Ethical issues are very important in the work of every organization. It is impossible to align its effective and positive working process without taking into account the peculiarities of the culture of its workers. It especially deals with companies where a great number of representatives of different cultures and countries work. UNICEF is a nonprofit organization of that type. It has its missions all over the world, and each of them faces different cultures and traditions. Very often, the organization hires workers from local people; that is why its officials should take into account their ethnic peculiarities. The structure of this organization is very furcated; a great number of its branches are located all over the world. The most important fact is that the company does not have any benefits from its work, expect happy smiles of children as its main aim is to improve conditions under which they live.
Being the organization with a great number of workers who have different cultural peculiarities and ethnicity, UNICEF, of course, has its own and unique organizational culture, which also helps this organization to create a tolerant and effective ethnical policy for the company to work with representatives of different cultures. It is very easy to understand this mechanism. For example, having understood the best way to communicate with Muslims, the company can use this experience while creating ethnic policy for working with representatives of this culture. The company’s unique organizational culture also guarantees that there will not be any sign of disrespectful attitude to certain cultural peculiarities, and even a potentially unethical policy is not possible within the frames of work of this company. Great respect for all ethnicities and cultures has already become an inseparable part of the company’s image.
As it was mentioned above, the greater amount of representatives of different cultures work in the company, the easier it is for this company to make certain decisions connected with ethnic issues and create some new and effective policies. Representatives of different ethnic groups have different peculiarities of their culture and different traditions. That is why the work of any international company should be organized according to these peculiarities and taking into account some cultural aspects of work. Norms of behavior which are adopted in the company, help to create effective policy or practice of communicating with representatives of a certain culture. Each Muslim must pray at sunset. Having a lot of Muslims working for them, UNICEF officials have understood this peculiarity and build their policy, keeping it in mind. Multiculturalism is a very useful thing for a company.
UNICEF has unique ethical policies that are created to protect the rights of children. However, sometimes these policies can be a reason for appearing of some ethical dilemma. One of the key issues of this organization is respect for children. Its ethical policy states that the dignity and rights of a child should be respected at any circumstances, and people should act with this in mind (About UNICEF: Who we are, 2012). However, very often, this ethnic policy serves as a reason for introducing an ethical dilemma. In a great number of different folks and cultures, parents take children as their property, underlining their exceptional right to regulate their life totally, not taking into account children’s demands, rights, and desires. Dilemma appears when representatives of this organization are trying to explain the parents’ rights of a child and show them their errors. This dilemma appears because of the difference in cultures. For a great number of people all over the world, it is natural to punish children, no matter how severe punishment is.
As it has already been said, for the effective work of any organization or a company, it is important to organize responsible conduct in this organization. It is a task for a public administrator. First of all, it should be mentioned that he has two sets of tools, internal and external. Everything is clear with external control. The public administrator should watch for all laws and rules adopted in a state and connected with ethical questions to be observed (Kernaghan, n.d.). Internal control suggests another set of actions. It means the creation of certain rules within the company for its staff to follow them and be able to work and exists in working partnerships with representatives of different ethnicities. Moreover, there should be severe punishments for any breaks of these laws or norms of behavior, for workers to know that any displays of racism are unacceptable.
Having analyzed new information gained from the main principles of work of UNICEF, it is possible to conclude that it can be very helpful for me while working as a public administrator. It is possible to resolve any ethnic dilemma using methods, which this organization uses. Any critical situation can be solved by taking into account the cultural peculiarities of all conflicting parties. Undoubtedly, deep knowledge of peculiarities of different cultures should be present, that is why a public administrator needs to call great attention to the study of these peculiarities, especially stressing the targeting culture.
Reference List
About UNICEF: Who we are. (2012). Web.
Kernaghan, K. (n.d.). Internal v. external controls. Web.