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Trends in Organizational Behavior

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Evaluate the following trends in organizational behavior:

a) The influence of ethics on decision making
b) The impact of technology on work-related stress.

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Solution Summary

This solution evaluates two trends in organizational behavior: a) the influence of ethics on decision making, and
b) the impact of technology on work-related stress. Supplemented with extra links, an article excerpt and highly supportive article.

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Trends in organizational behavior have an impact on employees. Many factors in our daily work lives can cause stress, but what is the influence of ethics on decision-making and how does technology play a role in impacting stress? Does technology affect us positively or negatively? Is there anything unethical about technology and the way it is utilized in the workplace? This paper will discuss...

a) The influence of ethics on decision-making

A well-known quotation appears on the back of each issue of the journal of an association of progressive business executives seeking a responsible role for business in society. It reads in part:

"Business has become, in the last half century, the most powerful institution on the planet. The dominant institution in any society needs to take responsibility for the whole. . . . Every decision that is made, every action that is taken, must be viewed in light of that kind of responsibility." http://www.pcdf.org/1996/19korten.htm

Ethics and responsible business practices will become a primary driver of business success. For example, during the 20th Century, ethics were often seen as tangential to the primary purpose of business. In the 21st Century, ethics and responsible business practices will become a primary driver of business success. To ensure high ethical performance, there is a need for new ethical tools and protocols that facilitate implementation and provide greater relevance and benefit to business and other organizations (see http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi/7385.html).

Corporate Responsibility and Accountability. Although ethics have always been influential in business decisions, with high profile court cases such as Enron coming to the attention of the public, ethics in decision-making has risen in focus and importance in the business world was imminent. Corporate Social Responsibility is a new buzzword. It means that corporations are expected to act in an ethical and socially responsible way in all business decisions, including accountability in financial reporting, to the community, and for the environmental issues (e.g., pollution issues, etc.). New legislation (SOX, 2020; HIAPA, 1996) is intended to make corporations more accountable for their decisions.
Also see http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/

Environmental and Social Ethical Concerns. For example, in LUGANO, SWITZERLAND- January 31, 2007: "Expansion of global economic activity is driving escalating environmental and social problems. These seriously threaten future generations and create growing financial problems for firms. This is driving the mainstreaming of ethics as a major business and academic concern" (see http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi/7385.html).

For example, thirty-five years ago, Milton Friedman wrote a famous article for The New York Times Magazine whose title aptly summed up its main point: "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits." The future Nobel laureate in economics had no patience for capitalists who claimed that "business is not concerned 'merely' with profit but also with promoting desirable 'social' ends; that business has a 'social conscience' and takes seriously its responsibilities for providing employment, eliminating discrimination, avoiding pollution and whatever else may be the catchwords of the contemporary crop of reformers." (see http://www.reason.com/news/show/32239.html).

Code of Ethics and Principles. Ethical behavior is an individual responsibility. Regardless of position or location, behavior reflecting the highest ethical standards is expected of all directors, employees and others in most companies. No one has the authority to violate or require conduct by another employee or any other person that violates the Code, other company policies, or the law. There is a move towards knowing the company Code of Ethics. It is imperative today, in the business world. It no longer collects dust on a shelf. Ethics is about right and wrong. In business, ethics is about doing the right thing at the right time. It is about making the right decisions and being accountable for those decisions, both for the company and one that the decision-making can live with (e.g., doctors do not have to perform abortions is it is unconscionable for them to do so, but they need to make a referral to someone who can help the patient).

Ethics is about being open and honest, and making decisions with transparency and integrity. It is about letting your business's ethical principles and values (e.g., Code of Ethics) guide all your business behavior, ...

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