Ethics: Does it still matter?
Brandy D. Piner
Associate Registrar
What would you do?
Leadership Scruples
(http://www.greatleadershipbydan.com/2009/01/leadership-scruples-what-would-you-do.html)
 You’re at a hotel and conference center. You’ve arrived to your meeting early, and
have not have a chance to eat breakfast yet. On your way to your meeting room,
you walk by another meeting and there’s a table full of food and beverages outside
the room. Your meeting has no food. Would you help yourself?
 Your manager congratulates you for a brilliant suggestion and hints at a promotion.
Your employee gave you the idea. Do you mention this to the manager?
 You’re reviewing the results of an employee survey and accidentally discover a way
to see individual responses and comments. Do you keep reading or report the
problem?
What would you do?
Ethics Defined
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “ethics” is defined as:
1. The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and
obligation.
2. A set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values.
3. The principles of conduct governing an individual or a group.
4. A guiding philosophy.
5. A consciousness of moral importance.
6. 6. A set of moral issues or aspects.
Social Media & Ethics
Social Media – Instantaneous
 Major goof by Google Engineer,
Steve Yegge, October 12, 2011
 Steve Yegge – “long opinionated rant,
meant for internal audience”
 Tweets by jurors
 Steve Martin – tweeted death penalty
jokes while on jury duty.
 Washington juror after being selected –
“OMG! Jdg picked me 2 decide doods
f8! Looks gil-t frm here ;).” Still allowed
to serve.
Business & Ethics in the News
Companies
 Archer Daniels Midlands
Company – The Informant.
Eichenwald, Kurt
 Price-fixing investigation – Mark
Whitacre – whistleblower, FBI informant,
embezzling
 Enron – Conspiracy of Fools: A
True Story. Eichenwald, Kurt
 Misrepresented earnings to show
favorable performance, destroyed
documents during an investigation
How has social media
affected our views about ethics at work?
National Business Ethics Survey: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/smallbusiness/openforum/articles/ethics-and-social-media-where-should-you-draw-theline/
 “Active social networkers show a higher tolerance for activities that could be
considered unethical."
 “Active social networker” - one who "spends 30% or more of their work day
participating on various social network sites.”
 Active social networkers are at higher risk for observing misconduct (observing,
not necessarily participating)
Generational Differences at Work
http://www.dbadocket.org/networking/how-will-millennials-transform-the-future-of-law/
Acceptable Behaviors at Work
Organizational Communication: Theory, Research, and Practice , v. 1.0, by Jason S. Wrench, Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, and
Mark Ward Sr. (http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/7635?e=wrenchorgcomm_1.0-ch02_s02#wrenchorgcomm_1.0ch02_s02)
Review Case Study
Four Separate Studies/Similar Content
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
(1900-1945)
(1946-1964)
Generation X
Millennials
(1965-1980)
(1981-2000)
Review Case Study
How serious is the situation that Anna is facing?
What’s at stake?
What is the most significant problem/challenge that
Anna is dealing with?
What should be her plan of action?
Review Case Study
Ethical Questions to ask:
Is it legal?
How will it make you feel about yourself?
How would you feel if your actions were made public?
Will people in authority approve?
Will something negative happen if you don’t make a
decision?
What would your mother think?
http://www.inc.com/harvey-mackay/the-only-ethics-guide-you-need.html
Decision Discussion
Traditionalist
Millennial
Ethical
Principles
Generation
X
Baby
Boomer
Means to an End?
Figure 2.1 The Ethical Matrix
Organizational Communication: Theory, Research, and Practice , v. 1.0, by Jason S. Wrench, Narissra PunyanuntCarter, and Mark Ward Sr. (http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/7635?e=wrenchorgcomm_1.0ch02_s02#wrenchorgcomm_1.0-ch02_s02)
What can we do as leaders?
• Review Code of Ethics and Standards of
Conduct policy at least annually.
• Train staff on the importance of asking for a
photo identification – trust, but verify.
• Understand generational differences and
develop a sense of community amongst staff
• Other Discussion Points?
The Right Thing to Do
American Gangster
Questions?