Ethical Filter

Ethical Filter Worksheet

Directions: List 5 or more values that you will use in Business Decision Making - starting with your most important value. In column 1 list the value. In column 2 explain the personal source of the value you just listed. In column 3 justify why you placed the corresponding value at its point in the list. Citations and a reference page are not expected but if used they should be appropriate.

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.

Being Fair In the military and the corporate world I have witness many unfair practices ranging from individuals being passing over for promotions to unethically billing practices. In most of these cases there was some type of complications that resulted from this unfairness. I grew up in a environment where it was instill in me to treat people fairly no matter what the outcome maybe and I still hold on to that principle today.

Do I share the same philosophy as the Organization? Many years ago I work for a company that took a lot of short cuts and repeatly made decisions that were borderline unethical. I found that I was unable to perform at a high level and later begin to regret having to show up for work. I think it is important to share the same philosophy as the company you work for because this will enable you to do you best work and contribute to the bottom line.

Basic trust level.

I worked with a customer that was constantly checking my employees start and stop time along with repeated calls to see how long they are going to be. Despite never exceeding job estimates they continue to behave this way. I found that to excessive micromanagement and uncomfortable for my employees. I politely told the customer my company could no longer perform work for them.

Because I work with a great deal of confidential information I think there has to be a certain level of trust with customers and if that cannot be establish they should work with someone that they can trust.

Am I compromising my core values? I had a situation once where a senior manager asks me to change my findings on an IT audit because he wanted to charge the customer more money. I could not do it because it was unfair and I knew I would not feel good about myself. Therefore I asked to be removed from the project. One of the most important things to me in business is being able to live with myself the next day and if the answer is yes than I can move forward with that decision.

Setting the proper expectations. Setting the proper customer expectations is very important. A company I work for several years ago had sales people who repeatedly made unrealistic promises to close deals. This cause the projects to be unsuccessful and unprofitable before they even begin. I believe that in any proposed project both parties should be very clear on the expectations and deliverables, this way there will be no surprises.

Will the potential customer pay there bills on time? Owning my own business I have had a few dealing with customers who do not want to pay there bills