ETHICS (Response to a Case Study Dilemma in an Information & Technology Organisation) - Essay Example

Ethics Importance of of Ethics to Organizations Review of literature shows varied ways of defining and naming of ethics’ by companies (Boudreau & Steiner 2). But as, code is defined as “a statement of policies, principles or rules that guide behavior” (Koontz & Weihrich 45) and ethics as “the analysis and determination of how people ought to act toward each other when judged against a set of values” (Truscott & Crook xix), ‘code of ethics’ can be defined as “an official corporate document approved by the board that forms the underpinning of a comprehensive program for helping to ensure ethical behavior and decision-making at all levels in the organization” (Boudreau & Steiner 2).

And as, organizations requires order, and as, every organization faces its own ethical problems, having a well-defined code of ethics is more than important to safeguard the organization against unethical practices detrimental to the organization’s reputation and services (Heermance 1). This is so because code of ethics set the tone for the expected company’s behavior as, “it outlines uniform policies, standards and punishments for violations” (Pride, Hughes, & Kapoor 45), thereby guiding organizations in dealing with and judging “situations not specifically covered in written instructions” (Canton 13).

These make code of ethics more than important to the organization as it ensures order in and secures the organization.The Ethics of Corporate GiftsIn business, not all gifts are pleasant and safe to receive as, these can be sources of ethical issues, specifically conflict of interest – “occurs when a person’s or organization’s obligation to act in the interest of another is interested with by a competing interest that may obstruct the fulfillment of that obligation” (Crane & Matten 366) as illustrated in the case under review.

Here, the stakeholders – the owner of a small printing business unexpectedly received a parcel containing 12 bottles of expensive scotch whisky in the mail from the manager of the business’s biggest contract delivery company, two weeks before New Year, yet a few weeks before the expiration of their contract. First, although gift giving is generally an act of goodwill, it is also a bribe. In this case, factors drawing the line between goodwill and bribe such as the relationship of the giver to the receiver, the timing, the costs, and the manner of delivery, indicate that the gift is meant to gain (Roa 106) the owner’s choice of Delivery Company in favor of the gift-giver as against other applicants.

In this light, acceptance of this gift violates ACS Code of Ethics (CoE) 4.1.a. “Be honest, forthright and impartial” (2), because you condone an unethical behavior denying other applicants of equal chance, and subverting the company’s trust. Second, not returning the gift to the giver due to personal considerations – in this case, they are acquaintance because their son’s are soccer teammates – violates ACS’s CoE 4.3.1. Place community interest above personal or sectional interest (2), because your judgment upholds not the organization but your personal interest.

Third, since the delivery company had been efficient, returning the gift which was discreetly delivered would be antagonizing that might harm your company. In this case, better apply CoE 4.10.7. Seek advice from the society (4). Since in the first place acceptance of gift that seeks to influence decision-making is generally unacceptable in professional (Kauffman 268) and business ethics (Peterson & Ferrell 15), rather than keeping the gift to yourself, better “bring the gift offer out into the open” (Mahoney & Vallance 186), because, the organization is in the best position to determine what to do with the gift.

By doing so also, you are not only protecting your job but you are also proving yourself respectable because transparency means clear conscience. Therefore, ethical standard urges you to uphold boundaries in doing business. Works CitedACS Code of Ethics. Australian Computer Society. August 2005 < www.acs.org.au>.Boudreaux, Greg, and Steiner, Tracey. “Developing a Code of Ethics”. Management Quarterly 2005: 2-10.Canton, Lucien G. Guard Force Management. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2003.

Crane, Andrew, and Matten, Dirk. Business Ethics, 2nd Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Heermance, Edgar L. Codes of Ethics: A Handbook. Burlington, VT: Free Press Printing, 1924.Kauffman, Kent. Legal Ethics, 2nd edition. USA: DELMAR Cengage Learning, 2008. Koontz, Harold, and Weihrich, Heinz. Essentials of Management: An International Perspective, 7th Edition. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company Limited, 2007.Mahoney, John, and Vallance, Elizabeth M. Business Ethics in a New Europe.

The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1992.Peterson, Robert Allen, and Ferrell, O. C. Business ethics: new challenges for business schools and corporate leaders. New York: M.E. Sharp, Inc., 2005.Roa, Fr. Floriano C. Business Etrhics and Social Responsibility. Manila, RP: Rex Bookstore, Inc., 2007.William M. Pride, Robert James Hughes, Jack R. Kapoor. Business, 9th Edition. U.S.A: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008.Truscott,Derek and Crook, Kenneth H. Ethics for the Practice of Psychology in Canada.

Canada: The University of Alberta Press, 2004.