Corporate Leaders and Ethical Leadership Assignment

Running Head: SELF-ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION 1
Self-Analysis and Reflection
Student Name:
Affiliated Institution

SELF-ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION 2
Self-Analysis and Reflection
The decision that I made was to think differently about the purpose of business. After
learning business ethics, I have gained a different viewpoint regarding the purpose of
business. Previously, I used to think that businesses exist only to make profits for the owners.
My view is now different. I currently believe that businesses should place ethics over profits.
Ethics has become a more and more vital aspect of business practice and placing ethics over
profits can actually pay off over the long term. Business organizations that work ethically
would be able to outpace their competitors since clients would trust such companies.
Corporate leaders should demonstrate ethical leadership by leading in a way that respects
other people’s dignity and rights. They should ensure high standards of ethical and moral
conduct rather focusing primarily on making profits. This is in line with my response for
Online Commentary 3.
Two companies that did not demonstrate ethical behaviour are Ford and Global
Batteries Corporation (GBC) as demonstrated in the Ford Pinto case and GBC case. In the
case of Ford, the company placed profits over ethics and produced faulty cars and one of
these cars killed a woman. Ford used a utilitarian approach in making their decision and I do
not agree with it. Global Batteries Corporation also put profits over ethics. Their unethical
actions led to the death of many people after the plant exploded. What I learned from these
two cases is that it is unethical for businesses to disregard ethics in their pursuit for profits. I
now understand that organizations need to make a concerted effort, even in high pressure
environments, to constantly focus on behaviours that are ethical. Ford and GBC do not have
ethical cultures and that is why they engaged in ethical wrongdoing.
In the past I also exhibited corrupt behaviour. The beliefs that I held that informed my
practice to accept bribery and corruption include viewing these vices as acceptable and not

SELF-ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION 3
wrong. I held these assumptions/views owing to my cultural background and my upbringing
in Sri Lanka, where corruption and bribery are widespread and many citizens here do not
consider it as wrong. On the whole, the fact that I was brought up believing that corruption
and bribery are not wrong greatly influenced my views.
The results from my Values Questionnaire diagnostic tool show that my highest
preferences are Economic, at 89. This helps me to understand my behaviour to engage in
bribery/corruption since for me to offer services or to receive a service in Sri Lanka, I would
be more likely to give/receive a financial tip first as an incentive or motivator. While I may
give a bribe, I may only do so not because I want to, but because I am forced to do by the
circumstances. Otherwise, I would not since I am a very authentic leader as demonstrated by
my Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment Questionnaire diagnostic tool in which I scored 68.
I felt confusion, annoyance and anger regarding the decision to engage in bribery and
corruption. I felt this way mainly because of a conflict between what I thought was
acceptable and the ethical content covered in class regarding ethics. I was very frustrated
after realizing that by engaging in bribery and corruption, I was in fact perpetuating these
unethical vices. However, at the moment, I have a totally different perspective relating to
bribery thanks to the ethical content covered in class. I now believe that bribery is a very
unethical, bad and dishonourable thing to do. The content of this unit has allowed me to gain
greater insight into ethics and behaviour. As a manager in the future, I will use this
information to ensure that I always put ethics over profits, unlike Ford and GBC
leaders/managers. I will uphold moral competencies and always uphold my highest moral
competencies as demonstrated by my result in the Scoring the MCI diagnostic tool: admit
mistakes and failures, keep promises, and tell the truth, in addition to other moral
competencies. Furthermore, I will strive to use my position to develop and promote
sustainable ethical culture within my organization, exhibit high moral standards, always act

SELF-ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION 4
with utmost integrity, and conduct my work ethically unlike the leaders/managers of Ford and
GBC.
Being a manager in future will mean that all responsibility and accountability would
be attributed to me. I will strive to avoid corporate wrongdoing and unethical actions as much
as possible, and take responsibility for all my actions, unlike the managers/leaders at Ford
and GBC. Similarly, when I am not to blame, I will attribute responsibility and accountability
to the right person/people and rightly hold them morally responsible for their actions as
demonstrated by my results in the Attributing Responsibility and Accountability – Moral
Praise and/or Blame diagnostic tool. I strongly believe that corporate leaders and managers
are responsible and accountable for the decisions and actions taken by them. They should
always uphold moral responsibility, and I will also do so when I am a manager in future. This
is in line with my response on Online Commentary 1.