Ethical Filter Worksheet

Running head: ETHICAL FILTER WORKSHEET

Ethical Filter Worksheet

YOUR NAME

University of Phoenix

Value

Personal Source

with Examples

Justify the Value’s Position in the List. Include any challenges to employing these values consistently when making personal and organizational decisions.

Integrity/Honesty In my experience, being dishonest in business can hurt many other aspects of your life (for example, personal relationships). Many years ago, I used to date a very successful business owner who months into our very intense relationship, casually mentioned to me that he was cheating his customers. Somehow, my whole perception of him and our relationship had changed right there and then. I kept thinking that if he was lying to his customers, he might have been lying to me too. And how could I be with someone who doesn't respect other human beings enough to treat them right? I broke up with him shortly after. I chose Integrity as the most important of my values because I want to live my life free of deceit and hurt.

We all tell lies...Big ones, little ones, ones we think are totally justified and harmless. But one lie can lead to another and another and then, before you know it, your life has become one big web of lies and you can't tell the truth from deceit...You can't tell right from wrong because you've devised ways to justify cheating...

How can you truly succeed in business and in life in general, when you cannot be trusted?

It is very hard to be honest at all times. Sometimes, preserving your integrity may mean you will be forced to make unpopular decisions, communicate not-so-great news...But in the end, when your decisions don't keep you awake at night, don't haunt you for the rest of your life, and you didn't destroy anyone's life, you have most likely done the right thing.

Concern for others Concern for others lies at the heart of ethics. I have seen some of my coworkers make decisions based on their own, selfish needs, but I have also seen a great leader (the owner of a company I used to work for) who, in spite of a bad year, resulting in net loss, chose to continue paying for his employees' health insurance because he knew that majority of them had families and could not afford to pay for it all by themselves. He chose to keep this wonderful benefit because he was concerned for others more than his own profit. The decision paid off for him big time because the employees, knowing how big of a sacrifice he had made for them, worked extra hard for him. The next year, the company had the most profitable year ever.

To me, this situation is always an example of exceptional concern for others over your own personal gain. I chose concern for others as the second value because I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a boss and an employee...Every day, I deal with people I care about. How could I not think of them when making life-changing decisions? If I make a decision with my own self-interest in mind, I risk hurting others in the process.

It is so extremely important to all of us that we are sensitive to pain and suffering. Knowing that we may forever change someone's life with one bad (or good) decision should be one of the main points we consider when making choices in business.

Unfortunately, there are times where the company’s well-being is at stake and the greater good dictates that sacrifices