Ethical Issues in Organizational Behavior
Ethical Issues in Organizational Behavior
It is obvious that ethical issues play a major part in any organization when it comes to outlining good behavior from bad behavior. As Kinicki & Kreitner, (2009, pg. 52) has stated “There are a variety of individual and organizational factors that contribute to unethical behavior. Organizational Behavior is an excellent vantage point for better understanding and improving workplace ethics. If OB can provide insights about managing human work behavior, then it can teach us something about avoiding misbehavior.” Ethical issues must be a major concern for organizations since many are challenged and in many cases have affected the organizations reputation in the business world in a bad way. “Unethical behavior by employees can affect individuals, work teams, and even the organization (Andrews, 1989).” If effective leadership is apparent in an organization, then there are able to promote moral and ethical practices in the workplace and treat and prevent unethical behavior through training and enforcing codes of ethics to the employees. However, the organization must first understand and identify reasons for the unethical practices.
Ethical behavior can clearly be defined by “pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct. And, being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession:” according to Dictionary.com. Many questions can be derived from the word “ethical” since it can cover many different facets such as conducting personal business on company time, taking supplies home that you didn’t pay for, or claiming credit for someone else’s work. However, several influences on ethical behavior in the workplace can range from These may be a few reasons unethical behavior occurs in organizations, but it also illustrates why it is important to establish organizational culture in the work
It is obvious that ethical issues play a major part in any organization when it comes to outlining good behavior from bad behavior. As Kinicki & Kreitner, (2009, pg. 52) has stated “There are a variety of individual and organizational factors that contribute to unethical behavior. Organizational Behavior is an excellent vantage point for better understanding and improving workplace ethics. If OB can provide insights about managing human work behavior, then it can teach us something about avoiding misbehavior.” Ethical issues must be a major concern for organizations since many are challenged and in many cases have affected the organizations reputation in the business world in a bad way. “Unethical behavior by employees can affect individuals, work teams, and even the organization (Andrews, 1989).” If effective leadership is apparent in an organization, then there are able to promote moral and ethical practices in the workplace and treat and prevent unethical behavior through training and enforcing codes of ethics to the employees. However, the organization must first understand and identify reasons for the unethical practices.
Ethical behavior can clearly be defined by “pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct. And, being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession:” according to Dictionary.com. Many questions can be derived from the word “ethical” since it can cover many different facets such as conducting personal business on company time, taking supplies home that you didn’t pay for, or claiming credit for someone else’s work. However, several influences on ethical behavior in the workplace can range from These may be a few reasons unethical behavior occurs in organizations, but it also illustrates why it is important to establish organizational culture in the work
References: K. R. Andrews, “Ethics in practice.” Harvard Business Review (Sept – Oct, 1989), p.99 Russell Mokhiber, & Robert Weissman. (2005). The 10 Worst Corporations of 2005. Multinational Monitor, 26(11/12), 10-24. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1009548771). Ethical: Dictionary.com, Retrieved online at: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethical (Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills & best practices (customized 4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin Stanwick, P., & Stanwick, S.. (2011). The Role of Corporate Culture in the Unethical Activities at Hewlett Packard. Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 16(2), 47-53. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2210001051).