MGT301A: Ethics & Sustainability - Analysis and Workplace Impact

This report delves into the critical aspects of business ethics and sustainability, focusing on future workplace behavior. It summarizes ethical issues and frameworks discussed in Part A, specifically addressing waste disposal and water scarcity at the Hyatt Hotel in Sydney, utilizing Utilitarianism and the Common Good Approach. The reflection on future workplace behavior emphasizes learning from ethical frameworks, understanding the impact of professional ethics, senior management behavior, corporate governance structures, and organizational culture. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of ethical codes of conduct in fostering an ethical culture within a firm, ensuring that actions align with societal welfare. This student assignment is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and resources.

Running head: ASSIGNMENT 2B
ASSIGNMENT 2B
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ASSIGNMENT 2B
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Summary of issues and frameworks discussed in Part A................................................................2
Reflection on your future workplace behavior................................................................................3
Learning from the ethical frameworks........................................................................................3
Professional Ethics.......................................................................................................................3
Impact of the behavior of the senior management.......................................................................4
Impact of Corporate government strictures.................................................................................4
Impact of the culture on my behavior..........................................................................................5
The use of ethical code of conducts.............................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

2ASSIGNMENT 2B
Introduction
In lieu of globalization and fierce competitive rivalry, the business environment has
become quite complicated in nature and each business tries to attain success by taking advantage
of the situation (Bowie, 2017). This often leads to engaging in activities which may have a long
term negative impact on the overall functioning of the society. This is where ethical practices
come into question. Business ethics can be defined as a field of study which analyses the
ethicality of business practices and identifies ways of improvement. The main aim of the report
is to highlight about my thinking about the future workplace behavior based on the study of the
coursework and the Part A of the assignment.
Summary of issues and frameworks discussed in Part A
The Part A of the assignment discussed about two ethical issues in concern with the Hyatt
Hotel in Sydney. The issues which were taken into consideration were environmental issues. The
first issue which was discussed was the Waste Disposal. The Waste Disposal has become a
serious concern because although big organizations as well as the hotels generate a huge amount
of waste, they often are unable to dispose it carefully. This was discussed in line with the
Utilitarianism approach whereby it was suggested that the companies should use the principle of
Utilitarianism in order to find a solution to the Waste Disposal problem. The second issue which
was discussed was relating to the problem of Water Scarcity. The hotels often make use of the
water and this affects the community. Hence, by making use of the Common good Approach it
was discussed that the hotels need to take considerable moves and save the resources at large.

3ASSIGNMENT 2B
Reflection on your future workplace behavior
Learning from the ethical frameworks
The ethical framework teaches that all humans must be treated equally with respect and
that any firm which aims to achieve success in the long run needs to understand that they need to
contribute effectively towards the good of the society if they want to ensure considerable success
(Trevino & Nelson, 2016). The ethical frameworks taught that the welfare of the society is of
utmost importance and any firm functioning in the business environment is required to be
considerably serious of their activities and ensure that these activities result in the overall good
and benefit of the people at large. Both the Utilitarianism approach and the Common good
approach are based on the underlying principle that community needs to be uplifted. Hence, at
my workplace in the future I will be ensuring that all the activities in which I engage in take into
consideration the betterment of the society and no action harms any section of people.
Professional Ethics
The Professional ethics stand as a set of guidelines, rules and regulations which are
required to be followed by all at the workplace (Rossouw & Van Vuuren, 2017). According to
me, although ethics is always affected by culture, norms, society and upbringing, however the
professional ethics at the workplace do have an impact on the functioning of the person and
ensure that the individual is successfully able to abide by the norms of the workplace. Hence, due
to the presence of professional ethics, might have an impact on my behavior in a positive manner
by guiding me throughout my career and allowing me to take the correct decisions which would
lead to the benefit of the society as well as the workplace.

4ASSIGNMENT 2B
Impact of the behavior of the senior management
According to me, the senior management can often be considered play an effective role in
the way the junior staff behaves. This can be identified by the fact that the senior management is
considered to be the role model of all the managers. Hence, it thereby lies their duty to act in a
manner which is in alignment with the goals of the organization. If the senior management
behaves in an ethical manner, they set an example in front of the different staff members which
indirectly motivates them to perform well and in case they engage in an unethical manner, it
encourages them to take the same moves (Pearson, 2017). Hence, in my workplace I would like
to be positively impacted by my senior management and their directions and activities will have
a profound impact on me and guide my behavior accordingly.
Impact of Corporate government strictures
The Corporate Government structures are stated to be those structures which work for the
betterment of the management of the firm and lay down a set of regulations for the organization
to follow (Mill, 2016). Although these rules are set down for the benefit of the firm at large, I
believe that they often limit the freedom and creativity on the workplace. The structure lays
down the regulations to be followed and the procedure of the workplace (Nyssens, Le Polain &
Perilleux, 2014). According to me, the corporate government structures will guide me positively
towards the achievement of the goals in a firm and let me know about the legal implications of a
particular activity at large. The laws and the regulations stated down will also help me in
ensuring that I am able to carry out my work ethically as per the laws and keeping in mind the
general welfare of the public.

5ASSIGNMENT 2B
Impact of the culture on my behavior
The organizational culture can be described as the general norms of the workplace and
the manner in which the decisions are made and the employees are treated (Ferrell & Fraedrich,
2015). The culture can have a huge impact on a person and according to me the type of culture
at my workplace will have a strong impact on my behavior. If the firm’s culture is focused on
people, I will learn to respect people and lead them together on the other hand if it is based on
strict rules, I may not be considerate and may act in a rigid manner.
The use of ethical code of conducts
The use of ethical code of conducts can be made by the firms to have a positive impact on
the workplace as the ethical code of conduct acts as a serving guideline to the different
employees with respect to the ways in which they are required to behave (Crane & Matten,
2016). In addition to this it will also foster towards the creation of an ethical culture in the firm
which thereby places the ethicality of the actions in the most critical priority.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the given analysis it can be stated that Business ethics is considered to be
an effective part of the firm and hence, for this purpose, the organization and its members must
keep in mind the consequences of their action. The report followed a structured format whereby
it laid down the summary of the previous assignment which was then followed by a reflection on
my future behavior at the workplace with respect to ethics.

6ASSIGNMENT 2B
References
Bowie, N. E. (2017). Business ethics: A Kantian perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson
Education.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven Masterpieces of Philosophy (pp. 337-383). Routledge.
Nyssens, M., Le Polain, M., & Perilleux, A. (2014). The relevance of the common goods
approach to examine social enterprise-Insights from Ostrom to the SE field. In The
Fourth IAP-Day-From common goods to social banking: sharing theories and field
analyses.
Pearson, R. (2017). Business ethics as communication ethics: Public relations practice and the
idea of dialogue. In Public relations theory (pp. 111-131). Routledge.
Rossouw, D., & Van Vuuren, L. (2017). Business ethics. Oxford University Press.
Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2016). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do
it right. John Wiley & Sons.