17. 17
Indicators of Organisation’s Culture
• Does your management encourage or discourage
innovation and risk taking?
• Does it reward employees for coming up with new
ideas and challenging old ways of doing things
punish those who challenge established norms and
practices?
• Do mavericks fit in or do they get pushed out?
• Is rapid change the norm in your organisation or
does management vigorously protect the status
quo?
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Indicators of Organisation’s Culture
• Does the organisation truly value excellence?
• Does management pay attention to the well being
of its employees or is it completely focused on task
performance or profits?
• Does a high level of employee participation
characterise the culture or does senior management
make most decisions?
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Ethics and the Organisation
Definition of Terms
Values:
This term refers to a set of beliefs. Values are how
one defines what is right, fair and good. This
definition applies whether we consider individual
values, organizational values or societal values.
Ethics:
Here we mean choices and the observable,
behavioral manifestation of values-based decisions.
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Ethics and the Organisation
Ethical Dilemma:
This is a situation where every viable option requires
the decision-maker to choose between conflicting
values. Under these conditions, any decision under
consideration will violate one or more values even as
it honors others.
Ethical Congruence:
A situation where one's decision is consistent with,
aligns with, the applicable set(s) of values. Under
these circumstances, a choice to take some action will
harmonize with the decision-maker's values.
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Ethics and the Bottom Line
• Can we afford to do what is right, good and fair
if our competition doesn't? What good does it
do for us to be more ethical, if we lose business
and eventually fail in this very competitive
market?
• How can we be sure our employees are being
ethical? We can't police their every move.
• How are we supposed to react if one of our
employees bends the rules - especially if he is
one of our top performers?
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Ethical dilemmas for the individual:
• Will the boss back me up if I am ethical? What
happens to me if I behave ethically and, as a
result, make less profit for my company in the
short term.
• What's in it for me to be ethical? Why should I
be the first one in the organization to try and
do things differently? All I can see is hard
times and less money in the short run.
• What will ensure that my co-workers are
ethical? If they meet their quotas without being
ethical, and my performance goes flat because I do
behave ethically, how will that reflect upon me?
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Determining Your Operational Philosophy:
• What the organization believes is right and
good.
• How the organization will treat its
employees.
• How employees are expected to treat each
other.
• How employees are expected to treat
customers.
• How the organization contributes to society.
24. 24
Exercises: Ethical Dilemma
The customer wants a refund. You agree that a
refund is called for but company policy says "No." If
you go to your supervisor, the customer's refund will
be denied. If you act on your own authority, the
customer will be satisfied, but you may get in trouble.
Quality is supposed to take precedence over
everything else. The job you are finishing is
acceptable but you know that you could do a
"quality" job if you spent two more hours on it. If
you take the extra time you will miss your deadline.
25. 25
Exercises: Ethical Dilemma
The company procedure is very clear but you know
a "better" way to do the job. Your productivity
results are a bit low this month. If you use your new
approach (and violate the "rules") you can raise
your results to an acceptable level.
A fellow employee is being harassed at work and is
afraid to say or do anything about it. If you "blow
the whistle" the company may retaliate against you.
You could even lose your job.
26. 26
Exercises: Ethical Dilemma
You are working to correct a mistake that you boss
doesn't know about. If you tell the boss you will be
blamed for the mistake. If you don't tell the boss
you could be chewed out for taking too long to do
the job.
27. ASSERTIVENESS
Definition
Assertiveness is expressing our thoughts,
feelings, and beliefs in a direct, honest, and
appropriate way. It means that we have
respect both for ourselves and for others. We
are consciously working toward a "win-win"
solution to problems. A win-win solution
means that we are trying to make sure that
both parties end up with their needs met to
the degree possible. An assertive person
effectively influences, listens, and negotiates
so that others choose to cooperate willingly.
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28. ASSERTIVENESS
Assertiveness vs Aggressiveness
Aggressiveness involves expressing our
thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in a way that
is inappropriate and violates the rights of
others. It can be either active or passive, but
no matter which, it communicates an
impression of disrespect. By being
aggressive, we put our wants, needs, and
rights above those of others. We attempt to
get our way by not allowing others a choice.
Where assertiveness tried to find a win-win
solution, aggressiveness strives for a win-
lose solution: I'll be the winner; you'll be the
loser.
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29. ASSERTIVENESS
Assertiveness vs Non assertiveness
Nonassertive behavior is passive and
indirect. It permits others to violate
our rights and shows a lack of respect
for our own needs. It communicates a
message of inferiority. It creates a
lose-win situation because the
nonassertive person has decided that
his own needs are secondary and opts
to be a victim.
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30. CHOOSE ASSERTIVE
WORDS CAREFULLYUse factual descriptions instead of judgments
Compare the following:
"This is sloppy work." (Aggressive)
"The pages in this report are out of order." (Assertive)
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31. CHOOSE ASSERTIVE
WORDS CAREFULLYAvoid exaggerations
Compare the following:
"You never are on time!" (Aggressive)
"You were 15 minutes late today. That's the third time this week."
(Assertive)
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32. CHOOSE ASSERTIVE
WORDS CAREFULLYUse "I" not "You"
Compare the following:
"You always interrupt my stories!" (Aggressive)
"I would like to tell my story without being interrupted.“ (Assertive)
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33. CHOOSE ASSERTIVE
WORDS CAREFULLY
Express thoughts, feelings, and opinions
reflecting ownership
Compare the following:
"He makes me angry." (Denies ownership
of feelings)
"I get angry when he breaks his
promises." (Assertive and owns
feelings)
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34. 34
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Definition
Sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome
conduct of a sexual nature that detrimentally
affects the work environment or leads to adverse
job-related consequences for the victims of the
harassment."
35. 35
Unwelcome Behaviour
“Unwelcome behavior" includes unwanted touching
and sexual contact. However, it is extremely
important to remember that "unwelcome behavior"
need not be overtly sexual. Offensive jokes,
statements and gestures have also been found to
constitute sexual harassment.
