OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:
PCA-Ethical Communities Worksheet
Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the four ethical communities
2. Apply the ethical communities to your personal case situation
Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.
1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.
My promotion as a part-time Front End Manager was met by resistance by the full-time
employees who had years working in the front of the store. As I settled into my duties
and delegation I navigate the new complex relationship I had with the full-time
employees.
2) Describe how the ethics of the organization influenced the situation.
United Supermarkets was a place that did have its faults but also was a good place to
work. Many of the people that worked there cared for each other even if they were not in
the same department. There was a lot of competition between the departments but there
was still a family atmosphere to the organization. There was also a lot of honesty with
empathy that would be shared with management. From the top-down, it was known we
had to treat each other with respect. It was not acceptable to respond un-kind or
aggressively.
With my situation, knowing all the ethics United put forward, I knew I could not respond
with equal force. I knew that the people were going to be mad I just needed to show them
patients and kindness. I knew why they were mad and I agreed with their anger, so I
empathized with them. I also could not put forward an attitude that I could be run over
either. When met with a defiant full-time coworker I would just stand my ground and
show them the defiance would not make the tasks go away. Bolman and Deal (2017) tell
us of Ben & Jerry of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, how they ran their company with love.
Getting back with what they put into it was a lesson they gave on how to treat coworkers
and employees.
3) Recommend how you would apply one of the ethical communities for an alternative
course of action regarding your case.
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Bolman and Deal (2017) have many different examples of organizations and people’s
thought process for ethics. Where the organization treats the employees as a family where
they care and love one another. Also, United did have a soul or spirit that many would
nurture and treat each other with compassion. Family and spirit, I believe, come together
because they just compliment each other. Some people do not have a good example but
eventually if the organization imprints on them they will learn it.
Now that I am older and have the knowledge from this course, I would probably have
talked with each of them one-on-one. I do that with my family when there is a
disagreement or someone is acting without kindness. Sometimes at the beginning of the
conversation, there are some strong feelings, but once that is out there is usually a release
of anger. I believe using this method would have done what I eventually achieved, but
could have got me to the end sooner. Many of the full-time employees were great people
and would have talked with me without things escalating.
4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about ethics.
During my situation at United Supermarkets, I took care of all relationships. Coworkers,
customers, and vendors were people that I had good interactions with and still am friends
with them. I gave the respect that I wanted in return and treated everyone like they were
someone’s loved one. Bolman and Deal (2017), have many examples of giving to an
organization to get back what you give. I have always thought this way and after the
lessons that we have had, it just strengthens my beliefs.
With this course and life lessons, I do not think I would have done anything differently.
My situation was handled eventually and the relationships I had with the organization and
the people in it grew stronger. All the full-time employees eventually realized I was there
to keep things moving forward and not challenge anyone. Everyone I had interactions
with knew I was genuine in my actions and decisions. I still take those lessons I learned
with me to every job I have had since then. Keeping in mind I must follow my moral
compass and most times this will keep the ethics in check.
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Reference
Bolman, L., & Deal, T. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and Ledership. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
