Reference no: EM133729878

Discussion Post: Business Distinct Concepts in the Workplace

Jami, welcome to our class. Thank you for sharing your ethical leadership experiences with us. Good job. "The ethical system I followed in this case is based on deontology which informs the company's code of ethics. The code of ethics outlines the core principles, values, and standards expected from all employees. This document serves as a foundational reference for ethical behavior and decision-making. Deontology or duty ethics hold that an action is moral if it follows the rules despite the outcomes. It emphasizes principles, rules, and duties that should be followed, such as the categorical imperative proposed by Immanuel Kant. Kant's Categorical Imperative states that individuals should act according to maxims that can be willed as universal laws (Caldwell & Karri, 2005)".

Even when I have determined what the morally right and morally wrong course of action should be in each situation, there is no guarantee that I will do what is right. People often do what is unethical, even when they know it is. The essential nature of evil is knowing something is wrong but deciding to do it anyway. Several factors influence whether we choose to do what we know is correct or do what we know is wrong. Ethical climate refers to the belief an organization's members have about how they are expected to behave. Here are two examples:

Employees in an "egoistic" organization feel they are expected to be self-seeking, and so they are.

Employees in an organization with a "benevolent" climate are expected to do what is best for all stakeholders, i.e., employees, customers, suppliers, and the community.

Not surprisingly, employees in an egoistic organization find it harder to make ethical decisions about what they know is suitable than employees in a benevolent organization.

Organizations with a robust ethical culture make it easier for us to do what is right. At the same time, organizations with a strong business culture can make it harder to do what is right.

Organizations can also generate a form of "moral seduction" that pressures an ethical person to make decisions that they know are wrong. Psychologists have found that moral seduction occurs one step at a time, with each successive decision being more severe than the previous decision, until step-by-step, the person finds himself deeply involved in unethical practices and so compromised that he feels he must continue his involvement.

How do moral obligations apply to business organizations? Can companies be held accountable for what they do, or are the individuals who make up the company the ones we must hold accountable? Discuss the significant arguments concerning corporate responsibility.