Organizational Behavior Trends Paper

Organizational Behavior Trends

Ethics refers to standards of conduct that indicate how one should behave based on moral duties and virtues, which themselves are derived from principles of right and wrong. As a practical matter, ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost more than we want to pay (Josephson, par. 1). Along with the merging of decision-making is the process of choosing a course of action for dealing with a problem or opportunity (p. 2). People create personal ethical codes in response to internal reactions that cannot be explained by personal benefit or the law. Sometimes, however, ethical conflict remains despite benefits and rational rationalizations. For example, everyone has done something that was legal and resulted in personal gain but produced an uneasy, conflicted, guilty reaction (Ferguson, par. 5). This internal reaction provides both source and definition of personal ethics. People describe their ethical reactions to their own behavior in terms like "I feel guilty," or "It just seemed wrong." These reactions modify our pleasure and satisfaction in life. Once we notice patterns of ethical self-reaction, we can take these reactions into account when making decisions (Ferguson, pars. 8-9). To build the character of our community and ourselves, an individual must understand the critical need for a core set of principles or moral values that will guide the decision-making processes. These principles or values are necessary if we are to make ethical decisions.

According to the Josephson Institute of Ethics, values are core beliefs or desires that guide or motivate attitudes and actions. They also define the things we value and prize the most, and, therefore, provide the basis for ranking the things we want in a way that elevates some values over others. Thus, our values determine how we will behave in certain situations. The terms "values" and "ethics" are not interchangeable. Ethics is concerned with how a moral person should behave, whereas values simply concern the various beliefs and attitudes that determine how a person actually behaves. Some values concern ethics when they pertain to beliefs as to what is right and wrong. Most values do not. Ethical values directly relate to beliefs concerning what is right and proper (as opposed to what is correct, effective, or desirable). Our values often conflict, and when they do, choices must be made by ranking our values. The values we consistently rank higher than others are our core values, which define character and personality (Josephson, par. 4).

Technology and comparing how stress has changed with the use of technology, I found that technological developments are continuing to change the nature of organizational decision making (p. 26). Technology is clearly leading the path for the business industry. If you are not technologically advanced, you may be left behind. As GE's CEO, Jack Welch puts it, "You've got to be on the cutting edge of change. You can't simply maintain the status quo, because somebody's always coming from another country with another product, or consumers' tastes change, or the cost structure does, or there's a technology breakthrough. If you are not fast and adaptable, you are vulnerable."

Let's not just stay focused on the rate of change in the modern world, which is the computer. Let's go back further in time, which will help explain where technology came from and where it is going. The railroad, the automobile, and the airplane are all examples of technological changes. Examples of technology for today's society would include, the Internet, E-mail, voice mail, fax machines, pagers, cell phones, computers, and laptops just to mention a few. The impact on technology on work-related stress have revolutionized the business industry.

With all the new electronic devices available today, how many people have one or more of their own? I personally have six of the above-mentioned devices. They help me stay in touch with my office, family and friends. One might ask, does having one or more of these modern-day devices cause you stress or relieve you of stress?

First let's define stress. According to Dennis Coon (1998), stress is the mental and physical condition that occurs any time, and we must adjust or adapt