According to the Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society, Ethical Role of the Manager, it has been said that “managing and leading can be said to be inherently ethics-laden tasks because every managerial decision affects either people or the natural environment in some way” (p. 1). The above quote is meant to help bring about the importance of ethical decision-making, first and foremost not only to the direct stakeholders but also to society and the environment. That does strike a deep part within me, thinking of some leadership role I once held in a student organization. I vaguely recall the many decisions I needed to make in event planning and in team management-small ones at that time-but they seemed to come full circle with implications for my peers as far as their feelings over their importance in that group dynamic went. It reminded me that all decisions, no matter how minute they are, have ethical consequences and impacts on people and the community in general.
This text also pertains to wider, more realistic contexts. For example, decisions about ethical dilemmas many companies still face today actually mirror what this text has to say. Consider, for instance, companies that have to make decisions on sustainability practices. Economically, a business would need to weigh the benefits of lower costs against the ethical responsibility to reduce environmental damage. While the text reminds one that a proper balance of “rights and duties” must be considered along with utilitarian principles, businesses also must consider the “greatest good” and their duty concerning environmental sustainability (p. 2).