SLC 300 (601) Fall 2024 Leading with an Ethical Perspective

For my 9th DEJ, I would like to make a text-to-world reference based on the text “Transparency and Authenticity: The value of Open Communication.” I feel as though this text has revealed some concerns with current marketing practices, we see taking place in the world (on tv, sign ads, poster ads, even on menu boards). I think it has become normalized to see the marketing of certain products as “professional” when the authenticity of the marketing method should be in question. The section “Transparency across all touch points” says, “We thus avoid images wherever possible. In the rare cases where we feel we need to show images of our product in display cases, we use actual pictures of our products in their wrappers, and we make a concerted effort to choose images so true to life that consumers will feel they got what they saw.” It is interesting that so many fast-food places and restaurant chains take a different approach. It is noticeable that these places actually use these perfect images to give you a visual that leads you to desire/crave the food. I would argue that it actually leads people to be disappointed when their needs aren’t met because their expectations were set so high by the images presented by the fast-food place/restaurant chain. It also begs the question of how authentic the businesses are and what their goals are. Is the customer’s best interest in mind or is the claim to flawlessness all for the brand and the goal to real customers in?

SLC reading source.pdf

For my tenth DEJ post I chose to reference the reading from Do the Kind Thing. The chapter is on transparency and authenticity in professional settings. This chapter made me consider my experience as an intern and the company I was working with. The company I worked with highly valued transparency within all business units especially the one I was working in, Trivantage, with the marketing team. As a team, we highly valued transparency and held ourselves responsible for quality and ethical marketing to our customers. Out transparency in marketing was a key aspect of doing the job thoroughly as most of our customer were dealing with our product and their projects that heavily affected other individuals lives. This showed me the importance of transparency and why we as a company held this at such a pivotal value. The article gave an example of how fruit and nut granola bars were packaged and the importance of how foods are packaged to showcase their contents and transparency of what customers are purchasing. this made me also think back to my interest of working in marketing and what I can do in my potential career to aid in adding more transparency and authenticity to the marketing world. As a customer, I also value transparency and seeing companies who take this into consideration are strong onces and it is clear that ethics and strong leadership are the foundation. I hope to continue growing in my ethical leadership and it is useful to consider reading such as this one to improve upon this and learn.

For my ninth DEJ post, I chose to look at the Article regarding Uber’s CEO candidate stepping down. The article discusses the turmoil Uber is exeperiencing from the stepping down of Immlet the fromer CEO of GE. This has caused Uber some panic as a company as the company has recived backlash for their poor company culture. This company culture has stemmed from current CEO Kalanick’s leadership style. This made me consider what we have discussed in class regarding the ethics and values in the leadership at Uber. It is clear from the article that there is a lack of value based leadership and ethical consideration in the leadership at Uber. The employees have low morale and the company culture could signifigantly improve with work done to further implment ethical leaderhip. This relates to our ethical frameworks. One ethical framework that relates to company culture is the common good framework. If this framework had used, the common good of people would be considered and how to improve employee moral and company culture would be stronger and better. Leaders must consider ethics in their leadership and how they make decisions as it can quickly affect the company as a whole imilar to the Uber example. This article also details Uber’s process in searching for the next CEO candidate and the considerations that were taken to find the right pick. This is another are where ethical frameworks are neccessary as candidiate selection also much be led and executed ethically. Values such as integrity, accountbility tranparency, and responsibility should all be considerd and the pivotal foundation for decison making and selection.

Uber’s key CEO candidate backs out at the last minute (updated)

The article concerning Uber’s workplace harassment problems draws attention to a widespread problem that exists in numerous sectors, including sports, where abusive workplace cultures and employee abuse are frequently disregarded. Susan Fowler, a former engineer at Uber, said that the firm routinely disregarded and minimized reports of harassment and discrimination. According to Fowler, “upper management was willing to look the other way when faced with issues of sexism and harassment,” which is a concerning trend that is seen in a number of industries. Similar incidents concerning the maltreatment of female athletes and staff have also occurred in the sports industry. For instance, when it was revealed that some coaches had acted inappropriately and abusively against players, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) came under fire from the public, yet league authorities did little to address the situation. These instances demonstrate how businesses occasionally put their financial interests or reputations ahead of the welfare and moral principles of their workforce. But in contrast to Uber’s tardy reaction, following public pressure and outcry, other sports leagues, including as the NWSL, finally put stronger supervision and accountability procedures in place. The similarities across these sectors highlight the vital need for proactive leadership that promotes a courteous, secure work environment, reaffirming the need of moral management and open procedures to avert harm and restore confidence. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/sports/soccer/womens-soccers-problem-with-men.html https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/02/19/ex-uber-engineer-accuses-tech-company-of-gaslighting-female-employees-defending-workplace-harassment/

The Boeing 737 Max controversy, which is covered in the Ethics Unwrapped article, reveals alarming ethical failures in corporate responsibility and engineering that are reminiscent of actual problems in a number of other sectors. In order to compete with Airbus, Boeing hurried the delivery of the 737 Max, putting profit and market competitiveness ahead of safety. “The company’s culture prioritized profits over safety, and the pressure to keep costs down led to a series of poor decisions,” the paper notes. Similar instances of corporate irresponsibility, such as the Volkswagen emissions crisis, where emissions data was falsified to satisfy environmental regulations while putting profits first, are not unique.These scandals show how corporate cultures that put profit ahead of moral obligation may have disastrous results, ranging from monetary losses to serious damage to public confidence and even fatalities. The Boeing controversy is unique in that it involves direct, preventable hazards to human life, even though many corporations follow strict safety regulations and conduct thorough safety inspections. On the other hand, businesses that put ethics and profit first, such as Patagonia in the environmental space, show that social responsibility and business success can coexist. The Boeing crisis is a reminder that moral leadership is crucial to saving lives and preserving public confidence over the long run. https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/engineering-ethics-and-the-boeing-scandal

In the article “Organizational Values and Corporate Strategy,” Guth and Tagiuri state that “An organization’s culture is largely determined by the personal values of its members.” This insight reflects my own experiences in the real world relating to group projects in college classes. When team members share similar values and objectives, collaboration thrives, leading to outstanding results. For example, I remember a particular project where our mutual commitment to integrity and excellence created a positive atmosphere, helping us achieve amazing outcomes. Conversely, in teams where values differ, misunderstandings and tensions can arise, preventing progress.

This concept of shared values extends to the larger world of not only companies but also organizations. Companies that align their culture with their core values often see better workforce involvement and customer allegiance. A prime example is Patagonia, a company renowned for its environmental commitment. By incorporating sustainability into its culture, Patagonia has promoted a strong connection with its customers, supporting its brand identity. Employees take pride in their work, knowing they contribute to a mission they believe in.

However, while these dynamics often play out positively in the real world, there can also be difficulties faced. Not all organizations successfully apply their stated values, leading to disappointment among staff and clients. This gap can lead to a breakdown in trust and involvement, which stands in stark contrast to the ideal situation where values and culture are perfectly aligned.

Eventually, the relationship between personal values and organizational culture is significant. It highlights how shared principles can enhance collaboration and drive success, both in academic settings and within the corporate world.

Source: https://hbr.org/1965/09/personal-values-and-corporate-strategy

In “Do the Kind Thing,” Daniel Lubetzky highlights the transformative power of kindness, asserting, “Kindness is not just a feeling; it’s a practice that leads to action.” This idea particularly resonates with me and my personal experiences working at Gymnastics Gym. In a fast-paced environment, fostering mutual support and encouragement among colleagues is essential. I witnessed firsthand how effective teamwork made a difference during busy shifts while ensuring children and families received what they are paying for. Showing kindness to coworkers creates a positive atmosphere, which can be incredibly helpful, especially when you need someone to cover your shift.

Lubetzky’s concepts also show broader societal trends. In recent decades, movements advocating for random acts of kindness and social responsibility have gained popularity. Initiatives like “Random Acts of Kindness” strive to promote compassion and cooperation within communities. For instance, businesses that focus on corporate social responsibility often enjoy a loyal customer base and higher employee satisfaction. However, carrying out these initiatives on a larger scale remains challenging. Many organizations aim to incorporate values of kindness and generosity but run into systemic barriers in putting those values into practice.

Lubetzky’s awareness resonated with my current college experiences as well. His emphasis on kindness as a transformative force reminds me of my commitment to connecting with new classmates. When I started college, I consciously chose to approach others with kindness, which helped me form meaningful friendships, similar to the connections he describes. For example, one of my closest friends and I developed our bond through shared acts of kindness, setting up the groundwork for a strong relationship.

Source:

https://moodle-courses2425.wolfware.ncsu.edu/pluginfile.php/654233/mod_resource/content/2/Lubetzky_Do_The_Kind_Thing_Chap7_Transparency%20and%20Authenticity.pdf

William D. Guth and Renato Tagiuchi explore in “Personal Values and Corporate Strategy” the part personal values of executives have in forming business strategy. They say that the “personal values of executives define the purpose, vision, and direction of the firm most importantly.” In this light, making smart decisions at work is connected to having strong personal beliefs. This makes me think of a movie about work experience where the CEO’s strong commitment to sustainability had an instant effect on the company’s long-term goals. Like the CEOs in Guth and Tagiuri’s work, this CEO made decisions based on his or her beliefs, such as investing in green technologies and putting environmental protection first. Personal values that were in line with business strategy helped create a harmonious work environment. This showed how important leadership is in establishing a company’s character and strategic goals. The article’s ideas are very clear in the business world today, especially at companies like Patagonia, whose founder’s commitment to environmental action has had a big impact on how the company works. In line with what Guth and Tagiiri have written, this fits with the idea that the personal beliefs of leaders can affect the direction of a company. Society’s values may change over time, but the idea that leadership values affect business actions is still important, since companies put profits and social responsibility at the top of their list of priorities.

https://hbr.org/1965/09/personal-values-and-corporate-strategy

When talking about leadership, Chapter 7 of Do the Kind Thing stresses how important it is to be open and honest. Lubetzky says, “Authenticity means staying true to your values, even when it’s hard, and making sure that other people know what you stand for.” From this point of view, honest communication builds trust, especially when things are uncomfortable. This focus on authenticity hits home for me because I’ve worked in teams before and seen how openly talking about problems makes teams work better. For example, when I was in charge of a project with a tight schedule, I found that communicating openly with my team about the problems we were having helped us work together to find solutions. This fits with Lubetzky’s ideas about how being honest can help build trust and relationship, even when it’s hard to tell the truth. The issues brought up in this chapter are especially important to think about in the modern business world, where openness is expected as a minimum. While the COVID-19 pandemic was going on, for example, some companies were criticized for not being open about the safety measures they were taking or the money problems they were having. This is an example of Lubetzky’s claim that fakeness can make connections weaken. It also shows how important honest communication is for making sure that an organization can handle tough times. Leaders and companies are inspired by Lubetzky’s ideas to be honest above all else by understanding the power of being genuine and open. This makes sure that their actions are in line with the values they have publicly stated.

https://moodle-courses2425.wolfware.ncsu.edu/mod/resource/view.php?id=468629

In the article “Do The Kind Thing” I learned many important lessons that are a must in life. The whole lesson this reading taught me was that having kindness can bring you a long way. Kindness is one of the most powerful things that will forever have an impact on someone, or something. Kindness leads to more powerful relationships which can lead to a more positive world. Kindness is used in my everyday life as I want to have the best relationships with anyone I am around. While reading we learned how Lubetzky incorporated kindness into the business world of things and how that has impacted how he sees things. There were examples of personal stories that he had experienced throughout the article which led to a better understanding of how little something is, it can have such a large impact. When I have had to meet new people in classes throughout my years in college, I have always shown kindness towards them. I always want to be the nicest person I can be and show others that being kind can take you a long way. I met this friend freshman year, and from the start of our friendship we both showed kindness. This built a connection between us as she is now one of my closest friends here at school. Overall I learned that just doing the little things can result in kindness which can lead you to personal growth and bring positivity out of others. Kindness can strengthen a community and bring people together, just like having a ripple effect. 

https://moodle-courses2425.wolfware.ncsu.edu/pluginfile.php/654233/mod_resource/content/2/Lubetzky_Do_The_Kind_Thing_Chap7_Transparency%20and%20Authenticity.pdf