Ethical Decision-Making and Cultural Adjustment in Global Business

This report delves into the critical aspects of managing in an international context, focusing on ethical decision-making and cultural adjustment. It begins by exploring ethical considerations, such as the application of rule utilitarianism and beneficence, through real-life scenarios. The report then examines the challenges of adjusting to new cultures, relating personal experiences to the functionalism theory and Hofstede's five dimensions theory, specifically masculinity. The analysis highlights how these theories can be applied to navigate ethical dilemmas and adapt to cultural differences, offering insights into managing the complexities of global business and fostering a balanced mental state. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and offers potential strategies for success in an international setting.

Managing in International
Context

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Ethical decision-making in international context....................................................................1
2. Adjusting to new culture..........................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

MAIN BODY
1. Ethical decision-making in international context
The ethical decision-making is one of the major things which need to be made in
effective manner for getting appropriate results. Ethical decision is one where I chose how to
respond situation which is based on values of good or bad being opposed to expediency or
efficiency. I can relate it to myself with a real-life example. I was on a vacation in UK and was in
the hotel sitting for a dinner with my friends. In the time, incredibly loud person came and
disturbed everyone’s dinner. I knew that merely ignoring him will not work. I deployed ethical
decision to go to him and politely explain how his actions are disturbing others, further; I
complained the same to the manager. Thus, this helped me to resolve issue ethically.
The ethical theory of Rule utilitarianism can be applied to my example. The theory
considers the law and is concerned with adequate fairness (Barrow, 2015). The rule utilitarianism
is useful and seeks to offer benefit the most people around by following the fairest way available.
The added benefits of this theory are that justice is valued in a better manner and beneficiaries
are all (Reamer, 2019). This can be related to example that I could have beaten up the intolerable
person or might threaten to beat him up. However, I followed to take decision on ethics to ask
him that his actions are disturbing and even after that compliant the same to manager that
resolved entire situation with ease.
Another theory can be applied is beneficence. This theory highlights decision-maker to
do what is good and right (Habermas, 2015). This theory has been applied by me when in the
workplace, meeting with international clients from US was held in Brisbane. The meeting was
about opening large office in the city. This office, however, was to be built by cutting high
quantum of trees coming in between the location. This was not acceptable as it affects our
ecosystem. I then applied this theory in logical manner and rejected the proposal to benefit
ecosystem and society. Thus, it helped to think ethically what was best for environment and
people.
2. Adjusting to new culture
The culture change is another important part in individual’s life. In relation to this,
adjusting to the culture is tougher task as everything is different in host country than home
country. I can relate the same to my experience. I took admission for graduation in reputed
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college of US while I was heading from my home country Australia. I was shocked that culture
is so different in both countries and need for adjustment was felt when making new friends. It
was required to cope with my study and make good friends with whom I can interact flawlessly. i
understood to maintain balance between my priorities and then casual relations were maintained
to have good behavioural outputs.
The theory of functionalism can be applied in the situation. It states that mental states like
desires, beliefs and pain are constituted by functional role on solely basis with other behaviours.
The functionalist theory is a level between physical implementation and behavioural output
(Habermas, 2015). It was applied by in step-by-step manner as I understood culture difference
and then ascertained my priorities to study and make friends. With the balance of state of mind, I
easily adjusted with American culture and this gave me fruitful results in the form of better
output. Thus, functionalist theory is quite useful in adjusting in new culture and getting mental
peace. This helps to adjust in new culture without any difficulty and as a result, balanced mental
state of mind can be accomplished.
Another theory identified in culture adjustment is Hofstede five dimensions theory. In
relation to this, masculinity dimension of the theory can be analysed. It means distribution of
roles to males and females that is fundamental issue where assertive pole is highlighted for
males’ dominance over females (Block and Walter, 2017). I experienced that gender inequality
at workplace of Australia is more men dominance than that of US. The biasness prevails which is
not good for the society. It is then supported by assertive pole where men are preferred over
women (Bozkurt, Tartanoglu and Dawes, 2015). Hence, it can be said that Hofstede five
dimensions theory is attributable to various cultural issues in the society. Thus, adjusting to
culture is another important issue which needs to be dealt in a better way so that hurdles can be
overcome.
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REFERENCES
Barrow, R., (2015). Utilitarianism: A contemporary statement. Routledge.
Block, J. H. and Walter, S. G., (2017). 2. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and modes of entry into
entrepreneurship. Exploring the Entrepreneurial Society: Institutions, Behaviors and Outcomes,
p.22.
Bozkurt, V., Tartanoglu, S. and Dawes, G., (2015). Masculinity and violence: Sex roles and
violence endorsement among university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 205,
pp.254-260.
Habermas, J., (2015). The Theory of Communicative Action: Lifeworld and Systems, a Critique
of Functionalist Reason (Vol. 2). John Wiley & Sons.
Reamer, F. G., (2019). Ethical theories and social work practice. The Routledge Handbook of
Social Work Ethics and Values.
Steiner, L., (2018). Logos I-Philosophy and the Nature of Morality: The Abolition of Man, CS
Lewis. Aristos, 4(1), p.1.
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