Question

Many organisational leaders in Asia are found to be lacking in consistently practicing ethical decisions for their organisation. Prepare and write a critical discussion on:

1 How managers in Asia, as organisational leaders, can lead and influence their employees to consistently practice ethical actions and behaviour in their organization

Explain by giving a brief statement on the importance and relevance for organisational leaders in Asia to consistently practice ethical decisions and include Quantitative (e.g. research survey results, numerical or statistical data) and qualitative (descriptive) information.

Answer 1

How Asian Managers' can encourage ethical conduct:

Focusing on achieving company goals while developing good workplace relationships is important for managers but focusing on ethical conduct among employees is equally important. Since the beginning of time, unethical behavior in the workplace has been around but that doesn't mean it has to be acceptable in your business. Any business should have an ethics code in place that reflects the principles, obligations, and aspirations of the organization. It should act as a moral compass that will guide employees in dealing with ethical dilemmas. Ethical conduct will ensure your business maintains a reputation for professional values and principles. Here are a few ways in which managers can encourage ethical behavior among their workers.

Training: You can not trust your workers to obey the code of ethics until they know what it is. Workers should be informed on the code of ethics as part of the onboard process, and why it is relevant. If they fail to behave ethically, they should also have a clear understanding of the ramifications. In addition, administrators can hold daily seminars on ethics and show how workers should overcome ethical problems. Use examples and role play to give opportunities for employees to work through different dilemmas. The more you train employees and emphasize the importance of ethical behavior, the more your employees will understand what is expected at work.

Rewards: Companies often expect ethical behavior but fail to admit it. If managers really want to promote ethical behavior when they see it they need to reward it. If a manager caught an employee doing the right thing, they should stop and thank them. Managers might also implement a system where employees can anonymously provide examples of ethical behavior by their colleagues. Ethical behavior should be included in performance reviews and it can be encouraged by managers who show gratitude when they see it.

Lead by Example: If managers want their employees to behave ethically then they have to understand it starts with them. Employees usually follow the guidelines that management has laid out for them. If managers hold on to a high standard of ethical behavior then they have credibility when they expect their employees to do the same. If everyone is on the same page the team as a whole will find it easier to adopt the same types of ethical behavior.

Treat Employees Well: Managers really need to ponder their current methods of operation. If management stresses the importance of workplace ethics but does not treat its own employees fairly, it becomes hypocritical. When managers respect their staff they can develop a trusting relationship that fosters ethical behavior. Managers, therefore, need to consider the decisions that the company takes to hire, train, promote, and pay employees. They also need to make sure that it is reasonable what they ask of their employees. When management shows that they are invested in their workers' success and well-being, it creates a business atmosphere that is founded on ethical values.

Why ethical behavior is important?

Fostering ethical at-work behavior helps build a strong team and increase productivity. It helps an organization to maintain a reputation for strong values which resonate directly with its mission. Research shows that companies with strong ethical cultures have shown a reduction in misconduct among employees.
Ethical people are the ones who know the distinction between right and wrong and aim constantly to set a standard of moral behavior. Ethical behavior in a business environment is conduct that implies the values of ethics and justice are applied to interactions with peers and consumers. Ethical individuals make an effort to treat themselves as they would like to be treated by everyone they come in contact with.
The rewards of business ethical practice include helping the company develop customer satisfaction, minimizing disciplinary problems, and hiring and retaining qualified employees.

• Build Loyalty to Customers: Consumers may encourage a corporation to take advantage of them once, but they would not be repeat consumers if they feel they have been handled poorly, such as being overcharged. Having a loyal customer base is one of the keys to long-term business success, since serving an existing customer does not entail marketing costs, while acquiring a new one.
• Boost Reputation for a Company: The credibility of an organization for ethical actions will help it build a more favorable marketing identity and can attract new clients through word-of-mouth referrals. Conversely, a reputation for dishonest practices damages the likelihood of the business attracting new clients, particularly in this era of social networking where disgruntled consumers can easily disseminate knowledge about the bad interactions they have had.
• Retain Good Workers: Talented workers at all levels of an organization deserve to get equal pay for their efforts and commitment. They want career progress within the organization to be based on the quality of their work and not on favoritism. People want to be part of a corporation whose executive staff shows them the truth of what's going on, especially when you're considering cuts or reorganizations.

Businesses that are fair and open to employees in their dealings have a better chance of keeping the most talented people. For example, employees who do not believe the compensation methodology is fair often aren't as engaged as they might be in their jobs.

• Environmentally Positive work: Employees have a responsibility from the moment they have their first job interview, to be ethical. They have to be honest about their abilities and experience. Ethical employees are perceived to be team players rather than individuals who are just out on their own. They build positive relationships with their coworkers. Their managers assign classified information to them, and as a result, they are also granted more control.

Employees caught in lies by their supervisors are detrimental to their chances of advancement within the organization and may risk a fire. Employee theft is one extreme case of poor ethics. This can cost the business a considerable amount of money in some industries, such as restaurants whose staff steal food from the storage locker or freezer. To stop this form of action, one solution adopted by conscientious organizations is to take the time to teach each member of the company on the actions required of them.

• Avoid Legal issues: Sometimes a company's management may be tempted to cut corners in pursuit of profit, for example by failing to fully comply with environmental regulations or labor laws, ignoring worker safety hazards, or using substandard materials in their products. The punishments for getting caught can be serious including government department attorney costs and fines or restrictions. The resulting negative publicity can cause long-range damage to the reputation of the company which is even more expensive than legal fees or fines.