Accounting and Business Ethics - Coursework Example

Philosopher Research Paper Introduction For successful relations in any business, there is need to value the different ethical standings and consider them carefully while relating to ensure a motivated team that feels appreciated and a well-satisfied customer base that develops loyalty in the product that the company has to offer. Work is currently seen as a baseline for defining man, who they truly are and what they stand for (Lock, 2013). These blended with the way they relate to each other at the work place what they consider as good and bad behavior makes it more ethical and respectful at the work place. The field of Accounting and Business is filled with many aspects ranging from financial to customer related. It takes good work ethics to work with these items and remain transparent in all acts. Maintenance of moral standings that favor the business field relates to work ethics (McPhail & Walters, 2009). In relation to business, a number of philosophers have emerged with different thoughts on the management and ethics aspect of a business. These ranging from the most prominent like Aristotle, to the well known managers that proved their thoughts like Steve Jobs covered different aspects ranging from leadership and encouraging innovation at the work places in an ethical manner that exercised fairness, equality and equal warrant for ethics in the work environment. The research study that follows will much base on the works of Aristotle in his different thoughts on ethics application in leadership both in business that spans from the accounting field to others including human resource. Thesis statement Any business to succeed in maintaining good employees there is need to exercise ethics in the different departments. Ethics shapes the organizational culture and the behavior of employees determining their performance, which all shoulders on the nature of leadership ethics practiced. Key philosophies According to Aristotle, for any business and field to have employees succeed in achieving their potential, there is need for the leader to create a conducive environment to stimulate these reactions. The leader is tasked with creating an environment that favors all employees with regard to realizing their own potential (O’Toole, 2014). In any business environment, the culture that the leaders cultivate in the people is the culture that the work place lives practicing. The leadership role spreads the different effect to the accounting and other fields in the business that relate. It then enforces ethics in the employees and lets them behave in an ethical way. The need for ethics reflects in many means. These range from consideration of charges in the accounting field, the practice of transparency in all aspects, confidentiality in the details of the organization one works in, the control of conflict of interest and the practice of fair treatment of all employees. With regard to leadership, the leadership of the organization shapes the rules and conditions that the work place adopts. These need to maintain a fair judgment on all employees and ensure that each employee is treated in an equal manner to encourage motivation and guide the employees to work harder. The leadership provides the driving force that employees follow. Exemplifying to the employees the basic approach to work is mandatory. Good leadership like that of Steve Jobs encourages innovation and creativity within the employees. It ensures that the hiring process is free and fair. All employees are selected based on merit and qualifications. Through this, the employees that an organization obtains work better towards developing the organization and making a reasonable contribution. They work around ethics that demonstrate respect and hard work. These all relate to thoughts that the different philosophers have developed around the subject. Independent thoughts that govern businesses and the accounting field (Pava, 2010). In considering remuneration for employees, ethics dictate for a fair consideration of all employees. The employees also need to know their fair remunerations based on their skills and qualification. Overcharging employers for skills or underpaying employees is considered an unethical treatment. The organization needs to consider a fair scale through which they consider each employee’s efforts in the organization. Through this, the organization rewards hard work and motivates the employees in the right way as per Aristotle and this will provide better leadership that will cover employee motivation. Considering the remuneration package will ensure that employees remain motivated to obtain reasonable income. The organization also needs to exercise transparency to the stakeholders ranging from employees, to customers. The employees in the accounting fields are mandated to exercise transparency as way away of developing open cash management systems that will protect the organization’s resources. Exercising transparency will lead to better management systems and confidence in employees that allows organizations to develop the skills of their employees and maintain a good flow of energy within them. The need to exercise confidentiality has also developed in the current century as a necessity in the business ethics advocated for. The need to exercise confidentiality is backed by the need to remain ahead of the competition. For an organization like Coca Cola to have survived to date with the raging competition, much confidentiality on its processes and products have been placed in order. The company has maintained the secret to their product development over the years despite the numerous employees that it has employed. The company has managed to maintain confidentiality and hence their market leadership for the years. The company has developed numerous policies that govern the confidentiality aspect. These have played central towards developing a culture within the organization that has controlled employees and ensured they remain focused towards helping the organization reach its objectives. Several times the interests of the employees and those of the employer may conflict due to a number of aspects that if not controlled would harm the relationship of the employees and the employer. These need close monitoring and exercising of stringent ethical means in ensuring that proper boundaries exist that distinguish personal aspects from those of the of the organization. Applications of these ethical guides lead to better working relations between the employees and the employer. Practicing of fair treatment of all employees will develop motivation to work harder. In an organization setting that practices nepotism or favoritism in employees promotions, rewards and work allocation, employees lose motivation. The application of fairness in these aspects motivates employees and encourages them. Investing in a culture that respects this attribute through the leadership of the organization is in line with the thoughts raised by Aristotle in relation to management of employee. Ethics relates to these too. It relates to ensuring that the work force is in great shape for work each time and it is well suited for the roles. The leadership provides the conducive environment through which these work. Conclusion Aristotle believed that for any organizations to succeed and achieve their agenda there is need to have a motivated work force. A team that is dedicated to work and more influenced by the need to work and perform better will help the organization achieve its goals. The application of work ethics in the leadership in an organization is important to enforce these factors. It is vital for creation of better organization cultures and leading to better employee’s motivation that plays a role in encouraging innovation, creativity, organizational cohesiveness, and hence constant improvement in the performance of the organization. In the accounting field, transparency, confidentiality, remuneration and ethical conduct is vital in keeping the organization on course to achieving its goals. All these factors can successfully be instilled in employees through the leadership that needs to employ ethics in managing employees. Considering these factors, one understands the role of leadership in managing all sectors of an organization like developed by Aristotle. It is therefore essential that all organizations employ ethics in managing affairs for a motivated work force and a successful business life. Following the thoughts of Ronald Dusk, these aspects too relate to accounting ethics (Cooper, 2011). References Cooper, L. (2011). Interview: Accounting Ethics. http://thephilosopherseye.com/2011/09/08/interview-accounting-ethics/ Lock, R. D. (2013). Job Search: Career Planning Guide, Book 2. Cengage Learning. McPhail, K. & Walters, D. (2009). Accounting and Business Ethics: An Introduction. Routledge. O’Toole, J. (2014). Advice from Aristotle. Retrieved from http://www.scu.eduethics/publications/submitted/otoole/business-ethics-aristotle.html. Pava, M. L. (2010). Teaching Accounting Ethics: A Thought Experiment. New York. Sy Syms School of Business. Retrieved from http://raw.rutgers.edu/docs/seminars/MosesPavaPaper.pdf Read More