Ethics/ Power Flashcards
Three types of power
Potential- Not always used, or used
Relationship- Can be positive or negative, functional vs dysfunctional
Multi-Dimensional- Power between different levels or interdependence
Types of Power
Positional Power- Legitimate power, the person was put in place to do the role. Ex/ hired to be a manager
Resource power- Rewards, being liked, can punish and has skills
5 Basics of individual power
Legitimate- Compliance Referent/liked-Commitment Able to punish/coercion- Resistance Has an expert skill set- Commitment Able to give rewards- Compliance
Reactions to power
Resistance- Goes against power, put effort into it
Compliance- Goes with power but has minimal effort
Commitment- Goes with power and is enthusiastic
How does one get power
Highly visible- Everyone knows about them and what they have accomplished
Relevant activities- Have accomplished that are looked for that role
Extraordinary Activities- create change, new ideas
How to get respect
Outsiders- Connect with people from other fields/companies
Subbordants- Do the work, may someday be your peers
Peers- Cooperate with them
Superiors- Able to give rewards
Organizational politic
Usually happens with middle and upper management
The intention is to achieve goals (Promotion/bonus)
Room for interpretation
Can be distasteful and selfish, can lead to a poor work environment
How to be successful with workplace politics
Be honest Be tactful Be liked Be trustworthy Be helpful Be respected
Ethics
What the workplace environment deems to be appropriate workplace behavior
Ethics Principles
Utility- Focuses what does the most good
Does accomplish the most good, but also ignores the other people that harmed by a decision
Rights- Focus on the human right
Protects people, but what if someones right affect someone else
Justice- Focus on justice, what is deemed to be fair
Protects the people that can’t protect themselves, but difficult to agree upon what is fair and encourages entitlement
Causes of unethical behavior
Bad apple- personality causes people to fight for power, and participate in risk-taking
Bad Barrel- Is situational, fighting over scared resources. Happens when there is low accountability
5 Causes of unethical behavior
Competition- High competition and limited resources can cause unethical behavior
Personality- Some people have a strong need for power, even at the expense of ethics
Culture- Corparate culture can encourage unethical behavior
Gain- Unethical behavior more likely to happen when reward is available
Role conflict- Should we care about the companies succes or the customers safety
