The following paper will examine the ethical inventory for the author. The author will interpret his results from a previously performed ethical awareness inventory and apply them to his personal and professional development. The author will also include a statement explaining how his educational experience has impacted his ethical thinking.
The author took a personal ethics inventory in which he outcome stated that the author bases his ethics "on an individual's duty or obligation to do what is morally right" (2006, THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FOR ETHICS AND MANAGEMENT.)
The author found it difficult to interpret the finding of the ethical inventory. In summary the study indicated that principles must be:
appropriate under any circumstances
respectful of human dignity
committed to promoting individual freedom and autonomy
Human beings must never be treated simply as "means" to the accomplishment of some defined "end." The end does not justify the means. The author finds this to be an accurate reading of his ethic views.
The author's ethic perspective coupled with his educational experience has only aided in strengthening his resolve in the importance of ethical behavior. The critical thinking skills garnered by the author while completing his undergraduate degree has only made it more apparent that personal and professional ethics are needed now more then ever. Situations like Enron, World Com and Arthur Andersons demise are just a few examples of how ethical deviations have a huge impact on the world.
The area the author feels that would have the most ethical conflict would be in an unscrupulous work environment. In the past the author worked in various sales positions and was instructed by his employer to bend the truth in the favor of the employer. It was not in the best interest to the author to do this as in the type of sales he worked the author was attempting to create a long and meaningful relationship