Ethical Decision Making in Organizations

This assignment focuses on the importance of ethical decision-making within organizations. It analyzes how organizational structures, incentives, and ethical guidelines influence employee behavior. The document emphasizes the need for clear ethical principles, strategies for resolving conflicts, and the impact of decisions on stakeholders. It also discusses the potential consequences of unethical decision-making and highlights the role of leadership in promoting an ethical work environment.

Assignment on Professional Environment
acer 2017

Contents
Ethical Dilemma:...................................................................................................................................2
Ethical Analysis in four steps with the use of decision of decision making process:.............................3
Step 1:...................................................................................................................................................3
Facts:.................................................................................................................................................3
Ethical Issues:....................................................................................................................................3
Potential Harm:..................................................................................................................................3
Involvement of stakeholder:..............................................................................................................3
Step 2:...................................................................................................................................................3
Isolate the Major Ethical Dilemma:...................................................................................................3
Step 3:...................................................................................................................................................4
Ethical Analysis and Consequentialism:............................................................................................4
Right and duties:................................................................................................................................4
Categorical Imperative:.....................................................................................................................4
Discussion:........................................................................................................................................5
Step 4:...................................................................................................................................................5
Defensive ethical decision:................................................................................................................5
Steps followed:..................................................................................................................................5
References:............................................................................................................................................5

Ethical Dilemma:
Harry is working as a network programmer in the company named as Fabio Inc. He was
working on developing security program to provide proactive security to the company assets.
He developed a solution which can save the company resources from external attacks. He
presented his security program to the IT security head and describes him the key features of
the software (Kohn, 2013). He told the security head that the software is capable of
presenting graphical user interface, it can develop graphics for every activity performed, and
resources can be rescued from potential cyber-attack. The new program is having the
capability to differentiate between new and old viruses. The security head denies the
advantage of the developed program. He says that the program developed by him is the
dangerous program and can have a negative impact on the organization infrastructure. The
analysis of the security head, demotivated harry for his good work. Harry decided to present
his idea on the internet with the new name named as Lock Smith. On analysing the situation,
Jill made Harry out of work from the organization with the permission of the IT head. Later
on, the owner of the company asked the IT head to bring the expertise of Lock Smith back to
the organization. In the current situation, the demotivation in the employee compels him to do
wrong deeds which are against the laws of the company. The employees should be rewarded
for their good deeds which creates the feeling of oneness in the employees. The appreciation
and reward should be presented for giving their best in the benefit of the organization. The
false review can creates negativity in the working employees (Owens, 2010). It can be
predicted from the case study that if the employees will not provide with the valuable
incentives for their hard work, the company can face the loss of expertise which works well
for improving the profitability of the organization. The decision making plays an important
role in developing an ethical environment for the organization. The ethical action is
composed of four psychological processes which are categorised as sensitivity in the
recognition of good work and bad work, decision and judgement should follow moral values,
judgement should provide motivation to the employees, and lastly the decision maker should
follow the moral character in taking appropriate decision in betterment of the employees and
the organization (Bazerman, 2013). The project leader or head should follow the ethical
behaviour to provide valuable recognition to the good work of the employee which helps in
keeping the employees motivated towards the common goal of the organization.
In the given case study, the ethical issues associated with the employees of the organization
are depicted in the table below:
Name Role Ethical Issues
Harry Network programmer He should not work against
the laws of the company.
Jill IT security Head Before the judging the work
of the Harry, she should have
tested the program developed
by him to give the correct
judgement. The wrong
judgement creates the

negative feeling in Harry.
Brockley IT executive Head Without any proof, he should
not trust Jill. The decision
should not be provided on the
decision taken by other.
Iris Project Owner The action should be taken
against the high official also
for taking wrong judgement
Ethical Analysis in four steps with the use of decision of decision making process:
Step 1:
Facts:
The facts collected from the case study about ethical issues in the organization are giving
wrong judgement of the good work of Harry, putting harry out of work, taking negative
decision without any proof, demotivation in Harry, and other
Ethical Issues:
The ethical issues which are associated with the given scenario are:
 The hard work of the employees get wasted
 Feeling of demotivation in the working employees
 The employees can go against the policies of the company
 The performance of the employees get affected
 Coordination and cooperation between the employees will be affected
Potential Harm:
The performance of the other employees can also get affected due to the feeling of
demotivation which in turn affects the profitability ratio of the organization (Gilman, 2012).
One wrong judgement can affect the dignity of the enterprise.
Involvement of stakeholder:
There are four members who are involved in the ethical dilemma of the organization who are
network programmer, IT security head, IT executive head, and project owner of the company.
Step 2:
Isolate the Major Ethical Dilemma:
The judgment of the IT security head should be taken by collecting the relevant facts for the
developed program to know its correct functioning. The laws of ethics should be followed so
that the moral values of the employee will not be affected. The tools of ethics should be
followed for rewarding the good work of the network programmer (Yerby, 2013). The
corrective action plan should be provided by the head to remove the flaws of the developed

software so that it can efficiently use in the infrastructure of the organization. it helps in
raising the feeling of motivation in the programmer and remains connected with the working
of the organization.
Step 3:
Ethical Analysis and Consequentialism:
The follow up of the ethical codes in taking judgement will work in the benefit of the
company and its employees (Ejimabo, 2015). No one will be negatively affected and it works
well for the organization prosperity.
The higher authority do not use ethical standards and policies in taking decision then it is
going to affect the performance of the employees which in turn affect the growth rate of the
company (Kidder, 2014).
The subsequent follow up of the ethical standards and policies before giving the judgement
on the work done by the employees helps in raising the confidence with the top professionals.
The employees will get benefit in terms of incentives and reward of good works.
No extra burden of providing incentives will occur on the project owner
The best alternative to overcome the ethical dilemma of the company is to follow the ethical
standards and policies before giving judgement on the work done by the employees.
Comment: The goodwill of the company depends on the efficient and motivated employees
which give their best in providing benefit to the organization.
Right and duties:
 The dignity and culture of the employees should be affected
 The integrity should be followed for taking professional judgement
 Facts and figures should be accumulated for taking decision
 The respect of work should be given privilege
 The judgement should be based on evidences, not on trust.
 The moral values and professional ethics should be followed
The following ethical duties should not be neglected:
 The respect should be given to the other views, thoughts, opinions, vision, and ideas.
 The good and healthy relationship should be developed between the employees and
top executives
 The good working conditions should be provided to the employees.
 No discrimination should be done in the working culture on the basis of religion,
caste, region, sex, and others.
Categorical Imperative:
 Jill will be treated with disrespect

 Harry will be treated with disrespect
 Follow up of ethical laws and duties
 Harry
 The judgement should be based on evidences
 Yes it will create a feeling of motivation which works well in improving the
performance of the employees (Mablin, 2012)
 No, it will adversely affect the profitability of the organization
 The ethical principles and standards should be followed for taking decision
Discussion:
The decision making plays an important role in developing an ethical environment for the
organization. It can be predicted from the case study that if the employees will not provide
with the valuable incentives for their hard work, the company can face the loss of expertise
which works well for improving the profitability of the organization (Mitchell, 2015).
Step 4:
Defensive ethical decision:
The judgement taken by the top executives should be based on ethical principles and
strategies which is associated with the relevant facts and figure collected for the action plan.
Steps followed:
 Values, ethics, and legal requirement should be clearly identified before taking
professional judgement
 The terms and concepts should be defined in relation with integrity and moral ethical
sensitivity associated with the action taken (Hanson, 2014).
 The professional should have a clear specification of the ethical dilemma
 The strategies should be developed for resolving ethical conflict

References:
Bazerman, M. (2013). Ethical Breakdown. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/04/ethical-
breakdowns
Ejimabo, N. (2015). The influence of decision making on organization leadership and
management activities. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-
influence-of-decision-making-in-organizational-leadership-and-management-
activities-2169-026X-1000138.php?aid=54660

Gilman, S. (2012). Ethics code and code of conduct as tool for promoting an ethical and
professional public service. Retrieved from
https://www.oecd.org/mena/governance/35521418.pdf
Hanson, K. (2014). The six ethical dilemma every professional faces. Retrieved from
http://www.bentley.edu/sites/www.bentley.edu.centers/files/2014/10/22/Hanson
%20VERIZON%20Monograph_2014-10%20Final%20(1).pdf
Kidder, E. (2014). Ethical Decision making and behaviour. Retrieved from
https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/39590_Chapter7.pdf
Kohn, A. (2013). Why incentive plans cannot work. Retrieved from
https://hbr.org/1993/09/why-incentive-plans-cannot-work
Mablin, R. (2012). Human Resource management ethics and employment. Retrieved from
https://www.hrpa.ca/Documents/Designations/Job-Ready-Program/Human-Resource-
Management-Ethics-and-Employment.pdf
Mitchell, C. (2015). Rewarding ethical behaviour. Retrieved from
http://www.tsphr.com/pdfs/rewarding_ethic_behavior.pdf
Owens, J. (2010). Work Ethics for development professional. Retrieved from
http://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/workethics.pdf
Yerby, J. (2013). Legal and ethical issues of employee monitoring. Retrieved from
http://www.iiakm.org/ojakm/articles/2013/volume1_2/OJAKM_Volume1_2pp44-
55.pdf