week 6 Flashcards
What conditions would have to be present for you to blow the whistle about unethical
conduct you observed at work? How would you go about it?
It’s good to have a plan even though it’s difficult for us to anticipate how we will react when a
real situation occurs. You need to think about the following: How much and what kind of
‘harm’ would be enough to trigger action on their part?
Some of the scenarios when you should let go of your loyalty as an employee and blow the
whistle are (Solomon & Martin, 2004)
• company is selling defective vehicles to customers (can result in accidents and
fatality)
• government funds being wasted for private use
• dumping of poisonous waste
• sale of adulterated foods or mislabelled food that could result in increase in allergic
reaction
Why is employee engagement important?
Employee engagement is critical to organisations because it is the primary indicator of
productivity. Employee productivity is all about customer service and quality products and
services and being prudent with organisational and human resources. Managers are the most
critical element in encouraging employee engagement. You could also relate the two types of
motivation theories that the managers can use to encourage ethical and discourage unethical or
even illegal behaviour.
Why should performance be measured as an on-going process, and not just as a oncea-year event?
Performance evaluation is probably a manager’s most important job. One key reason why it
should be an ongoing process is that feedback must be timely in order to have any impact on a
subordinate’s behaviour. Most managers know this, but they’re uncomfortable giving negative
feedback, so they put it off. By the time they find themselves doing an annual performance
review, neither the manager nor the subordinate can remember the details. It isn’t fair to say,
“I haven’t been satisfied with your performance this year”. You haven’t provided ongoing
feedback that would give the subordinate specifies and a chance to change.
what is a coperate culture
Corporate culture is a set of values, beliefs, goals, norms, and ways of solving problems shared by members (employees) of an organization.
A company’s history and unwritten rules are a part of its culture
Culture can be influenced by the founder’s values:
Warren Buffett: integrity, frugality, trust
Gautam Adani: hard worker, opportunist, entrepreneurial, risk-taker
Culture can be: strong or weak (widely known, deeply shared)
2 dimensions of organisational culture
Concern for people
The organization’s efforts to care for its employees’ well-being
Concern for performance
The organization’s efforts to focus on output and employee productivity
Four Organizational Culture Types
Apathetic: Minimal concern for people or performance
Caring: High concern for people; minimal concern for performance
Exacting: Minimal concern for people; high concern for performance
Integrative: High concern for people and performance
define a cultural audit
A cultural audit is an assessment of the organization’s values
how are culture and ethics linked?
Corporate culture is a significant factor in ethical decision making.
If a firm’s culture encourages or rewards unethical behavior, its employees may well act unethically.
An organization’s failure to monitor or manage its culture may foster questionable behavior.
Leadership is the ability or authority to guide and direct others towards achievement of a goal
Compliance-based cultures use a legalistic approach to ethics
Revolve around risk management, not ethics
Lack of long-term focus and integrity
Value-based cultures rely on mission statements that define the firm and stakeholder relations
Focus on values, not laws
Top-down integrity is critical
explain Compliance versus Value-Based Cultures
Compliance-based cultures use a legalistic approach to ethics
Revolve around risk management, not ethics
Lack of long-term focus and integrity
Value-based cultures rely on mission statements that define the firm and stakeholder relations
Focus on values, not laws
Top-down integrity is critical
explain the differential association
The idea that people learn ethical/unethical behavior while interacting with others
Studies support that differential association supports ethical decision making
Superiors have a strong influence on subordinates
Employees may go along with superiors’ moral judgments to show loyalty
what is whistle blowing
Exposing an employer’s wrongdoing to company outsiders
how to blow the whistle (7 steps)
Approach your immediate manager first Discuss the issue with your family Take it to the next level Contact your company’s ethics office Consider going outside your chain of command Go outside the company Leave the company
explain how leasers influence cooperate culture
Power refers to the influence that leaders and managers have over the behavior and decisions of subordinates
Control of resources, rewards and punishments
Status: respect and admiration
