the team outweigh the needs of the individual.

At times there is no right or wrong answers to questions and sometimes there can be conflict due to the individual situation. This brings us to a situation that happened in the...