Cultural Values & Personal Ethics
COM 525 Managerial Communication and Ethics
Date: August 19, 2004
Cultural Values & Personal Ethics
Undoubtedly several people come to mind when you think of someone being "ethical". People today have a pretty good idea of what "being ethical" means, based on their own personal experiences, moral values and overall beliefs. Every day people continue to struggle with tough ethical questions in both their professional and personal lives that seem to have no easy answer. Some facet of ethics is related to every major problem facing the world today and influences daily decisions made by everyone including businesses and non-profits.
When most people think of ethics in very personal terms, the word actually assumes a much greater meaning the minute we become a member of an organization or an established group of people. At that point, individual values are not enough to define what behavior will or will not be acceptable or tolerated. Everyone's definitions of what may be right and wrong may vary, even if the group is composed of individuals who all consider themselves to be "ethical."
One author states, "If we conclude that ethics is purely a personal matter, and that each person's private code of values is entitled to equal respect regardless of the content of their beliefs, there is no legitimate basis for distinguishing between Saddam Hussein and Mother Teresaboth live up to their own standards." (Josephson)
Today, many companies including government agencies and non-profits are now including ethics as a critical part of their management and employee training. Within the organizational context, ethics is defined as a system of rules or principles of behavior within a group against which actions can be judged. This definition must be agreed upon by all members of the group to ensure consistency of action.
When it comes to volunteering, most people often decide to contribute their time and energy...
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