Cultural Values and Personal Ethics Paper
...d not as an inclusive list. Each business professional and institution should create their own list of core values, which may include shared religious and spiritual values as well. • Honesty (truth telling, candidness, openness), • Integrity (acting on convictions, courageous action, advocacy, leadership by example), • Keeping promises (fulfilling the spirit of commitment), • Fidelity (loyalty, confidentiality), • Fairness (justice, equal treatment, respecting diversity), • Caring (compassion, kindness), • Respect (human dignity and uniqueness), • Citizenship (respect for law, social and civic consciousness), • Excellence (in the quality of work), • Accountability (responsibility, eliminating blame). (Bohlman, H. and Dundas, M. 2002, p. 44). An ethical dilemma occurs when there is a gap between conduct and core values. When one acts outside of one’s core values, both character and self-image are compromised. By acting outside of one’s core values, the goals and effectiveness of a person in both personal and professional dealings can be undermined. Without a solid foundation on which to base decisions, a person might waver with the most pressing problem of the day. This wavering does not allow the individual to pursue a goal based on principles and can cause antagonism, hostility, and frustration among others affected by such indecision. (Gross-Schaefer, A. 1998) When an individual does not act in accordance with his or her values and beliefs, the person will feel an uneasiness within himself or herself. This is a risky situation for both the individual and the organization in which the person works. When the goals of the individual get lost, the effectiveness of the company gets lost as well. Organizations have core goals as well and if a person is unable to follow his or her core values and beliefs, and then it is unlikely that the person will be able to follow the core goals of the organization. Cultural Values And Ethical Conflicts In the course of everyday living and working people encounter others who possess an ethical system and core values very different from their own. Throughout history conflicts occur between people about what is good or bad, right or wrong. Such conflicts have very important implications for personal and professional decisions. (Turiel, E. & Perkins, S. 2004). Disputes over ethics and values can interfere with the process of making good business practice decisions. Ethical conflicts can also erode the trust upon which professional relationships depend. Because our society is one in which many distinct ethnic, religious, and cultural groups are present, there are strong pressures to take into account the differences found in these many groups. More importantly, our multicultural society forces one to consider our moral and ethical diversity. It also forces one to attempt to understand the other persons’ cultural and social environment. It is easy to realize that, as we interact with such a diverse world, we need to take into account that a person’s or group’s values, beliefs, and moral framework should be understood and respected, however such a consideration is far more difficult to put into practice. In healthcare, it is v...