Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making - Coursework Example

The paper "Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making" is a brilliant example of coursework on business. Ethical decision-making is a requirement for business professionals. The case of cheating and shady deals by huge corporations has raised concerns about the role of ethical decision making among the current business professionals (Cheney, May, & Munshi, 2011).  Ethical decision framework provides a guideline that can help in handling ethical dilemmas. Ethical decision-making is all about making decisions by considering all the sensitive issues and justice. 

            The ethical decision-making test by McGraw-Hill/Irwin tests the ability of an individual to handle ethical dilemmas by focusing on the most important issues and justice. The score attained in the assessment was 100%. The score implies that one possesses effective ethical decision-making skills. It is paramount to master the best way to handle decision making by focusing on the most important issues while emphasizing justice and sensitivity to all the issues.  In the real world, business professionals are faced with difficult decisions that make it hard to make the right decision (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2015).  The situation is worsened by the fact that a poor decision might lead to the collapse of something that has taken years of hard work and dedication to build.

            The feedback from the assessment revealed interesting information on my patterns of ethical decision-making. According to the feedback, I focus on obtaining the best results by assessing all the factors involved. The goal is to make a decision that carries maximum risk and minimal risk. In some cases, a compromise is necessary if the situation requires a clear decision to steer one in the right direction (Cheney, May, & Munshi, 2011).  As a business professional, I prefer to understand all the factors involved before making any final decision.  It is important to understand the motive for every action before passing a quick judgment.  The pattern revealed in the assessment is the tendency to assess the situation and focus on the factors that drive a situation in the right direction.

            The instrument is bound by a Universalist culture.  It emphasizes the importance of following rules and avoiding favoritism.  The Universalist culture has influenced the responses because the assessment tool leans on the rule being the right decision in most situations.  Ethical decision-making is about making the right decision without compromising the set rules and guidelines.  The answers to the assessment have to change in a particularistic culture. The answers would focus on maintaining relationships as opposed to upholding the law. The particularistic culture perspective views ethical decision making as something that tries to protect relationships and enhance understanding.  The answers would change from upholding the existing rules to answers that give priority to the security of relationships.

            The ethical decision-making assessment provides insights into patterns of decision-making and sensitivity to cross-cultural issues. The assessment tools revealed that, as a leader, I focus on the right thing and the existing rule.  It might be because of coming from a culture that views the rule of the law as the best way to avoid favoritism and prejudice.  It would be easy for me to thrive as an ethical leader in a Universalist culture as opposed to a particularistic culture (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2015). However, I can accommodate individuals from all these cultures.