Mgt 426 - Ethics During Change in an Organization

Ethics During Change in an Organization

Jeff Talley

MGT/426

August 12, 2015

Professor Robert Wachtler Jr.

Ethics During Change in an Organization

Ethics During Change

     According to Businessdictionary.com (2015), ethics is defined as the basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural environment.  To be sure that the organization runs effectively and productively, ethics must be held to a high standard within the organization.  Especially during an organization’s interview process, it is extremely important for the organization’s ethics to be clearly communicated to the new or potential employee.  Also during a new employee orientation the ethics, policies and standards of the organization needs to be addressed.  

     The ethical decisions that people make can come from a variety of sources.  These ethical decisions that we make can be professional or personal.  Our ethical decision making choices come from our life experiences that we have learned, based on our religious background, our relations with interactions of people and/or organizations, our individual upbringing from our parents or guardians, and other reasons.  The decisions we make as leaders of organizations and managers, have the possibility of affect people and organizations in different ways.  Also, the ethical decisions that we make are expected to be in the best interest of our employees, our suppliers, our consumers, and our shareholders. An organization’s status and name is built on best practices and our ethical responsibility.  Organizations that have not made the best ethical decisions have been known to have suffered and damaged their reputation.  

Ethical Culture Within an Organization

     When implementing a change in an organization, ethical culture is often overlooked.  

An ethical culture within an organization is made up of all employees, from the CEO and down to the newest hired employee.  All employees need to make sure they conduct themselves according to the organization’s code of ethics.  

     There are many benefits for an organization that upholds high ethical standards.  Having an ethical culture that is positive, will develop a work environment that all employees will be more useful and productive.  To have a better ethical culture and atmosphere within an organization, organizations need to continuously be promoting higher ethical standards.  There is no one specific way to build ethical culture within an organization, due to the vast differences within each organization.  When changes have been executed appropriately within the ethical culture of the organization, then all employees have accepted a new code of ethics with higher standards to abide to.