Week 8: Professionalism and Organizational Ethics

This course is well underway, and many professional and organizational ethical issues are being discussed in the student online forums. There are many viewpoints being expressed with great verve, passion and personal commitment. Individuals are expressing what they believe. In so doing, it is also imporant to state why one holds a particular position, and upon what ethical principle that position rests.

If one holds that an executive or employee, a group of professionals, an organization, or an industry is "responsible" what does that mean? Why are they "responsible"? What makes them "responsible"?

From a utilitarian ethical perspective were the needs of the minority being served at the expense or exploitation of the majority? From a deontological viewpoint were intrinsic rights being violated? From a virtue or character ethic were certain values (e.g., trust, honesty, etc.) not being upheld?

Then, there is the question, what does "responsibility" actually mean? Does it entail being accountable for one's decision and actions? Does it also carry with it the charge to make restitution to those that were harmed by one's actions?

That raises another question. The most basic ethical principle is "do no harm." Now, what does that entail? In what ways is an individual, group or organization not to harm others? Does it refer to only bodily harm, or does it also include psychological harm? Harm to one's livelihood and reputation? What about negatively impacting the environment which endangers others, or even future generations?

As professionals these are important notions to define, and about which to be as clear about as possible.

As a professional one has responsibilities to one's self, one's place of employment, one's co-workers, one's customers, clients, etc., one's business associates, one's profession and/or industry field, and one's civic community (local, national and global). Then there are the responsibilities to one's family, friends, etc. What are the responsibilities that one has to each of the above. And when one harms one of the above, how is that harm to be rectified? What type of restitution is to be made?

Being a professional entails being trustworthy. The customer and client relationship is founded upon trust and reliability. Customers and cleinets put their faith in professionals. There is an inherent promise that one will not be harmed by the product or service, that the product or service will provide what it says it will provide. The product will have the value it claims to have. There is also an inherent promise that the professional providing the service is telling the truth. This contract between the professional and customer or client is the foundation of doing business. When a customer or client is harmed there is a breach of the above promise and trust.

Besides being honest, there is also the unspoken presumption that the customer or client will be treated with the respect and dignity due to him or her.

It also must be said that in this contract the customer or client is also expected to be trustworthy, honest, and respectful of the professional. Like the professional, (s)he is not to take advantage of or exploit the professional.

When being a professional one is always weighing personal interest over and against acting for the benefit or good of the customer or client. The temptation is to act in a manner that favors personal gain at the expense of the one being served. All know how easy it is to rationalize why such an approach in any given situation is ethical.

So, when serving a customer or working with a client, how does one work for the benefit of one's professional interests, one's company or organization, the customer or client, and the civic community?

As a professional, how does one consciously and proactively strive to ensure that customers and clients undestand the nature of the product or service? To alert customers or cleinets to the risks involves? To the ramifications of their choices involving the product or service? What responsibility does the professional (and the company, organization, or industry) have to be transparent about product's or service's characteristics, potential for harm, etc.?

The above leads to another important exploration of professional responsibility. The greater the product or service has to do harm, the greater the responsibility a professional must shoulder. When and how does a professional have to intervene on a customer's or client's behalf and discourage him/her from purchasing the product or service? When is allowing the customer or cleint to purchase the product or service causing the professional to be "irresponsible" to be "unprofessional"? If one is to retain professional integrity and one's organization, the customer, or the law demands that one put the customer or client in harms way, does one need to "walk away" from that organization, transaction, or industry? Why or why not?

Following upon this discussion of professional responsibility, how does one seek profitability while working for the common good? How does one actively safeguard customers and clients? How does a company or organization operate in a manner that appropriately and equitably benefits all of its stakeholders?

This leads to a discussion of Corporate Social Resposnbility (CSR). To begin, CSR does not mean that capitalism is inherently corrupt or evil. It speaks to how capitalism can work for the good of the organization, employees, vendors, and citizens. It speaks of an organization's responsibiliy to the wider global community, and its ability to enhance people in general, not just owners and shareholders. It addresses how an organization can operate in a responsible manner.

A company, in trying to work out its CSR philosophy and practice, and the values that guide it, runs into the same problem that all people face--the tenstion between the individual and the collective, the person and society.

For hundreds of years in the West, ethics has tended to focus on the individual--individual rights, personal property, self-actualization, self-fulfillment, personal achievements, personal character, etc. The social component of human existence has become subjugated to the personal. When an individual or organization is part of a society what responsibility does one or the organization have to ensure that the society or community flourishes, just as the individual flourishes? That the rights of the society are not violated, just as the rights of the individual are not violated? That the happiness of the majority is sought and gained, not just the happiness of the minority?

At this point in the history of business and organizations, it is now time to balance ethics positions seeking the benefit of both the individual and society, to strive to be ethical professionals in organizations that operate and serve the communities--local and global--in which they exits. That the purpose of organizations is the profitability and benefit of all stakeholders--current and future.

What are your reflections on these ideas?