Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals - Ethical Theories and Decision-Making

1.1 What?

Topic:- Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals

What is right, and what is wrong? At first, a simple question, however, this a train of thought that leads one to a perpetual state of flux. We are all unique, that much is certain, and theimpacts of our experiences and beliefs cause us to differ. Hence such binary definitive answers are all but impossible to ascertain. Ethical theories are frameworks that help explain actions. These theories attempt to answer how individuals determine what is right and what is wrong. They explain how even the most and least virtuous persons can believe their acts are ethical. My studies focused on the theories of Deontology, Utilitarianism, and Virtue Ethics. The most challenging theory I found was Virtue Ethics. This theorem concentrates not on the act itself but on how the decision-maker came to that decision. This theory was a very abstract method of viewing ethical problems; I always had thought of right and wrong as universal binary decisions. It challenged me to look beyond that, focusing on ore of the causes that led to the conclusion and less on the outcome itself.

Through the course of my studies, the topic to which I felt the most significant connection was to Deontology, specifically the works of Immanuel Kant. As I watched the lecture, my mind wandered a bit. In this lucid dream, a long-standing ethical quandary of mine came to the forefront of my mind. It was regarding experience at my current place of employment is The Beer Store. Although I enjoy being employed there, it does lead me to decisions that I later contemplate. One such event occurredearly on in my time there. Late one evening, a customer who appeared to be heavily intoxicated approached the counter. Her speech was heavily slurred, and she could not walk in a straight manner. In this position, it is my legal and moral imperative to ensure that all who purchase are not intoxicated. Consequently, I  inquired about the ladies’ current state of inebriation. At this moment, she became belligerent and complained that I was targeting her for her ethnicity. At which time, I walked away from the counter and refused service. As in my mind, that choice was, at that moment, the correct thing to do. Unfortunately, this led to a complaint being filed against me. The person stated that they felt discriminated against because they were a Native Canadian, who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. This instance has always bothered me for the longest time. Long have I wondered if some internal bias may have played into my decision-making process. This connection led me to question if this decision had been an ethical choice in this scenario.

1.2 So What?

These ethical theories have provided me the tools to retrospectively analyze my decision and help illuminate if this had been the ethical choice or not. I will use the theory created by Immanuel Kant of there being three categorical imperatives. These are benchmarks of a sort; if an act violates them, then it would be unethical. I will be utilizing the first of the three categorical imperatives to analyze my choice. This categorical imperative postulates that how ethical a decision is based on how universal it is. I compare this method to the ideas to which the justice system is based. That for a decision to be just it must be impartial and the same for all regardless of their traits. These same principles apply to this categorical imperative.

In the event in question, I feel that I acted according to the benchmark, which this categorical imperative postulates. I followed the steps which I had been instructed to use in such scenarios. I acted in this manner due to the symptoms displayed and not due to any other features. This method has been the way I always have and how I continue to handle such situations. Hence, it can be concluded that my actions were ethical because they were applied in a universal manner. There is now no doubt that what I did was not only the correct but also, according to Immanuel Kant, an ethical decision. I was acting in a universal manner when this  decision was made. Further, the actions I took were the same as that I would have applied to any other individual. Therefore, it can be concluded that by this categorical imperative that Immanuel Kant postulated, the decision was ethical. This conclusion is essential to me as it helps me reconcile that indeed acted ethically in this scenario.

These ethical theories were challenging for me to comprehend at first. As I stated in the first section, virtue ethics at first, was extremely abstract to me. However, in time it caused me to take a much more third-person view on questions of right and wrong. Therefore, this forced me to take into consideration the exact causes of decisions and how they can differ. These theories have provided me with new frameworks to analyze the world and the choices I observed. Hence this topic has better allowed me to understand different viewpoints and the causes of said decisions. This skill will be of high importance to me regarding my future. After completing my studies, I wish to pursue a career in supply chain management. Where I will often deal with external parties and decision-makers in my everyday life, this theory will allow me to understand their decisions; it will make me a better employee and a better person as these skills will enable me to better understand and negotiate with the parties I encounter. Furthermore, whenever I feel contemplation regarding my acts, I now have the tools to determine whether the choice made was ethical or not.