BUAD 625: Organizational Leadership and Ethics Business Ethics Everywhere (BEE) Exercise

Time Period: Organization: Broad Category of Issue: Specific Type of Issue: Practice or concern: Description:

March 19th, 2012-March 22nd, 2012 Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies Use of Corporate Resources Issues Employee Integrity (Taking credit for someone elses work) Raises Concern

A) It seemed to be a normal Monday in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) until one of my co-workers Kay asked me if I needed assistance on my task assignment. After I told him that I did not need any assistance he told me that he noticed that his work container was empty and had been empty for a few weeks now. Over the past few weeks the junior staff; Kay, Laura, James, and myself noticed that Vickie had an extremely excessive work load all of a sudden. From my observation it was apparent that on Kays days off Vicki would complete assignments that Kay may have started or nearly completed and she would then make it a point to complete the assignments and return them to the appropriate professional staff as her own work. This raised a major concern because Vicki was receiving all the credit and praise for the work, which explained why she recognized as Star Player for two weeks in the row. As a result, of Vicki taking the credit for someone elses work Kay began to look like a slacker because he had little to no work to report at the end of the week. B) The situation regarding Vicki taking credit for Kays work raises concern because she is creating this false image of herself to the professional staff which ultimately compromised her integrity. In addition, this situation also raises concerns for one who may follow virtue ethics in a business/ work setting. According to Hartman, virtues can be understood as those character traits that would constitute a good and meaningful life. Being friendly and cheerful, having integrity, being honest and forthright In my opinion this situation exemplified an important feature of virtue ethics which is the honesty portion mainly because she had no problem with accepting praise and accolades for work that was not fully her own. She simply made a choice to choose her self-interest over ethical values. On the other hand, the professional staff could use this situation as example to the junior support staff in regards to choosing to practicing ethical values opposed to self-interest values in a professional work setting. C) In this situation I believe that that the ethically appropriate thing to do would be to approach my boss with my concerns. I am a very vigilant employee, the moment I noticed any irregularity or change to the normal office routine I would be inclined to speak voice my opinion to my superiors. After I report my observations I believe that it

would be best if the professional staff would schedule to hold a meeting with Kay, Vicki, and myself regarding the situation. Because I take my own integrity seriously I would not want to give my colleagues the impression that I was acting in a malicious manner by reporting the fact that Vicki has been taking the credit for Kays task assignments. I feel as though if I were to keep quit I would then be compromising my own integrity which could not only affect me but the morale of the School of Graduate Studies as a whole. D) On Thursday March 22nd, I reported to work on my day off and I had an opportunity to speak with the Dean about the situation regarding Vicki taking credit for Kays work. I explained my observations over the past few weeks concerning Vickis extensive work load and Kays light work load. Once I brought the details to his attention we both agreed that a meeting with the four of us would be the most appropriate approach for this situation. Because of my own integrity and my commitment to the School of Graduate Studies, I did not have any reservations regarding this particular situation. As a result of the conversation, the Dean scheduled a meeting for that following Thursday to discuss the situation.

Time Period: Organization: Broad Category of Issue: Specific Type of Issue: Practice or concern: Description:

March 21st, 2012-March 26th, 2012 Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies Consumer Confidence Issues Discrimination against customers Raises Concern

A) On the average day, the School of Graduate Studies may encounter and service 100-200 international students, applicants, and faculty/staff. This week in particular is extremely hectic not only because its spring break but graduation applications and tuition award applications are also due. As a result there a high volume of calls and visits to the office. I noticed that a member of the professional staff Mr. C was very impatient and nasty to those callers/visitors who contacted the office during this time. Mr. Cs behavior carried on for a few days. After the second day of this behavior I immediately began that he was discriminating against international customers. This raised a concern because he did not display the same attitude towards our domestic clients who called/visited with similar inquiries. B) The situation of discrimination against international customers raises a concern mainly because it totally goes against the ethics and values of the School of Graduate Studies as well as Morgan State University as a whole. As a employee and student I am very clear about the diversity displayed on campus.

C)

D)

Time Period: Organization: Broad Category of Issue: Specific Type of Issue: Practice or concern: Description: A)

March 26th, 2012-March 29th, 2012 Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies Human Resource Issues Favoritism Raises Concern

B)

C)

D)

Time Period: Organization: Broad Category of Issue: Specific Type of Issue: Practice or concern: Description: A)

March 19th, 2012-March 30th, 2012 Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies Corporate Social Responsibility Issues CSR Actions by Company (Environmental Pollution) Best Practice

B)

C)

D)

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