Deontology and Teleological Ethical Theories - Essay Example

………………………………. Group…………………………………… Unit ………………………… Submitted to…………………………. assessment details issued…………………. assessment due………………….. Date submitted Signed (Tutor) Student declaration I confirm that this is my own work and that I have not plagiarised any part of it. I have also noted the assessment criteria and pass mark. Signed…………………………… Date…………………………… Introduction Business ethics analyzes closely ethical values and moral problems that arise in a business setting. Recent reports portray that American consumers are insisting that people who run businesses or employed in businesses should be honest and straightforward in their dealings. Honesty, fairness, respect and integrity in business can create long term value for any given business. For example, well governed business get more customers and realize more profits in the end as compared to businesses operated by cruel, dishonest and exploitative individuals. Code of ethics is a firm reminder of how businesses should conduct their affairs. For a business organization to be able to come up with appropriate code of ethics, it important for leaders to know the kind of ethics which directs decision making and the direction the company is aiming at. Employee’s contribution is essential when creating code of ethics of a given company. This is because they are involved in day to day running of the business. When they participate, they are likely to follow or respect their ideas and recommendations. Organizations are facing great environmental instability and uncertainty. Currently, businesses, public service and voluntary organizations are operating in business contexts which are unpredictable and unstable. In addition, they are faced with rapid change. In order to guarantee companies survival, attain their specific goals and objectives as well as react to market and contextual uncertainties, organization leaders have responsibility of identifying, formulating and enforcing proper strategies. Those managing organizations will have to consider normative values and standards of ethics in which the organizations and society function. Deontology Ethical theory Deontology is born from the word Deon, a Greek word that refers to duty. Deon refers to points of view where actions are considered as being ethical or not. It is also known to be the theory or model of moral obligation study. In terms of ethical decision making, deontological approach was known to be a non-consequentialist theory. This indicates that end results or consequences of an action or activity do not dictate whether the action was right (correct) or wrong. This is because a bad deed can cause a positive outcome. It refuses the popular view that the end justifies the means. For example, a person steals money to be able to provide food and shelter for his or her starving family. It also asserts that a good character is not good absolutely. Ones kind or good deeds or words may result in bad things. The degree of morality in activities conducted is determined by the understanding and institutionalization of right-wrong principles. It is also influenced by individual autonomy as well as practicing the teachings of good morals. The decision maker determines the universal principles by use of reversibility law. A person is more likely to stick to moral teachings if she or he is likely to be contented or gain in the process. Deontological theory is of the view that adhering to the existing rules and accomplishing ones duty is an indication of doing a right thing. The theory is considered absolutist because there is no other choice to the rules. It argues that people must follow the rules and there is no other alternative whatsoever. Deontological theory also argues that people should follow the set rules and accomplished duties to achieve a greater good. The theory expects people to tell the truth no matter the consequences for the greater good. Teleological ethical theory Teleology is a word derived from Greek. It means a goal (consequence). It categorizes activities, actions or theories as ethical or morally upright depending on the end results or consequences. If an action or an act produce a favorable or good end result, teleology theory considers is right. A good result indicates that the person had a positive intention of doing something. It can be summarized that the end validates the means of achieving that end. Therefore, an action can be justified as being bad or wrong, depending on whether a given actions yield good or bad results or consequences. This theory allows an individual in any situation to be able to come up with what is right or wrong. Therefore, it is referred to as a theory of relativity and is bias towards situational ethics. Situational ethics insists that right and wrong remains relative to a given situation. The theory may allow circumventing of rules or morality as the end result is positive and acceptable to many. Comparing and contrasting absolute and relative ethics There are two main similarities of absolute and relative ethics. Both ethics theories are viewed as extremists in defining what is right or wrong in the society. Both are out of tough with reality. Secondly, both Absolute ethics and relative ethics are empirically supported. There are facts that explain both ethic theories. Absolute ethics theory suggests existence of universal moral standard to guide people in choosing what is wrong or right while relative ethics opposes the availability of universal moral standards. In absolute ethics, the word standard presents two perceptions. First, it describes the action taken and second it prescribes an action that ought to have been taken. However, relative ethics recognizes descriptive sense of the word standard. It believes that the meaning of the word varies according to a given time and place (situational). In absolute ethics, what is thought to be right and what is actually right is differentiated. While, relativist believes what is thought to be right and what is actually right is similar. The role of the company as moral agent According to Ferrell et al (2009), apart from companies being profit making entities, they also act as moral agents in the society. Companies must be accountable, respectful, transparent and honest to their employees, shareholders, investor, customers, government agencies and the natural environment. Companies should be held accountable and responsible to their actions everywhere at all times. Organizations are often considered artificial citizens and have similar rights as natural citizens and residents of a given nation. Companies play critical roles in promoting economic growth and development through employment of citizens, providing markets, producing and distributing needed products and services as well as generating profits (wealth) to shareholders. This means company actions has the greatest influence in people lives and the economy in which it operates. Therefore, it can be strategically used to dictate the actions of its employees, environment, government, shareholders as well as it suppliers. Companies can dictate behaviors of their employees and other stakeholders; act responsibly and fund activities that promote moral uprightness. First, companies can influence the lives of its stakeholders by inducing people to be morally upright in their ways. Most companies fire misbehaving employees, who defraud the company or who pursue criminal activities. Most companies demand that a potential employee produces a certificate of good conduct before being allowed to work in the company. Most organizations suggest that the best way to develop a corporate culture is through provision of education which concerns character to their employees as they view ethic to be an individual matter. In fact, some companies prefer hiring those with adorable character and then create awareness about the existing ethical issues. However, it will be impossible reach to an agreement on various ethical issues since companies who are concerned with worldwide economic activity employ several individuals with diverse culture. In order to come up with consistent decisions that address stakeholder’s interest, adequate ethical policies should be put in place. Secondly, a company that act and is perceived to be conducting it s affairs in an honest and transparent manner may encourage employees and even other members of the public to responsibly. When companies observe legal requirements, they act responsibly and accountable. As a result, they operate smoothly without disturbance from the public and law enforcing agencies. Hence they become more productive. Such companies are envy to many who wish to be successful and admirable as them. Thirdly, some companies under the corporate social responsibility hat may decide to honor and financially reward a person who exhibits high levels of moral uprightness in a society. Such gestures from companies induce other members of the society to adopt sound ethical considerations as they work and interact with people and environment which they live. The need for organizations to deserve the public interest and development of trusting relationships with a wide range of stakeholders Due to public suspicion in the current environment, the major concern for most organizations top leaders is how they can strongly gain and maintain the public interest and be able to come with long-lasting relationship with various stakeholders. To attract the interest of the public, organizations have to engage with the public and audiences in the community. At the local level, organization must relate to the community through public relation. Community relations helps in evaluating the attitude of the public through it the organization will attain its goal. They will be able to speak out about their existing products and services to those having the potential to buy from the organization. The range of competing business objectives and limitations of short-termism Business objectives drive the organization forward. Objectives are set in different functions of the business including marketing, accounting production, personnel and supply chain. Through the market trends, various demands of customers and the abilities of suppliers, business functions are affected by external factors. In a company, business objectives belong to everyone. Regardless of the level of articulation, the objectives in a company are important and cannot be ignored. An appropriate way of increasing the value of a given business is by managing objectives execution in an accurate manner. Most companies change while responding to existing challenges and opportunities. Considering the current capabilities and constraints of an organization, developing original objectives may be unattainable. In such a case, existing objectives will have to be redesigned and execution adjustment will be essential. Limitation of short-termism The first disadvantage of the short term orientation in a company increases the number of transactions. Increase in the number of transactions increase costs in the long term. Some company strategies and aims may seem cheaper in the short term but can be costly in the end. Secondly, managers who are focused to the benefits of short term trading do not concentrate on the long-term performance of the organization. They will not play any role in enhancing corporate policies which includes corporate governance and the proper proxy voting policies, which sustains and profit the organization in the long term. In the capitalist system risk taking is important. However, the recent market failures portrays the consequences faced by corporation and the economy resulting from high risk strategies intended to generate high returns in the short run. Thirdly, it is harmful to the organization shareholders who are aiming to attain sustainable earnings and growth in the long-term. This happens as short term investors are mainly interested in the quarterly earnings and other short term benefits. The future of the organization may remain uncertain especially if the top management is focused to fulfill the goals of the short term investors. Analyzing the development of mechanisms within organizations for achieving employee involvement and empowerment International Business Machine (IBM) is a transnational American company that develops computers and provides Information Technology solutions to most countries in the world. The company believes in empowering its employees in a bid to prepare them for challenging business environment. The company empowers its employees in three main ways including skill development, improved work environment and creating powerful organization’s culture. First is the development of skills of employees. IBM has a rigorous skill and knowledge development programme used to mould promising business leaders and talented employees in the organization. In addition, the company provides job opportunities for career growth and development. Secondly, the company creates an enabling environment for employees to deliver their best. This is done by offering necessary resources and equipments to undertake various jobs. The company also tries as much as possible to allow employee autonomy by creating a flexible working environment. Workers at IBM enjoy individualized schedule of work as well as flexible working hours. These enable employees to save time and their energies that would be directed towards achievement of organizational goals. Thirdly, IBM creates a diverse culture to accommodate talent from diverse cultural orientations. This allows the company to accept people as they are as long as they are able to perform and deliver company’s objectives and goals. The company accommodates wide range of human characteristics including race, gender, economic status and political affiliations among many others. Describing the critical ethical assumptions / values shown by a selected organisation relating to a current business issue Most companies fail to pass the test of morality no matter how good they look. Companies are managed by human beings whose nature is tinted with some misdemeanors. As much as IBM is considered one of the best employers in the world, it has its own skeleton in the corporate closet. Jodie Rose claimed that she was fired because she was a woman. She claimed that if a male person in the organization would have updated the inventory in January 2004 as she did, he would have been treated differently (warned or suspended). Fortunately, she won the case. The second incident is that of John Oslon who was fired by honoring a family obligation. He was fired because he took time off to take care of his ailing wife. Thirdly, older employees took IBM to court for implementing a discriminatory employee benefit plan called a cash-balance plan. The benefit plan that was implemented by IBM in early 1990’s increased the chances of older employees losing income and other benefit they had worked for. The above three actions can be described as breach of ethics. Recommendations Empowerment involves giving greater discretion to the employees. This requires those in the top leadership to create proper climate, atmosphere and culture which enables individual doing the job to be able, accountable and responsible. It is a process which requires well planned preparations and guidelines. To be successful in empowering employees, employees’ opinions assumptions and the attitudes have to be identified and included in development of various plans. For example, the IBM needs to have considered older employees when implementing new benefits plans. Inclusion happens when employees’ contributions are in line with expectations of the company. Secondly, barrier to empowerment should be recognized and removed. This include: organization culture, most organization are bureaucratic and resistant to change. Yet others discriminate over certain group of persons. Psychological factors should also be handled; organization managers may be negative about empowerment as they fear losing control and authority. Control should also be in place as the workforce may fear being allocated certain responsibilities. Thirdly, it requires boundaries to be established. The boundaries must be well elaborated to prevent employees from loosing their jobs unnecessarily. In addition, companies need to consider the role of a family unit in boosting productivity of employees. This will protect employees from being fired when they attend to family responsibilities. Even though freedom is given, it has a given limit. It requires staff to refer certain problems to those above them. Fourth, those involved should be provided with support. The organization should provide support to staff who cannot find solutions on their own. The fifth point is that there should be an agreement in the objectives and measures of performance. Empowerment requires the organization to make an agreement with staff on the organization objectives. This would increase employee efficiency and effectiveness. Bibliography Ferrell, O, Fraedrich, J & Ferrell, L 2009, Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, Cengage Learning, USA. Read More