Introduction
The use of power is essential for the work of many organizations that can be engaged in various activities. Very often the success of individuals and groups depends on their ability to influence the decisions and attitudes of other people. However, in many cases, power can be abused especially by people holding the positions of authority.
Therefore, it is necessary to speak about the ethical norms that should govern or regulate the use of power. This essay is aimed at determining whether power can be applied ethically in organizations. This issue should not be overlooked because it can affect such stakeholders as employees, local communities, and even societies.
On the whole, it is possible to argue that power can be regarded as a tool for achieving certain objectives, and it can be consistent with ethical principles. Yet, this goal can be achieved if there is a system of checks and balances that prevent people from abusing power. Furthermore, much attention should be paid to the sources of power since it should be based on the trust of other people, rather than coercion or fear. These are the main issues that should be examined.
The definition of the main concepts
Overall, it is important to remember that philosophers and scholars can provide various definitions of power. According to Lucas, this concept can be defined as “the human force for achievement or obstruction that can be used individually or collectively for the constructive good, or destruction” (Lucas as cited in Alberti 2007, p. 36).
This definition is important because it indicates that power can be viewed only as a means for attaining a certain goal, but one should not assume that it inevitably results in corruption or compromise of integrity. There is another concept that is closely related to power.
In particular, Marturano and Gosling (2008) define leadership as the ability of an individual to influence the actions and attitudes of other people so that they try to achieve the goals identified by the person. Moreover, the concept of leadership includes such elements as responsibility of a person and his/her accountability to others (Marturano & Gosling 2008).
Finally, it is important to speak about ethics since it is also essential for individuals and organizations. This notion can be understood as a set of principles that govern people’s interactions with one another. One should bear in mind that ethics cannot be perceived as some universal phenomenon that is similar in various cultures or societies.
Such an assumption can hardly be called accurate. Nevertheless, despite possible cultural differences, it can significantly reduce the potential negative effects that public or private organizations can produce on societies. These terms will be important for describing the relations between power and ethics.
Discussion
The links between power and ethics have long been attracted the attention of researchers and thinkers. One of the concerns is that power inevitably leads to corruption of a person. Such an argument has been expressed by a historian Lord Acton (Acton as cited in Society for Human Resource Management 2006).
To some extent, this view has become very widespread. Additionally, researchers have tried to examine the effects of power in organizational setting. In particular, one can mention the notorious prison experiment which demonstrates that individuals, who are given the positions of authority, can eventually become abusive and cruel (Zimbardo as cited in Society for Human Resource Management 2006).
It should be noted that the individuals, who took part in this study, did not psychological disorders (Society for Human Resource Management 2006). These are some of the major concerns. They indicate that the applications of power can often entail the violation of power.
Additional concerns can be raised if one remembers the views of some thinkers who examined the nature of power. For example, one can mention Niccolo Machiavelli’s ideas according to which rulers can take immoral actions if in this way they can achieve political or personal goals. In some cases, they can justify their unethical decisions by referring to the so-called greater good which is important for everyone.
More importantly, one should remember about elite theory of power which implies power cannot be evenly distributed in a community or organization. Therefore, a majority of people will not be able to exercise any influence on others. Certainly, this framework suggests that certain injustice can exist in communities and institutions. Nevertheless, even if this theory is correct, elites can still be made accountable to the majority.
Certainly, such risks cannot be overlooked; however, it does not mean that the power cannot be used ethically. First of all, power is not likely to turn into abuse in those cases when it is based on trust and rational choice of people (Ciulla & Forsyth 2011). In other words, an individual should justify his/her right to power (Marturano & Gosling 2008).
It should be derived from such sources as competence, integrity, professionalism, and the trust of others. Such a person is more likely to consider the interests of other people. This issue is particularly important when one discusses the behavior of organizational leaders who should act as “ethics officer“ in the company (Johnson 2011).
If these people are accountable to various stakeholders such customers, investors, or employees, they will have to use power in an ethical manner (Johnson 2009). For example, one can mention the work of modern CEOs who are obliged justify their decisions from a moral viewpoint.
To some degree, this argument is based on the transformational theory of leadership. According to this framework, leaders should act as role models for workers by acting in an ethical and professional way (Ciulla & Forsyth 2011). This is one of the issues that should be considered.
It is also important to mention the theory of power introduced by Michel Foucault. According to this theory, power is a dynamic notion, and individuals inevitably resist the idea that other people can exercise influence over them. Thus, one can say that there are mechanisms which limit a person’s power.
Apart from that, there are certain restrictions that can prevent people from using the power in an unethical way. One of them is the social responsibility or the obligation of the organizations to take into account the welfare of the community (Johnson 2011, p. 333). In some cases, consumers compel companies to follow ethical rules established in the society by refusing to purchase their products or services. Furthermore, existing legal regulations are also supposed to ensure leaders do not abuse power.
For example, one can mention laws that are designed to protect whistleblowers or people who disclose information regarding unethical practices within private companies (Daft & Murphy 2010). These external forces prompt leaders and managers to consider the interests of other people while exercising their authority. Thus, community and the state can make organizations reconcile power and ethics.
One should also take into account that in many organizations, there can be a system of checks and balances which reduced the risk of power abuse. For example, in many commercial organizations, there are ethics officers who can consult employees who could have fallen victims of power abuse (Society for Human Resource Management 2006).
Such situations are very widespread in various organizations, for example, one can mention the cases when employees are forced to conceal information from clients or business partners. In turn, the ethics officers can offer counseling to the employees and take actions against managers who abuse power. These precautions are helpful since they can prevent managers and business administrators from forcing other people to do those things that can harm the community. This is one of the aspects that should be considered.
More importantly, the power can be used ethically, if leaders become more aware of their decisions and interactions with other people. They should know that in many cases they use power by relying on coercion. Many of these professionals do not pay much attention to this problem.
Moreover, very often the power of these people is based on the fear of their subordinates. These professionals can take several actions in order to ensure that power is not abused. To some extent, this goal can be achieved by involving employees into decision-making (Daft & Murphy 2010, p. 285).
This form of interaction will help leaders and managers look at the same issues from various perspectives. Furthermore, it can reduce the risk of groupthink or the situation when the members of a group are reluctant or afraid to express their opinions only because it contradicts the views of the majority. These examples indicate that training and the knowledge of management are critical for promoting the ethical use of power.
Apart from that, organizations can promote ethical use of power by implementing policies which emphasize openness and transparency within organizations. For example, these policies can include such several requirements such as the disclosure of information about the financial and environmental performance of an organization. These are the strategies that can be used for ensuring ethical behavior of people who hold the positions of power. They can be of great help to many institutions.
Conclusion
On the whole, this discussion can give rise to several arguments. First of all, there is a significant risk that power can be used in unethical way. This problem is closely related to both private and public organizations in which people can have conflicting values and priorities. Nevertheless, it is not appropriate to argue that the application of power is inevitably associated with immoral actions. This view cannot be fully justified.
Many potential risks can be reduced if several important precautions are taken. In particular, much attention should be paid to such factors as legislation and corporate social responsibility since they can compel leaders to act in an ethical way. Additionally, internal policies of an organization can make leaders remember about their responsibilities and ethical implications of their actions and decisions. So, power can be used ethical in both private and public organizations.
References
Alberti, S 2007, A Cultural Shift to Deal with Antisocial Behavior: From Punishment to Discipline, ProQuest, New York.
Ciulla, J. & Forsyth, D 2011, ‘Leadership Ethics’. In. A Bryman (ed.), The Sage Handbook of Leadership. SAGE, Los Angeles, pp. 229-241.
Daft, R. & Murphy, J. 2010, Organizational Theory and Design, Cengage Learning, Boston.
Johnson, C 2011, Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light Or Shadow, SAGE, London.
Johnson, C 2009, Creating an Ethical Organizational Climate. Sage, New York.
Marturano, A, & Gosling, J 2008, Leadership: the key concepts, Routledge, London.
Society for Human Resource Management 2006,The essentials of power, influence, and persuasion, Harvard Business Press, Cambridge.