Ethic & Values
Cultural Values and Personal Ethics Paper
"Without civic morality communities perish; without personal morality their survival has no value."
Bertrand Russell, British mathematician and philosopher (1872-1970) Good, bad, right, wrong, moral, immoral. In researching a definition of values, one happens across all these terms. So how does one decide? How are values shaped and identified not to mention adhered to? One consistent definition that could be given is: "values are ideals that guide or qualify personal conduct, interaction with others, and career involvement. Like morals, they help to distinguish what is right from what is wrong and provide information on how one can conduct their life in a meaningful way." Values can be classified into four categories: Personal Values, Cultural Values, Social Values and Work Values. (http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/careers/goals/values.html, 4-6-2001) This paper will address the role that personal, organizational (work) and cultural values play in decision-making in personal and professional situations. This paper will also address how ethical dilemmas arise when conflict between values surface between different individuals or groups.
Personal Values Personal values are individually defined main beliefs that establish how one interacts with the world and connects with people. "The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energizes everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attracts success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organization become energized, as do its customers, its products and services, and everyone and everything else associated with that organization." (Posner, 4-2-06)
Organizational Values Work values are morals that guide personal behavior in professional scenarios. They define how one works and
"Without civic morality communities perish; without personal morality their survival has no value."
Bertrand Russell, British mathematician and philosopher (1872-1970) Good, bad, right, wrong, moral, immoral. In researching a definition of values, one happens across all these terms. So how does one decide? How are values shaped and identified not to mention adhered to? One consistent definition that could be given is: "values are ideals that guide or qualify personal conduct, interaction with others, and career involvement. Like morals, they help to distinguish what is right from what is wrong and provide information on how one can conduct their life in a meaningful way." Values can be classified into four categories: Personal Values, Cultural Values, Social Values and Work Values. (http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/careers/goals/values.html, 4-6-2001) This paper will address the role that personal, organizational (work) and cultural values play in decision-making in personal and professional situations. This paper will also address how ethical dilemmas arise when conflict between values surface between different individuals or groups.
Personal Values Personal values are individually defined main beliefs that establish how one interacts with the world and connects with people. "The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energizes everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attracts success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organization become energized, as do its customers, its products and services, and everyone and everything else associated with that organization." (Posner, 4-2-06)
Organizational Values Work values are morals that guide personal behavior in professional scenarios. They define how one works and
References: http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/careers/goals/values.html. (4-6-2001). Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology. Campbell, K. (4-2-06). Ethics Today: Personal, Practical and Relevant. Retrieved May 5, 2006, from http://www.casanet.org Gebler, D Heffes, E., M. (Jan/Feb 2006). Creating an Ethical Culture. Financial Executive, 22 (1), 22-25 Retrieved May 6, 2006, EBSCO database. Fang, M. (2006). Evaluating Decision-Making of Employees in Organizations-An Integration Framework. Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 8 (2), 105. Retrieved May 5, 2006, from ProQuest database. Gebler, D. (2006). Creating an Ethical Culture. Strategic Finance, 87 (11), 29-34. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from EBSCO database. Posner, R. (4-2-06). Retrieved May 5, 2006, from http://gurusoftware.com/Gurunet/Personal/Topics/Values.htm Figure 1: SEVEN LEVELS OF AN ETHICAL ORGANIZATION