Business Ethics Essay

INTRODUCTIONthither argon decisions made every day in the wrinkle world, some big, some sm tout ensemble. The biggest struggle professionals face when making these decisions atomic number 18 the honourable consequences they face. Every decision that is made is going to baffle an tint on at least one person, no matter the size of it of the decision. And there ar ethical consequences to whole decisions. In the following report card I will be comparing Maslows Stages of demeanour and Kohlbergs Stages of moralistic increase with ethical and unethical behaviors of notees and society. Both Maslow and Kohlberg require open a hierarchy of either behavior or chaste development. I will take both of these hierarchies and apply them to the behavior of business and society, as well as including service-to-self and service-to-others concepts.BACKGROUND (MASLOW & KOHLBERG)Before we spate discuss how Malsow and Kohlberg bemuse for a role in ethical and unethical behaviors in busi ness and society, it is necessary to realise the nurses of these theories, beginning with Maslows Stages of Behavior. Malsow presents these shows in a hierarchical format, beginning with the lowest ordain, up to the highest take aim. The first direct is physiological require, followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem, and finally reaching the highest train of self- symboliseualization. 1 In this hierarchy the first level is usually achieved before reaching the flake level, and this continues along the hierarchy. Therefore, the ultimate level of reaching self-actualization isnt usually achieved until all lour levels have been reached and in a backbone, conquered. Similar to this theory is Kohlbergs arrangements of moral development.Kohlbergs theory also states that the stages argon reached in an score and one mustiness be reached before the next, but toilet complete at any point, so that the highest level is not attainable by everyone. 2 Kohlbergs stages of moral d evelopment consist of three levels and sixsome stages. The first level is Pre-conventional morality (stages 1-2) Obedience and Punishment, personism and Exchange. The second level is Conventional morality (stages 3-4) Good Interpersonal Relationships, and Maintaining the Social Order. The third level is Post-conventional morality (stages 5-6) Social Contract and Individual rights, and Universal principles.3FOCUS ON UPPER LEVELSFor both Maslow and Kohlberg there is a heavy emphasis on reaching the final stage or level. Reaching the self-actualization stage of Maslows stages shows that one has fully authentic behavior, and moral behavior. Reaching the final stage of universal principles of Kohlbergs stages shows that one has fully developed morally, very similar to Maslow. For Maslows stages a person is capable of reaching this final stage and then regressing back to lower stages.4Usually reaching this higher(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) stage is tho temporary and is sla ngn as peak experience.4This could be in a bearing of out of body experience. But once soul has reached this stage, it usually impacts them for the eternal sleep of their life, and they do not immediately go back down to lower levels. This stage could also be called, or is know as having wholeness.5 This integrity is for oneself and for others, including a total commitment to the highest standards of behavior. 5 This is where ethical and moral reasoning and behavior comes into play. People who have reached or have see the highest level of Maslow ar going to act morally and ethically in their behavior.The last stage of Kohlberg is universal principles. This stage defines the principles by which we achieve legal expert. 6 To me this stage entitles treating everyone with dignity. This reminds me of the integrity involved in the highest stage of Maslow. In this stage every human being is given equal consider and is treated with the highest dignity. People who have reached the h ighest stage of Maslow would not vote for a law or agree with anything that causes some harm to others while support the majority.6ETHICAL AND UNETHICAL BEHAVIORNow that the theories and stages of Maslow and Kohlberg have been discussed, it is necessary to see how these stages play a part in making either ethical or unethical decisions in the workplace and in society. The first typesetters case to take a look at is the behavior of students cheating in school. This is a common example, but it could easily be applied to employees take from a company, or anyone taking shortcuts in life to get ahead. galore(postnominal) people would agree that cheating would correlate to students with little moral and ethical values.During a study by Kohlberg, it was seen that 70% of the students on the pre-conventional level have been found to cheat.7 The pre-conventional level indicates that people are not fully morally developed. These people seem to lack moral development, and therefore will ac t unethically. The people at these lower levels do not have the observe and dignity for others that the upper level people do. Because this is the case they are to a greater extent willing to cheat, and dont feel guilty for what they are doing.This can easily be transpired into the business world. People cheat and steal coin because they have no respect or dignity for the people that they are affecting. They will not take into favor all of the stakeholders at risk of infection because of their actions. Take for example, Bernie Madoff and the scandal at Enron. This is a case famous across many business environments, for unethical behavior that caused harm to many stakeholders. No one would disagree that Madoff was a very savvy and smart business man. But, because of his actions he would fall into a lower level of Maslow.SERVICE TO egotism AND OTHERSPeople who have reached the highest level of Maslow (peakers, we will call them), and those who have achieved the highest level of development Kohlberg presents will have a service-to-others attitude. These people are less materialistic, and are more socially implicated.8 There seems to be a correlation coefficient between people in upper level Maslow who have higher levels of ethical development, and those who are in the upper stage of Kohlberg and have higher levels of moral development.8 This correlation also relates to how these people treat those who are just roughly them. They are not self-centered and are instead think on the well being of everyone around them.As mentioned before, they seem to be concerned with giving every human being the respect and dignity that they deserve. If someone is concerned with the way that they are treating others, this is seen as a moral consideration. And if they are concerned with how well they are treating themselves, it is seen as a non-moral consideration.8 So, those who are focused on service-to-others instead of service-to-self are more likely to belong to the h igher levels of Maslow and Kohlberg. Those who are more concerned with themselves and have a service-to-self attitude they are stuck in the lower levels. They are still trying to achieve the basal needs that Maslow sets out.HOW IT ALL FITS INTO AN ORGANIZATIONThe most difficult part about these two theories, are what they have to do with an formation, how employers can utilize this reading to better motivate their employees, and people are going to treat themselves and others inside the levels of Maslow and Kohlberg. One of the biggest examples of this, are how these theories can be incorporated into a non- make headway organization.These organizations would be more known for their ethical behavior than most other companies. These companies can obtain an ethical culture by following and paying economic aid to the hierarchy of values that Maslow proposed.9 Maslow noted that in order to achieve the highest value the previous needs have to have been met. If a company takes this int o consideration than they should make sure the lower needs of the employees are being met, if they conceptualise them to behave ethically. This leads to an ethical culture.In the article that discusses this they translate the individual levels of Maslow into levels that an organization should achieve. These levels or needs are financial competence, accountability, reciprocity, respect, and integrity.9 They feel that in order to employees to attain the ethical values and culture that is wanted, the lower needs must first be met. This may include wage benefits and giving employees more responsibility to begin with. Eventually employees will feel a sense of respect from the employer and will work their way up to level 5. If all of the employees at this company are at the level 5, then they have an ethical culture. This is a way to apply the theories of Maslow and Kohlberg into an organization, even if is a for profit company, and achieve the ethical culture that is desired.CONCLUSIONT o sum up, Maslow and Kohlberg have developed a hierarchy of needs and stages of moral development, respectively. It is possible to use these models to understand the ethical and unethical behavior of people in businesses and in society. There is a focus on achieving self-actualization and universal principles. If someone has reached this level of self-actualization it transforms their identity, and they are more apt to act morally and ethically. In the same sense, those who are in the universal principle level of Kohlberg, treat all reality with the respect, integrity, and dignity that they deserve. The people in these upper levels are also known to have a service-to-others attitude, instead of service-to-others. Lastly, companies can use this information to make sure the basic needs of their employees are being met, in order to achieve an ethical corporate culture.ENDNOTES1. SADRI, GOLNAZ, and R. CLARKE BOWEN. 2011. Meeting EMPLOYEEE requirements Maslows hierarchy of needs is stil l a reliable guide to motivating staff. Industrial conduct IE 43, no. 10 44-48.2. Walker, Lawrence J. 1982. The Sequentiality of Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development. Child Development 53, no. 5 1330-1336., 1330-1336.3. W.C. Crain. (1985). Theories of Development. Prentice-Hall.4. Christopher, John Chambers, kat J. Manaster, Robert L. Campbell, and Michael B. Weinfeld. 2002. Peak Experiences, Social Interest, and Moral Reasoning An Exploratory Study. Journal Of Individual Psychology 58, no. 1 355. Strickland, Ruth Ann, and Shannon K. Vaughan. 2008. The Hierarchy of honourable Values in non-profit-making Organizations. Public Integrity 10, no. 3 233-2356. W.C. Crain. (1985). Theories of Development. Prentice-Hall.7. Emerci, etin. 2006. THE OPINIONS OF MEDICINE FACULTY STUDENTS REGARDING darnel IN RELATION TO KOHLBERGS MORAL DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT. Social Behavior & Personality An International Journal 34, no. 1 41-498. Christopher, John Chambers, Guy J. Manaster, Robert L. Campbel l, and Michael B. Weinfeld. 2002. Peak Experiences, Social Interest, and Moral Reasoning An Exploratory Study. Journal Of Individual Psychology 58, no. 1 359. Strickland, Ruth Ann, and Shannon K. Vaughan. 2008. The Hierarchy of Ethical Values in Nonprofit Organizations. Public Integrity 10, no. 3 233-235