Journal Reflecting Individual Learning - Assignment Example

Learning Reflective Journal Name Institution Course Tutor Date Individual learning Based on the unit that I undertook, there are a number of tasks that assisted me in learning but in different magnitude in that, some tasks assisted me in learning greatly while others assisted me least. I learned greatly from the chapter that dealt with the nature of morality and more so why ethics in business matters. From this task, I learned that ethics deals with the moral rules that govern us, a person’s individual character, fairness and unfairness as well as the question of whether something is right and wrong. I learned that, businesses need to adhere to moral standards at all times. Therefore, businesses irrespective of the industry they are operating in needs to ensure that the products they offer to people are healthy and safe, the employees work in safe conditions, people are not biased in any way and the privacy of the employees and other partners are not invaded and they are respected. I understood that, all these aspects matter and they are likely to affect the human well-being. Based on the reading, I also understood that the moral standards should always take priority over all the other standards such as self-interest. This is based on the nature of the relations we form with one another since they are at the centre of our ethical concerns. I learned greatly from this task due to the manner in which the concepts were explained in an easy to understand manner. I also had prior knowledge of the topic, thus the task helped in adding into the already existing knowledge of the concept. Thus, I added up to what I already knew about the aspects of morality and more so when it relates to business. I also learned greatly since over time, I have noted that, there is an emerging trend in business and that they are upholding ethics and advocating it to their employees. A major learning point was on the aspect of virtue. I learned that, virtues are those aspects that are considered to be mostly exhibited by a person who is morally good and thus, it is always treated as the mean point on the continuum between the vice of excess and vice of deficiency. I learned that, in such aspects, one needs to have an ethical mindset and the various moral judgments ought to be logical and always be founded on facts. I also learned that, there are various kinds of rights such as the human rights, legal rights, the moral rights and business needs to adhere to these rights at all times. This is based on the notion that, corporations tend to enjoy the same status as well as functions as the ones that are enjoyed and carried out by the human beings. This is the case since the corporations can enter into contacts, own property and at the same time make decisions. Thus, in this respect, the corporations ought to be held morally responsible for all their actions in the community. At the same time, the businesses have an obligation in that; they ought to consider all the groups that their actions can affect as well as the overall impact on the society. I learned most from this by acknowledging the fact that, a socially responsible behavior is positively correlated to the financial success of corporations. I am at ensuring that corporations I work in are socially responsible to enhance the success and achievement of the set individual and organizational goals. In addition to the above task, there are those tasks in which I learned least from them. Such a task was the tutorial on international business, which entailed the moral and ethical issues and globalization. From this task, I learned that the cultural, social, economic and political aspects are connected in a way and due to this, technology, distance, culture; communication and ideas have over time become universal instead of being localized in nature. I learned least from this task since I had prior knowledge on how some multinationals ignore the human rights, abuses them and this is mainly allowed by cultural relativism. I also had prior knowledge of the fact that, corporations operating globally are always expected to behave as the corporate citizens and more so in the developing countries in which they are operating in. This is attributed to the fact that, the MNCs are usually exposed to a number of consumer backlashes and more so when they are seen to have transgressed. I also knew and acknowledged the fact that, in instances when there is little or at times nothing in form of political legislation that is aimed at enforcing good behavior in the developing countries. In such instances, the corporations therefore have no legal obligation to pursue any form of responsibility. EBL Learning I made use of the Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) process to assist me in my understanding of the business ethics. EBL usually covers a spectrum of approaches as shown in the diagram below (Palmer 2000). When I made use of the EBL process in business ethics, it helped me greatly in understanding the topic in a better way. This can be greatly attributed to the provoking nature of the learning objectives and outcomes that were imposed to me as a student prior to the start of every lecture and tutorial and at the provoking nature of the endings. Based on these, I was able to reflect and know to what extent I had learned from a certain topic and thus, in instances where I failed to understand and comprehend certain aspects, I had to enquire or conduct research to learn and understand more in the end. A major way in which my learning and understanding process was enhanced by the use of EBL was through the meditative analysis that I engaged in and more so when learning about the various components of business ethics and how the actions of businesses can affect the individuals and the society at large. The question asked made me to research widely to seek the right answers for the questions? A good example of a question that I had to research widely is related to the standards and principles that I should live by? This question was a great revelation to me and more so when it came to aspects that I should uphold and which ones among them I should always avoid ensuring easier collaboration with others. The EBL process also helped me greatly and this was due to the motivation offered by the various readings that were outlined and needed to be studied to ensure completion of the course. From the various lectures slides provided, I always read various materials and even conducted research on the various websites, on journals and other research papers with the main of addressing the various question in the most appropriate way. For example, I researched greatly on striking of workers (Anand & Rosen 2008). From such readings, I was able to understand that, strikes usually read to a number of serious moral issues. I was able to acknowledge that a strike can only be justifiable if it fulfills the condition below; it has a just cause, has the proper authorization and it should always be used as the last resort in instances when it takes place, it should always be peaceful. I benefited from the EBL process as the lecture became the facilitator and at the same time, offered the much needed encouragement as well the support to enable me in taking full responsibility on what and how I learn of the various issues that needed to be learned before the end of the semester. The EBL process was also beneficial to me in that, through it, I also expanded on what I had already learned and I achieved this by following my own research interests. Business Ethics i. Moral Dilemma A moral dilemma that I faced took place some years back when I was working at a retail store. I noticed that we had charged a customer’s twice for the services rendered to her and this customer was a frequent customer in our store. It was after about one week that we discovered the mistake that we had done. The customer was not aware that he had paid for the product twice. When it came to finding the solution to the problem at hand, there were two main arguments of the best way to handle the given situation. One group of employees and I included was of the opinion that, we would keep the money and divide it amongst ourselves. The other group was against the first idea and they thought that the best way was to refund the customer and make apologies for the mistake. When the above situation arose, I was of the opinion that, it was good to keep the money and share it among ourselves and I thought that it was the right way to handle the situation. From the wide knowledge that I have gained over time in relation to business ethics and the moral obligations of employees, I am sure I am likely to react in a very different manner. The various lectures on ethics in business and in my personal life have played an essential role in my change of behaviors and in the manner in which I make decisions. I have been able to appreciate the fact that, businesses need to be ethical and shun away from any immoral behavior and thus, I have known that I need to uphold ethics at a personal level prior to expecting others to upholding it (Anand & Rosen 2008). By doing so, we would be setting a bad example to the others employees and this would in a way ruin or cripple the business in the near future. I now understand that the action we wanted to take of failing to inform the customer of the double service would be termed as a way of defrauding a loyal customer of the company. Since fate, is not known in instances where the customer would notice the double payments, it would have vital effects to the business and to me as the individual who handled the transaction. It is always right to do what is morally right, always to enhance the relationship with the customers and to maintain them for a long period. From the topic learned, I now understand better that employees of organizations have a moral obligation of always doing what is right and always treating the customer in the most appropriate manner. Thus, employees need to always ensure that, they treat all customers in the same manner and in a manner; they would want to be treated if they were the customers (Murphey et al. 2007). In this respect, I will always ensure that the customer is informed of anything pertaining to him or her that may have gone wrong. This will go a long way in ensuring that we gain the trust of the customers and ultimately translate to the success of the business in their endeavors since doing what is morally and ethically right will attract a great number of customers. ii. Understanding of ethical theories & moral reasoning An understanding of ethical theories & moral reasoning will assist me to apply business ethics in my future professional practice by making sure that I engage and act as a good example of the ethical behaviors those others in the professional field and even with others that I interact outside the work environment. A major way in which will exhibit what I have learned in the business ethics is by acting and doing according to what I have learned over time. I will always ensure that I work in a diligent manner and that I am a disciplined employees and the best way in which I will demonstrate these is through my work by handling it in the moist ethical manner and in a manner, which offers benefits to all the involved parties. A great number of employees have been known to act in the best manner and more so when they are being watched by the superiors and the acting in a different manner when they are not been watched. I will ensure that I undertake my work in a similar manner whether am being watched or not. By doing so will ensure that I completed my allocated task on time and I will act as a good example to the other employees in the same departments. Through this, I will always motivate the others to work in a similar manner and thus increase the output of our department in general (Murphey et al. 2007). In instance when I make a decision to be self-employed, I will always ensure that the employees working in my business understands and uphold the aspect of business ethics. I will ensure this by offering them some short courses on business ethics to help them when working in my premises and in other premises in future. The clear understanding of the reasons as to why they should apply ethical behavior will be of great benefit to them than just following what is outlined to please their supervisors. By doing so I will be assured that, my customers are, receiving the right kind of services and are treated in an ethical and morally right manner (Boddy, Ladyshewsky & Galvin PG 2010). The customers will in this manner receive services that are equivalent to their money they have payed for. An understanding of ethical theories & moral reasoning will assist me to apply business ethics in my future professional practice by making me more confident in all aspects that I will be entitled to do in the organization since there will be nothing to hide. This will assist me greatly in meeting the various set deadlines and the customers I will serve will leave the premises and satisfied and even willing to conduct business with our organization in the future. I will therefore ensure that I undertake the roles and responsibilities in the proposed and outlined manner. This will ensure that the work that I deliver at the end will be pleasing and accurate and it can be used as a replica that others can follow (Watson 2003). References Anand, V & Rosen, C 2008, ‘The Ethics of Organizational Secrets’, Journal of Management Inquiry, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 97. Boddy C, Ladyshewsky, K & Galvin, P 2010, ‘Leaders without ethics in global business: corporate psychopaths’, Journal of Public Affairs, vol 10. Murphey, P & Laczniak; G 2007, ‘An ethical basis for relationship marketing: a virtue ethics perspective’, European Journal of Marketing, vol 41. Palmer, S., 2000, ‘Enquiry based learning can maximize a student’s potential’, Psychology Learning & Teaching, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 82-86. Watson, T 2003, ‘Ethical Choice in Managerial Work: The Scope for Managerial Choices in an Ethically Irrational World’, Human Relations, vol. 56. no. 2, pp. 167–85. Read More