Every organization needs a standard of ethics to operate successfully. The organization must have a leadership that is concerned about its ethics. It must allow the workers to practice the organization’s values in a free environment. The paper would discuss the best way to come up with and implement ethics in organizations.
The US Army War College Report
Leonard Wong and Stephen Gerras conducted a study concerning US Army values and ethical culture. The results proved that there had been a considerable level of dishonesty to the regulations and the leadership of the army. The military officers were giving false information to their superiors because they thought that the situation on the ground did not allow them time to present reports as requested. They also thought that it was for the greater good to lie about certain information. Another reason was that they feared the repercussions of telling the truth especially about their medical condition (Paliwal, 2006).
The leadership of the army and the entire military department has been developing new rules while holding onto the previous regulations. The numerous demands and requirements from superiors have weighed down on the soldiers. The leadership needs to review its policy and find an amicable way to consolidate the regulations and simplify them for the army officers.
They have not been keen to check the kind of rules they come up with and how effective and efficient they have been. They also made the rules without first analyzing some of them with the officers (Millar & Poole, 2011). The leadership should address the matter since the military works on trust and honesty as some of the fundamental values. If there is no trust from the bottom up, then there would be no rule of law. It would develop into infighting and may ruin the image of the force. They can be compromised on the battlefields if they cannot rely on each other for valid information.
All the military men and women have to respect their superiors and follow the law to the letter. The ones who certify false reports and the officers who condone the same should become responsible for their actions (Mendonca & Kanungo, 2007). The ones issuing impossible commands are only doing so to receive information so that they can use it to manage the situation they have at hand. It is also laid out in the rulebook.
The top leadership of the army needs to redefine the meaning of ethics. As long as they still operate under the current rules, they need to punish the offenders. They also need to re-strategize the way they formulate the rules and regulations. The rules must also adhere to the conditions of the environment. For instance, the army officers in the battlefields might not have the luxury of making similar reports to those in a peaceful environment (Gavai, 2010).
Business Ethics
Ethics is all about the moral conduct of society and individuals. In leadership, it is about the leader’s character, actions, and behaviors. It is a requirement for social and business networking activities (Paliwal, 2006). The society has a standard for measuring ethical behavior. Organizations should have laid down regulations to enhance moral standing.
Many companies and businesses have a primary interest in making profits. The owners build them with the aim of growing them to larger holdings through market expansion and business growth. However, the leaders have to make particular decisions that concern the business’ right attributes (Gavai, 2010). They have to decide whether to stick to rules and regulations or make the profit for the company and its owners.
McDonald developed a business strategy of promoting its foodstuffs by offering free toys to children. By so doing it made significant sales among the children (Gavai, 2010). The type of foods the company was promoting included sugar, soda and fatty meals like the chips. It ignited debate from the health and Non-Governmental Organizations. Their defense was that parents had the right to make the choice for their children. McDonald had varieties to choose from while parents were supposed to advise their children on what was healthy for them. One of the critiques was that children are not able to make wise judgments up until they are in their 20s (Millar & Poole, 2011).
A key manufacturer used to sell keys master keys for automobiles to mail-order customers. Some of his buyer’s would-be thieves who would steal other people’s cars. His defense was that he had not broken any law (Mendonca & Kanungo, 2007). The law did not hinder him from selling keys to anyone who ordered for his services. He could not, therefore, have the capacity to know if the buyers were thieves. He regarded himself as ethical as any other business person.
Business people do not make laws but obey them. As long as they do not break the rules but can make a profit they feel that they have no problem. But business bluffing is not ethical. Sometimes it affects the lives of other people. All companies should set and practice ethical standards at their workplaces whether it is legally protected or not.
References
Gavai, A. (2010). Business ethics. Mumbai, India: Himalaya Publishing. House. Web.
Mendonca, M., & Kanungo, R. (2007). Ethical leadership. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Web.
Millar, C., & Poole, E. (2011). Ethical leadership. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Web.
Paliwal, M. (2006). Business ethics. New Delhi: New Age International. Web.