BUS303

Final Personal Ethics Report

Instructor: Tom Culham, Ph.D.

TA: Sakisha Koonar

Section: D 400

Student Name: Hardik Wadhawan

Student Number: 301467101

Date: December 12, 2024

Part 1

1. EI Skill Development

a. Chosen Skill and New Behaviour

Skill: Listening.

New Behaviour: I practiced listening by focusing entirely on what the other person was saying,

maintaining eye contact, and avoiding interruptions or planning my response while they were still

speaking.

b. Review of EI Journal (from the beginning to November 27th)

I. Learnings and Behavioural Changes:

Through journaling, I realized that in the past, I would sometimes interrupt people or begin to

structure my response before they were actually done speaking. This habit prevents me from truly

understanding others, so I learned to handle the situation with patience in a present manner. I also

understood that when I really listened, better bonds and more substantial conversations result.

ii. Example from Personal Experience:

In conversations with my girlfriend, I tried not to interrupt and listened to her thoughts without

jumping in. It helped us communicate better, and I felt closer to her because I could understand her

perspective more clearly.

iii. Supporting Quotes from the Journals:

Before Change:

"I have this bad tendency to interrupt others. I tried to be more patient and not jump into responding

right away so that I could listen more carefully." (Journal Entry: October 2nd)

After Change:
"It was amazing how many times I would jump into an answer without ever having taken a moment to

understand her perspective. This has made me more aware of my habits and made me feel more

connected and empathetic." (Journal Entry: October 23rd)

c. Four Components of EI Development

I. Challenges and Achievements:

Practice Behaviour: Interrupting was one of the habits I had that I found hard to break. With focus and

repetition, though, I was able to hold back and let people finish. It helped me in observing how much

more I could learn from others.

Meditation: When I started, concentrating on meditation was difficult; later, when practiced daily, it

became a piece of cake. It helped me note my emotional state and physical stress that I could further

control.

Journalling: Writing my feelings and improvement was rather revealing, but often it used to feel

repetitive. All the same, it served me to measure changes in my habits.

Coaching: While I didn't get any formal coaching, class discussions and team activities provided me

with feedback on my listening skills and helped me improve.

i. Contribution to Skill Development:

Practice Behaviour: The habit of listening actively in real life made me realize that one should give

others their undivided attention.

Meditation: It helped in calming the mind and improving my focus, thus being able to be fully present

while listening.

Journaling: It helped me reflect on my actions and identify improvements over time.

Coaching: Class, group discussions and talking to customers while working reinforced the importance

of active listening.

iii. Engagement Summary:

I meditated daily for 15 minutes and tired to practice listening skills consistently during conversations

with my girlfriend, classmates, and customers. This became part of my routine and contributed to any

if all improvements in my emotional intelligence.

2(c) Practice Behaviour Meditation Journaling Coach

(i) Improved focus Helped to reduce I was able to Received feedback
Successes and ability stress, gain keep an eye on and guidance
to listen fully with emotional my from the classmates
out interrupting. awareness, and development and managers
stay in present. of habits and
track progress
effectively.
(i) Initially hard to Struggled to Felt repetitive Limited formal
Difficulties stop interrupting focus on the at times but coaching; relied
or planning beginning; still useful for more on indirect
responses. distractions and reflection. Did feedback.
overthinking drop do it in
were common. between the
semester
(ii) Built trust in personal Allowed me to Highlighted Reinforced the
Contribution and professional regulate areas for importance of active
to skill settings. emotions, improvement. listening and
development remain patient, emotional awareness
and be present in through discussions.
conversations.
(iii) How Daily practice in Daily meditation Weekly Informal coaching
often* conversations with practice, journaling through feedback
girlfriend, classmates, sometimes sessions, from girlfriend and
and during work. during class. however, did managers at work.
stop doing it
for two weeks
(iii) Length Varied depending on 15 minutes per Approximatel Ongoing throughout
of time interactions; typically, day. y 15-45 the semester
a few minutes to the minutes per
length of a entry.
conversation.

2.

a. EI Score Review

My Takeaway:

I agree to these increments, more so in Emotional Regulation. The class on emotional intelligence and

the exercises about how one manages their emotions for different situations really helped me. I found

that I could contain my reactions, most of which, if not all, happen when one finds themselves under
pressure. For instance, I noticed I could keep calm and think through solutions rather than let

frustration set in when things were not going according to plan in group projects. This perhaps

explains the big jump in Emotional Regulation.

Regarding Emotional Awareness, I agree with the increase, although it is more subtle. I have been

more in tune with my emotions and how they impact my decision-making, even in work situations.

For example, during a sales interaction at Home Depot, I was frustrated, which helped me take a step

back and reframe the situation to be more productive.

b. Moral Foundation Score Review

My Perspective:

I wholeheartedly agree with the increased Fairness because class discussions on ethics raised my

consciousness of the gravity of fairness in decision-making. Quite often, we discussed the delicate

balance that exists between fairness and personal interest, which made me contemplate how I go

about making decisions, both in my personal life and in my professional circle. For example, with a

dispute between colleagues, I was more aware and made sure both sides were being heard, which

reflects this rise in fairness.

As for Care, I also agree that this increased after the course. I have become more aware of how my

actions may be impacting others, and I tried to apply this both in and out of class. In my personal life,

I made it a point to be more thoughtful towards my girlfriend's needs, and in my work life, more

thoughtful to customer service interactions in such a way that people feel valued.
Part 2

1. My Passion, Calling, Purpose, and Legacy

Passion and Calling: The aspect that generally excites me is technology and using it to solve real-life

issues. Ever since I can remember, I have always been inclined to the idea of some system and the

way it functions, and it is one of the factors that made constructing PCs and interacting with new

devices appealing. I am excited about the prospect of assisting people to discover and apply

technology to worthy causes, either in an academic or more personal context by guiding future

generations. I’ve experienced how a small nudge and support can create opportunities for people, and

I would like to do this quite a bit in the future.

Purpose: My purpose in life is to make sure that I am contributing positively to my community, both

professionally and personally. I believe in the power of learning and growth; thus, I'm committed to

helping others discover their potential. Through teaching, mentoring, or just offering support, I try to

make an impact in people's lives by helping them use technology to improve it.

Legacy: I would want people to remember me for the change in other people's lives that I make. I

hope I will have accomplished it, but much more how it grows people. My desire is to see how much

my work in community positive changes inspired and empowered other individuals to live their

dreams, passions, and purposes through my interaction at both a professional and personal level.

2. My Values and Philosophy

Top 3 Values:

Integrity: Integrity is crucial for me because integrity gives birth to trust and credibility. I hold this

value because I believe honesty and consistency in action and performance provide a very strong basis

for all relationships, personal and professional. I know it's important because I see what happens when

dishonesty comes in, and how that breaks trust. This value guides me in acting at all times as if

somebody is watching. It helps me to remain responsible to myself and others.

Respect: I treasure respect since it begets understanding and cooperation. I consider this value

important since, from experience, I have found that it creates an enabling environment either at work

or in personal life. I know respect is important because it lets people be valued, and when anyone

feels valued, there comes a connection, and also collaboration improves. In my daily life, I try to

listen to others, value their views, and treat everyone with consideration. This respect helps in

building positive and productive relations in both my personal and professional life.

Growth: Growth is one of my core values because it represents improvement and the desire to be

better. I hold this value because I am committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, both in

my career and as a person. I know growth is essential because it allows me to evolve, adapt to new

challenges, and achieve my potential. It influences my actions by motivating me to seek out

opportunities for learning, whether it’s through new projects at work or personal development

activities. I prioritize growth because I believe that staying stagnant limits both personal fulfillment

and success.
Part 3

1. Choose a statement (a, b, c, or d) and answer the question below it.

Statement (a): I had an experience that caused me to question the way I normally act.

Response: In normal circumstances, I used to believe I act with integrity and fairness, considering my

decisions will have impact on others. However, I encountered a situation during my internship at a

company where I was asked to overlook some minor ethical lapses in reporting as it was considered

unimportant stuff. Normally, I would call the company out on this situation but because I wanted the

fulltime position, I stopped myself from doing anything about it. This caused me to question whether

efficiency sometimes justifies minor ethical shortcuts.

I reflected on this and realized that the situation tested my personal moral compass, as emphasized in

Defining Moments by Joseph Badaracco. This book suggests that defining moments reveal our

character and test our values. This moment certainly revealed that my commitment to transparency

and fairness is not just a belief but a deeply held principle, and I would not have acted differently,

even if it meant challenging the status quo at the risk of upsetting others. After the reflection, I am

more resolute in standing by my ethical beliefs, understanding that every decision contributes to

shaping my character over time.

2. Write a short paper where you identify 3 concepts from any of lectures 1 through 10 that are

important to you personally.

Concept 1: Emotional Intelligence in Ethical Decision-Making

Concept Summary: Emotional Intelligence is the capability to perceive one's feelings and those of

others and to manage them judiciously. It encompasses five competencies: self-awareness, self-

regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. In ethical decision-making, EI plays a major role in

guiding individuals to act with thoughtful consideration of the emotions that might arise, both their

own and those of others. With the development of EI, decisions can be made which satisfy their

ethical values while building relationships and well-being in the group or organization.
Personal Relevance: Emotional intelligence resonates deeply within me because it goes right into the

core of my beliefs in fairness, empathy, and understanding. I feel that, during high-pressure situations,

a sense of knowing what happens to me emotionally and the people around me gives me better ability

to navigate through tough ethical decisions. Emotional intelligence helps me in decision-making on

ethical issues not only by logical analysis but also through empathetic approaches. For example, when

it comes to teamwork, this EI helps me to negotiate conflicts and make a coordinated environment

where the opinion of each is respected. Besides, it helps me to show self-regulation so that emotions

of anger or frustration do not shadow my judgment.

Example of Application: A particular instance in which I employed EI was while i was working for an

accounting firm when our team had a major deadline. A few members were getting stressed out,

which was now affecting productivity. I was able to recognize stress and step back and got doughnuts

for my everyone just to check on my team this helped me create an environment where the people in

my surroundings became more open and less stressed. This helped us destress a little and approach the

task with more energy.

Literature Connection: In Your True Moral Compass, Joseph Badaracco highlights that emotional

intelligence is required among leaders in making ethical decisions according to one's moral compass.

EI enables the processing of feelings in a productive manner to assist individuals in making decisions

in regard to their personal values, which can maintain harmony within an organization. Leaders who

exercise emotional intelligence can handle complex and intense ethical dilemmas better by instilling a

culture of ethics integrity. (Badaracco, 2023; Culham, 2024)

Concept 2: Stakeholder Analysis

Concept Summary: Stakeholder analysis refers to a framework that assists in the identification of the

affected parties by business decisions. The concept is aimed at addressing the ethical issues

surrounding decisions which are based on the fact that apart from shareholders, there are employees,

customers, suppliers, local community and the environment that must be considered. Stakeholder

analysis is useful in decision making whereby conflicting interests of multiple groups are present and
the most ethical alternative is the focus. Managers are able to understand the influence and duties of

various stakeholders involved and thus take appropriate measures that help in serving the needs of all

the actors.

Personal Relevance: This topic is very significant to me because it relates to the belief in fairness and

responsibility. Indeed, I have seen situations in my personal and professional life where a decision

made for the benefit of one group at the expense of another leads to ethical compromise. Stakeholder

analysis encourages me to think more broadly about the consequences of my actions, ensuring that no

group is harmed or neglected in the decision-making process.

Example of Application: In a case in the Home Depot store, where one customer asked for a discount

on the item to the point it created friction between their demands and our management's policy. The

best tool in understanding the needs of each party, as well as considering long-term goals for the

company, is through stakeholder analysis. By compromising with the customer in such a way that

both parties emerged satisfied and within store policy guidelines, I created a win-win situation. I

communicated the same decision to the staff with a view to reinforcing our company policies of

ensuring both customer satisfaction and business integrity.

Literature Connection: In The Corporation, Joel Bakan addresses the broader implications of

stakeholder analysis in corporate decision-making. He stressed that corporations need to abandon the

precept that has emanated from conventional thinking, the one that preaches the supremacy of

shareholders over all. Ethics is broad and allows alternative options when the interests of the parties

are endangered. He underlines the idea that multi-faceted approaches toward several stakeholders

yield positive outcomes for businesses in the longer run while also promoting trust towards its ethical

practices. (Bakan, 2005; Culham, 2024)

Concept 3: Moral Limits of Markets

Concept summary: The moral limits of markets is a concept in which, at this stage, one examines

ethical limits of market mechanisms. A well-operating market mechanism does not naturally and

inevitably produce what best serves the interests of a society in general. There exist services-for
instance, health and education-and even basic rights which cannot be distributed by means of a market

without giving rise to inequity, exploitation, or devaluation of needs. This concept calls for leaders

and policymakers to reflect more broadly on the ethical ramifications of market-based decisions and

seeks alternatives that are fair and equitable.

Personal Significance: For me, this is important because I tend to think that while an effective means

to create private wealth, markets should never be the sole determinants in how well society is going. I

often ponder on the balance economic interests and the potential for harm when market forces

override more ethical considerations. It will result in harm to society whenever businesses focus on

profit maximization at the expense of environmental concerns or workers' rights. My own

commitment to making sure businesses operate in a manner respectful to human dignity and the

sustainability of the environment was in tune with this notion of the moral limits of markets.

Application Example: One aspect in which I have been applying the concept is in matters related to

environmental sustainability. We did a group project focusing on analyzing the ethical implication a

company had on the environment due to its operations. In that regard, we concluded that though the

market-driven decisions were profitable in the short term, they really caused environmental damage.

We advocated for a shift toward more sustainable practices, arguing that the market's focus on short-

term profits should not come at the cost of long-term ecological health. This experience reinforced my

belief in considering the ethical limits of market-driven decisions.

Literature Connection: Throughout Defining Moments, Badaracco comments on the role of ethical

leadership in relation to market pressures. He feels strongly that leaders must weigh business

imperatives against moral obligations. When market forces work against moral values, it is the job of

the leader to make a choice in favor of morality even when that choice runs counter to market

direction. (Badaracco, 2016; Culham, 2024)

 References

Badaracco, J. (2016). Defining moments: When managers must choose between right and right.

Harvard Business Review Press.

Badaracco, J. (2023). Your true moral compass: Defining reality, responsibility, and practicality in

your leadership moments. Springer.

Bakan, J. (2005). The corporation: The pathological pursuit of profit and power. Free Press.

Culham, T. (2024a). Lecture 2. Lecture.

Culham, T. (2024b). Lecture 5 Moral Foundation Survey . Lecture.

Culham, T. (2024c). Lecture 9 Ethics Analysis and Decision instr ver. Lecture.