Ethical Decisions: For Leadership Only?

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  sbrennaman35405/09/08 Report as spam
  1

  Ethical Decisions: For Leadership Only?

  Obviously I am in the minority on this one, but let me explain. As teh question was set up we are dealing with entry level employees who are usually not in a decision-making role for a period of time after they are hired. The leader (note I did not say manager) needs to instill in his team the concept of what he will and will not allow or condone. If junior or inexpereinced personnel are in a position to affect the company in a meaningful way then they should been trained (coached) in the ethical ways of good business. If I am a senior leader and my company's future and reputation is at stake I would rather a junior individual come to me or one of my trusted leaders and discuss the problem, tapping into a larger (and hopefully more expereinced) wealth of information and perspective. One only has to look at the trading excesses we have witnessed in recent years and the billions of dollars lost when an open atmosphere is not fostered or junior, less expereinced people are left on their own.

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  gisellepg05/09/08 Report as spam
  2

  RE: Ethical Decisions: For Leadership Only?

  Asking people not to think on their own is, in itself, UNETHICAL!

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  sbrennaman35405/09/08 Report as spam
  3

  Ethical Decisions: For Leadership Only?

  Unfortunately we have developed a generation of employees and future managers (not leaders) by telling them what to think (education and processes)rather than including how to think (rational, ethical, decision making processs). I do not want to stifle thought and initiative, we just need to be sure the individuals are prepared to make the decernment what is their decision and what is best left to a more senior and expereinced mentor or supervisor. What we do not want to do is crush the life out of someone who does make a decsion but we certainly do not want to set them up to fail (or the firm).

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  wherestheline05/13/08 Report as spam
  4

  I think we're a little off here.

  Gisellepg wrote that asking people not to think on their own is, in itself,
  unethical. But I think that's missing the point of this blog. The issue is not
  barring people from thinking on their own, but whether, when it comes to an
  ethical dilemma, we can trust low-level employees to act on their thought
  process without first consulting a supervisor.
  
  The votes so far indicate that half of respondents think the low-level
  employees can be trusted, but it's not crazy to think that going to a trusted
  superior for guidance can be a positive as well. The question was whether it
  should be policy for low-level employees to always bring ethical dilemmas up
  the chain. The people say no, and I agree with them.
  
  -William Baker
  Where's the Line?

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  JMC-105/09/08 Report as spam
  5

  RE: Ethical Decisions: For Leadership Only?

  This is why people developement and mentoring programs are so important in a company. Everyone needs someone to look up to and help them in their developement.

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  Exine05/12/08 Report as spam
  6

  ethical decision making

  I think the answer to this question depends on what the ethical question is. When the employee is deciding on their own actions, I think they should make the decision. When the employee sees something that affects others in the organization, I think they should raise the issue to the appropriate management level. Raising the issue can also give the employee some visibility with supervisors as to their ethical decision making.