Throughout this term, this course has challenged us to look
inside of ourselves, the way we perceive others, and how morality, ethics, and
values affect leadership. We have taken
a look at the effects cultural issues have on us our organizations, and society
as a whole. We have defined ethics, explored moral
behavior, and the relationship between relativism and morality along the way. The three topics that stood out to me most and
grabbed my attention were: ethics in technology, living morally, and ethics in
society.
Technology is an organizational necessity. We use technology to communicate, collect
data, prepare reports, in marketing campaigns, to increase productivity, and to
network. One aspect of technology I do
not believe we covered was the effect of technology on job displacement in the
workplace. As technology expands and we
look for “easier” ways to develop and manufacture products, we are increasingly
relying on automation which replaces jobs previously performed by humans. “The use of information technology might
require less deployment of man power and this has created ethical dilemmas by
forcing some companies to reduce their workforce. Other companies give their
employees more roles than required, thus, increasing work pressure. Forcing
employees out of their jobs or giving them more work without added benefits is
unethical” (Williams & Media, n.d.).
Do companies have a moral obligation to keep members of their community employed? Is it immoral to lay people off in order to
save money and maximize profits? Robots
do not need breaks, they do not call out sick, and are not watching the clock
in order to leave at 5 for the day. One does
not need to look any further than the city of Detroit to see the effects that
technology has had on a once thriving community before technology took over.
Living a moral life is something this course has really
challenged me to reflect on and consider in my everyday life. LaFollette (2007) wrote “The primary aim of
moral thinking is to help us be less cruel, more caring, fairer, and more just –
in short, to make this a morally better place” (Location 3218). We have the ability to make the encounters we
have with others pleasant. We have the
ability to genuinely show that we care about the well-being of others. Each of us can a make a difference if we
think more about the consequences of our actions. When I was younger I just did things to do
them. No thought, no consideration how
my actions would be received or how they may affect others. Luckily for me I have come to a point in my
life where I take the time to weight out my options before I make a
decision. I have become unselfish. Do I still make mistakes? Absolutely.
How else can I learn if I do not fail in my life? Experiences are learning opportunities. It is up to me to decide whether I want to
live a moral, just life. I would like to
be remembered as thoughtful, caring, and unselfish. I want to be able to share the lessons I have
learned and pass those along in an effort to make the world just a little
better. If we do not attempt to make contributions
or to help others along the way, what type of leaders will we be?
There are many hot topic ethical issues we face in this
country. Some of those issues are: pro-life
vs. pro-choice, gun laws, the death penalty, and assisted suicide. Each issue has its own unique “side of the
coin”. Factors that influence what side
of these issues we are on can be: our principles, our perspectives, our values,
and context. Each of these help to form
how we choose. On the issue of abortion,
some might identify as pro-life based on their religious beliefs. Some might say that a woman’s body is her own
and she has the right to choose what is in her best interest. Who is right?
Should there be bans on certain types of weapons or would such
restriction go against our constitutional rights? These debates have been going on for
decades. Does government have the right
to tell us what to do or should we be free to make our own decisions? Government says we have the right to bear
arms but is it fair to cherry pick what aspects of government intrudes on our
freedoms and which ones we agree with? LaFollette (2007) wrote “Humans are
notoriously bad at judging risk. Often
we are unaware of, or are inattentive to, the seriousness of risks” (Location 2864). It is important to remember to weigh the
risks associated with ethical decision making. It is equally important to remember (and
respect) that others will have different views and values than myself. It is what makes us unique and we should not
try to impose our ideals on others.
I have enjoyed this course.
It has reminded me to take pause and to reflect. It has reminded me that the decisions I make
don’t just affect me, they affect those around me as well. We are all different however we all have to
live together. By being considerate,
kind, and thoughtful we all have the ability to leave a positive influence on
the lives of those we touch on a daily basis.
And indirectly, we have the ability to influence and help others we have
never even met through our ideals and values.
LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishing.
Williams, R., & Media, D. (n.d.). Ethical Dilemma in the
Use of Information Technology. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ethical-dilemma-use-information-technology-18366.html
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