Ethics in Leadership: A Comprehensive Analysis of Key Concepts

This assignment delves into the critical aspects of ethics, ethical leadership, and the development of effective ethics programs within an organizational context. The essay begins by examining the role of ethical culture and relationships, drawing upon the student's internship experience at Westpac to illustrate the impact of ethical practices on business operations. The discussion then progresses to an analysis of ethical leadership, contrasting the student's initial perceptions with insights from academic sources. The essay highlights the importance of ethical standards and leadership in achieving organizational goals. Finally, the assignment explores the process of developing effective ethics programs, emphasizing the need for employee awareness, ethical behavior, and decision-making. The essay draws on real-world examples and academic research to provide a comprehensive overview of these key concepts.

Ethics
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1) The role of ethical culture and relationship........................................................................3
2) Ethical leadership...............................................................................................................4
3) Developing an effective ethics program............................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
2

INTRODUCTION
In order to work in an organisation, it is very important to follow ethical values and
leadership so that goal and objectives can be attained (Mittelstadt and et. al., 2016). The ethical
culture and relationship helps business to conduct their activities and operations in diligent
manner. With change in time, firm has to develop effective ethics program so that working force
feel motivated and happy to work in organisation and achieve set outcomes. This assignment is
divided into three different topics such as role of ethical culture and relationship, ethical
leadership and developing effective ethics program.
MAIN BODY
1) The role of ethical culture and relationship
Being the student of under graduation, I worked as intern in Westpac where I saw about
ethical culture and relationship which is different from other organisation. In respective
organisation, they does not care about ethical culture to be followed in their business as they
forced us to sell those products and services to consumers which are not liked by them at all
(Pearson, 2017). During that time, I thought ethical culture means to follow values and culture in
ethic manner. Before I have gone through any books, tutorial notes, I was not clear about such
concept. It is very important aspect which is required to conduct business activities and
operations in an ethical and positive manner to attain positive results. This will create
opportunity to identify ethical issues, solving them by using decision making process and
promoting ethical behaviour. It also helps me to understand about coping with conflicts among
organisation and personal values. There are many other organisation such as Wells Fargo who
does not follow ethical values and principles for their consumers that decline their reputation.
Apart from these, I also came to know about various aspects of ethics which is mentioned
in report. The organisational and corporate culture are used interchangeably which means to
shared values, norms that influence working force and determine their behaviour for solving
problems of business. While studying about ethical culture and relationship, I also learn about
steps required for measuring corporate culture. In first stage, board as well as management
should demonstrate commitment to core values, ethics code, integrity with communications. The
second stage, encourage employees to have hands on involvement in compliance with internal
control system. Third is helping to make ethical relationship for people and employees working
3

in an organisation. Fourth is employees should receive communication with helps of corrective
and resolution actions in aspect of ethical issues. Lastly, employees should have conservation
related with policy with CEO, board members. I came to know about role of corporate culture in
ethical decision making as they are expressed through looks, programs, gestures, labels,
promotions and leaders are considered as trustworthy, employees trust increase. This corporate
culture focus on people and performance framework of organisation. There are four types of
culture such as apathetic, caring, exacting and integrative. It is very important for business to
follow culture and ethical values in business for attainment of positive outcomes.
According to the article published by Lawyers & Jurists, 2017, corporate culture assist in
ethical decision making of business for attainment of positive outcomes. It is very important for
me to understand about corporate culture so that I can perform at business place and work as per
norms and values assigned to me (THE ROLE OF ETHICAL CULTURE AND
RELATIONSHIPS, 2017). Here, corporate culture is regarded as collection of beliefs, norms,
goals, values and way for solving problems shared through members. It is also important to
maintain relationship with each and every people and department for desired outcomes. This
assignment helped me to know about ethics in depth and ways of following it in corporate world.
My understanding regarding ethical culture was not very clear before I learned about it. As I
thought it was just norms and values to be followed at organisation for successfully running of
business in an effective and efficient manner. When I learned about it, I came to know that it was
vast concept which is required in each and every field and sector for positive results. Therefore, I
learned a lot about ethical culture and relationship from class, tutor notes which will assist me in
future for attainment of positive results.
2) Ethical leadership
This is also the topic which I have learned in my graduation time. My perspective was
different before I learned this topic from teacher (Sidgwick, 2019). As I thought ethical
leadership is the way to lead others in an ethical and positive manner for positive outcomes. It is
very important for each and every business to follow ethical leadership so that they can attain
business goal and objectives. In my aspect, ethical leadership followed by company assist them
to enhance their brand value and goodwill at marketplace for attainment of desired or set goals in
effective and efficient manner. I have little theoretical knowledge but lack in practical aspect.
During my internship at Westpac, I found that organisation has not followed ethical leadership in
4

their business which hamper firm and their reputation at marketplace. I need to learn more about
such concept which is required for me to work in corporate world. This is my perception
regarding ethical leadership followed at organisation. It is needed in every aspects for conducting
activities and operations in appropriate manner along with assisting people as well as business to
behave in ethical manner with their working force for positive results.
This above was my own perception regarding respective topic (Sugarman, 2015). Now, I
will learn it from tutors and college which is different from other. According to view of teacher
mentioned in book, ethics are standard of behaviour which tells us about how human beings act
in different situations in front of their parents, business people, children, professional and others.
Similarly, on other hand, leadership is defined as at of motivating people or group in order to act
towards attainment of common goal. This also direct employees as well as colleagues along with
strategy to meet requirement of company. There are five different ways in order to lead and act
in era of change. I came to know about that good leaders always focus on taking challenging task
and achieve business goal in competitive market. Ethical leadership is defined as way of building
healthy culture, inspiring others, driving change and galvanise people with same purpose. This
mainly focus on building positive ethical environments in order to act with direction and purpose
in an effective and efficient manner for attainment of best results. This composed of three
elements such as communicate, champion significant of ethics and setting example. This ethical
leadership impacts on creating positive environment with productive relationship and assist
business to work in diligent manner. It is very essential for business to follow four V's such as
values, voice, vision and virtue for ethical leadership.
According to opinion of Kiely Kuligowski, 2020, there is difference among leader and
boss where leader guides and boss orders to perform work (How to Be an Ethical Leader: 4 Tips
for Success, 2020). Ethical leadership is defined as moral development as well as virtuous
behaviour that is directed through respect for ethical values and beliefs for dignity and rights of
others. It is very significant for business to hire people with similar values, promoting open
communication, beware of bias, finding role models. For following of ethical leadership at
organisation, it is significant to have proper leaders and employees who can understand concept
and work as per norms and values of business. This is the most needed concept to be followed at
every workplace and organisation so that business goal and objectives can be attained in positive
way for better outcomes. Therefore, this topic has helped me a lot to understand ethical
5

leadership and their benefits to business. Both my perception as well as studies made me more
clear about such concept and will help me in future time period.
3) Developing an effective ethics program
It is also the topic that has learned by me during my graduation (Tavani, 2016). As I have
my own perception regarding such concept. According to me, organisation has to develop ethics
program at their business so that positive outcomes can be achieved and attained in an effective
manner. This ethics program varies from organisation and as per requirement it is created for
people. Here, business has to make program to encourage their working force regarding ethics in
positive way. It is essential for each and every business to develop ethics program by considering
each and every aspects of workplace so that employees can work in diligent and efficient manner
to gain results. According to my opinion, ethics program has some rules and regulation that has
to be followed by all types of organisation for running of their activities and operations. I worked
in Westpac as intern where I was forced to sell those products and services to consumers who
does not like at all. I analysed that this organisation does not follows any ethical values and
principles for their business and people for attainment of goal and objectives in most
approachable form.
While I was in college, I learned developing effective ethics programs concept from
teachers and friends. According to them, ethics programs are designed for encouraging ethical
decision making at business place. These are designed in order to prevent major misconduct
occurring at marketplace. Each and every people connected to business has their own roles and
responsibilities for ethical programs to be carried out in organisation. Stakeholders who are part
of corporation has their moral duties and responsibilities for ethical values and principles. These
are created at society in order to perform particular social functions, accountable to society.
There is need for organisational ethics programs for various aspects. It is to enhance employees
ethical awareness, ethical behaviour, fostering decision making and many more. In ethics
language, employees are called bad apples and organisation as bad barrel. Program related with
ethics are developed through establishing, monitoring and communicating ethical, legal
requirement for industry, corporate culture and country. The compliance programs are made for
business to improve and enhance their performance. Code of conduct includes different types
such as respect, fairness, citizenship, trustworthiness, responsibility and caring. While
implementing and designing an ethics program, some common mistakes are done. This can be
6

failure in understanding and appreciating goals, setting unmeasurable & unrealistic program
objectives, top level management fails in taking ownership of ethics program, development of
program materials which does not address need of average employee and many more.
According to view of Kristin Graham Koehler and Brian P. Morrissey, 2020, there are
seven steps to develop effective compliance and ethics programs (Seven Steps for Developing an
Effective Compliance and Ethics Program, 2020). First is standards and procedures which every
company has to set in order to prevent as well as detect criminal conduct and communicate it.
Second is leadership and oversight which give particular executive or committee of executives to
handle overall responsibility for compliance program. Third step is individual possessing
substantial authority not to act criminal or unethical practices. Business has to use reasonable
efforts to avoid illegal activities and operations. Four step is communication and effective
training where business has to communicate their ethical programs to organisation and conduct
training on regular basis for positive outcomes. Fifth phase is monitoring, auditing and disclosure
where company has to audit each and every elements for effectiveness of programs. Sixth phase
is discipline and incentive where organisation has to provide incentive to dedicated, encouraged
and loyal employees so that they comply programs and maintain discipline without any default.
Last is corrective action where company should address misconduct after its occurrence. My
knowledge has been upgrade and concept is clear about ethics programs as organisation has to
follow proper step to get positive outcomes.
CONCLUSION
From the above reflection report, it is clear that organisation has to follow all ethical
culture by maintaining relationship with their employees so that they can attain business goal and
objectives in an appropriate manner. The ethical leadership is needed in business for maintaining
ethical values and principle as they are the person who guide working force to work as per norms
and values of organisation. It is essential to develop effective ethics program in proper manner.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Mittelstadt, B. D. and et. al., 2016. The ethics of algorithms: Mapping the debate. Big Data &
Society. 3(2). p.2053951716679679.
Pearson, R., 2017. Business ethics as communication ethics: Public relations practice and the
idea of dialogue. In Public relations theory (pp. 111-131). Routledge.
Sidgwick, H., 2019. The methods of ethics. Good Press.
Sugarman, J., 2015. Neoliberalism and psychological ethics. Journal of theoretical and
Philosophical Psychology. 35(2). p.103.
Tavani, H. T., 2016. Ethics and technology. Wiley.
Online
How to Be an Ethical Leader: 4 Tips for Success. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5537-how-to-be-ethical-leader.html>.
Seven Steps for Developing an Effective Compliance and Ethics Program. 2020. [Online].
Available through: <https://chainstoreage.com/news/seven-steps-developing-effective-
compliance-and-ethics-program>.
THE ROLE OF ETHICAL CULTURE AND RELATIONSHIPS. 2017. [Online]. Available
through: <https://www.lawyersnjurists.com/metarial/the-role-of-ethical-culture-and-
relationships/>.
8

9