Value and Ethics Essay

Introduction

Companies and organizations are normally governed by values and ethics. Values generally refer to the things or traits that are important to someone “In an organization, values refer to what an organization stands for and what should be the basis for the behavior of its members” (Gerllerman, 2001). This means that the actions and conducts of workers should be in line with an organization’s values. Values define what is considered right or wrong in an organization. On the other hand, ethics is what is considered right or wrong.

To some extent, organizations usually state what they consider to be right or wrong depending on their stipulated rules and policies. “Ethics tend to be codified into a formal system, or a set of rules which are explicitly adopted by a group of individuals” (Reamer, 2005). For example, we have medical ethics.

Ethics is therefore internally stated and adopted. For a person to come up with ethical decisions, he should possess the following. First, he should recognize ethical issues. Second, he should be able to consider different perspectives when determining the right thing in given situation. This is the same as having the capacity to reframe. “And the third is the ability to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty; making a decision on the best information available” (Reamer, 2005).

Professional Values and Ethics

“The three sources of professional values and ethics are: professional integrity, academic integrity, and personal values” (Fairholm, 2004). In a business setting, professional integrity describes the way an individual acts and he or she should be responsible for the actions. In this case, an individual is expected to remain impartial and he or she should also make independent judgments that are free from other people’s influences. An individual that has integrity normally performs his actions honestly.

Academic integrity refers to the ethical policy that exists in academic environment. “For example, a university may have values such as: avoidance of cheating or plagiarism; maintenance of academic standards; honesty and rigor in research and academic publishing” (Gerllerman, 2001). Personal values are the traits which a person feels are necessary to him, and they do vary from one person to another.

Importance of Professional Values and Ethics

Values and ethics provide guidelines that enable an organization to achieve its set targets and objectives. For example, they are important elements in achieving the vision of an organization. Consequently, a company’s vision must be in line with its core values. When individuals working in a given organization share common values, they are able to achieve the desired objectives effectively.

“In this case, values act as important tools for making judgments, assessing probable outcomes of contemplated actions, and choosing among alternatives” (Reamer, 2005). Nonetheless, if members of a certain institution fail to share their values, they cannot accomplish their goals effectively.

Conclusion

Based on this discussion, it is therefore important for members of an organization to adhere to the set values and ethics so that they can achieve their objectives. I aspire to become a manager of a bicycle spare parts manufacturing company called Metro Tyre Ltd. As a manager, I will establish proper values and ethical guidelines that will enable me to realize the goals of the company. Besides this, I will ensure that all employees share common values and interests in the company. This will encourage cohesion among the workers.

References

Fairholm, G. (2004). Understanding Leadership Perspectives: Theoretical and Practical Approaches. London: Springer.

Gerllerman, W. (2001). Values and Ethics in Organization and Human Systems Development: Responding to Dilemmas in Professional Life. New York: Jossey-Bass.

Reamer, F. (2005). Social Work Values and Ethics. New York: Wiley.