Chapter 11 Discussion Questions
what are the two approaches to ethical leadership?
1. compliance-based approach 2. integrity-based approach
what are the questions ethical leaders should ask when assessing a firm's ethics program and corporate culture?
1. does the company have a written code of conduct? 2. have individuals from high-level positions in the organization been assigned overall responsibility to oversee compliance with standards and procedures? 3. what are the processes or other means by which ethics are integrated into any or all manufacturing, marketing, distribution, electronic commerce, and general corporate strategy decisions? 4. is there a review process whereby legal, ethical, and business practice considerations are presented, reviewed, or otherwise considered by the board of directors? 5. what steps has the company's taken to communicate its standards, procedures, and policies to all employees through training programs or publications that describe company expectations? 6. has the organization taken reasonable steps to achieve compliance by utilizing, monitoring, and auditing systems designed to detect misconduct and by providing a reporting system whereby employees can report without fear of retribution?
what is the seven step process for limiting groupthink in small groups?
1. emphasize to each team member that he or she is a "critical evaluator" with the responsibility to express opinions and objections freely 2. eliminate leadership biases by refusing to express an opinion when assigning tasks to a group 3. set up a number of independent groups to work on the same issue 4. encourage each team member to express the group's ideas with someone he or she can trust outside of the group 5. express the need to examine all alternatives 6. invite outside experts into group meetings, and allow member to interact with these experts 7. assign one person to be "Devil's advocate"
what are the "seven habits of strong ethical leaders?
1. ethical leaders have strong personal character 2. ethical leaders have a passion to do right 3. ethical leaders are proactive 4. ethical leaders consider all stakeholders' interests 5. ethical leaders are role models for the organization's values 6. ethical leaders are transparent and actively involved in decision making 7. ethical leaders take a holistic view of the firm's ethical culture
what are the "ways leaders can use communication to improve their leadership skills?"
1. have the tough conversations that you been meaning to have, including telling people what they need (and not necessarily want) to hear 2. stop talking and listen more 3. pick up the phone or walk down the hall to actually talk with someone rather than relying on more impersonal emails. 4. communicate bad news in the same way, with the same zest as good news. 5. share performance feedback with others regularly so that others know how they can improve 6. be purposeful and thoughtful in how you communicate 7. ask for feedback so you can improve your skills. 8. work on your blind spots in your leadership abilities
what are the various ways that an ethical leader can be proactive?
1. is to take a leadership role in developing effective programs that provide employees with guidance and support for making more ethical choices, even in the face of considerable 2. They understand social needs and apply or develop the best practices of ethical leadership that exist in their industry
what are the four steps of the recovery process?
1. take corrective action 2. compensate stakeholders harmed by the misconduct 3. express regret for the misconduct 4. reinforce the firm's reputation with positive messages
what are the three reasons that normative myopia occurs?
1. the belief that normative values do not apply to managerial decisions 2. the belief that facts and values can be separated in decision-making 3. the belief that normative values are outside the realm of business
what is "ethical reasoning"? why is "ethical reasoning" the "correct approach"?
a fundamental problem in traditional character development is that specific values and virtues are used to teach a belief or philosophy. this approach becomes muddled in a business environment where cultural diversity, privacy, and the profit motive must be respected.
what creates social isolation? what should leaders do in order to do you decrease social isolation?
a leader who is socially isolated from employees will have a tenuous relationship because employees are left to make their own decisions. It is important for ethical leaders to frequently communicate and interact with employees to decrease this social isolation
why do "most successful leaders not rely on one style, but alter their techniques based on the characteristics of the situation?"
absolute list of attributes, values, or skills needed to be an effective leader
what role do "lower-level employees" play in a company's ethical leadership?
all responsible employees must engage in ethical decision making and exhibit ethical leadership characteristics
what are the characteristics of holistic thinking?
allows leaders to relate decisions to the functions and activities that impact the entire organization; try to develop policies and procedures that provide incentives to those who train new leaders; developing leaders should be a cyclical or never ending process in the organization
why must an ethical leader "know which style conflict management to apply to a particular issue?"
an ethical leader is not someone who always avoids risks or continuously seeks to beat his or her opponent. Rather, an ethical leader engages in ethical decision making to determine when to be assertive, when to compromise, and when to accommodate or avoid.
what can ethical leaders due to mitigate the power distance with subordinates?
an ethical leader should engage in both formal and informal systems of reporting to create an open communication culture where employees feel comfortable stepping forward with concerns or suggestions
what is a psychopathic leader or corporate psychopath? what are the characteristics of this type of leader? what problems do these type of leaders create for their organizations?
an unethical leader that are characterized as having superficial, charm, no conscience, grandiose self-worth, little or no empathy, and enjoyment in flouting the rules
how would you describe the fourth step -- answer?
answer involves responding to the discovery of an ethical dilemma through communication both internally and externally.
how would you describe a competing conflict style of management
are highly assertive and not very cooperative.
how do you describe authentic leaders?
are passionate about the company, live out corporate values daily in their behavior in the workplace, and form long-term relationships with employees and other stakeholders
what is assertiveness and cooperativeness
assertiveness is acting in one's own best interests, while cooperativeness means working toward the best interests of the other person
why are leaders who possess competing conflict style of amusement "not consider to be ethical?"
because their conflict style makes them abusive and less likely to consider to concerns of employees and other stakeholders
how we describe and avoiding style of conflict management? why is this style not effective?
because they avoid conflict at any costs -- even if it leads to misconduct
why is the collaborative style flexible?
because they can be both assertive and cooperative, depending upon the situation
what is a coaching leader?
builds a positive climate by developing skills to foster long-term success, delegating responsibility, and skillfully issuing challenging assignments
how does an ethical leader create transparency?
by developing a culture where ethics is frequently discussed
where are the methods to generate employee feedback?
can be generated in many different ways, including interviews, anonymous surveys, ethics audits, and websites.
why does a leader need to possess good political skills?
can be used to promote organizational goals and help rather than hinder other employees. are able to navigate difficult situations, reduce uncertainty, and advocate for positive change.
what is pacesetting leader?
can create a negative climate because of high standards that he or she sets. this style works best for attaining quick results from highly motivated individuals who value achievement and take the initiative
how would you describe leader-exchange theory?
claims that leaders form unique relationships with followers through social interactions
what are the two "most observable ways of communicating ethical values to employees?"
codes of ethics & training
what are the five conflict management styles
competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, accommodating (based on levels of assertiveness and cooperativeness)
what is an authoritative leader?
considered to be one of the most effective styles - inspires employees to follow a vision, facilitates change, and creates a strongly positive performance climate
what is a resonant leader?
create an ethical corporate culture as well as leader-follower congruence
what is a coercive leader?
demands instantaneous obedience and focuses on achievement, initiative, and self-control. Although this style can be very effective during times of crisis or during a turnaround, it otherwise creates a negative climate for organizational performance
when it comes to listening, what do ethical leaders do?
developing good listening skills tend to establish credibility and trustworthiness with employees; leaders encourage employees to provide input and assure them their concerns are taken seriously support an open communication culture
why is it difficult to communicate to a supervisor?
differences in power status and fears that their concerns will be rebuffed make employees more hesitant to approach organizational leaders
what is respectful interpersonal communication? why is it " an important way to maintain ethical interpersonal communication?"
does not involve placating the other person and never involves condoning misconduct.
what are the "positive effects" that emotional intelligence has on an organization's culture?
emotionally intelligence leaders exhibit self-control and self-awareness, they handle stressful situations better. Employees tend to view leaders with high emotional intelligence as effective leaders because of their ability to motivate and make employees feel like an important part of the organization
what are the reasons why ethical leaders need to empower their employees?
employee empowerment is an essential component of a values-based organizational culture. A values based culture encourages employees to express concerns, bring up ethical issues and take a proactive approach toward resolving conflicts.
what role does positive and negative feedback play in ethical decision-making?
employees will be responsible for applying the company's principles and values into their daily decisions. Developing feedback mechanisms for employees is crucial for identifying ethical issues
why can lapses in ethical leadership "occur in people who possess strong ethical character?"
especially if they view the organization's ethical culture as being outside the realm of decision making that exists in the home, family, and community
what is the relationship between the avoiding style and ethics? why is conflict important when it comes to ethics?
ethical conflict also alerts leaders to ethical issues within the company that they might not have noticed otherwise. The avoiding leader has commonly been associated with ethical crises that have destroyed the reputations of organizations.
what is "one dimension" of leadership
ethical decisions
"the way and ethical leader communicated to employees has just as much impact on the firms ethical culture" for what reasons?
ethical leaders communicate with employees regularly regarding expectations and progress toward company goals
what are a "number of requirements" that have been identified as qualities that make someone a good leader?
ethical leaders must model organizational values, place what is best for the organization over their own interests, train and develop employees throughout their careers, establish reporting mechanisms, understand employee values and perception, and recognize the limits of organizational rules and values
what are the benefits of ethical leadership?
ethical leadership has a direct impact on the corporate culture of the firm. ethical leaders communicate and monitor an organization's values, ensuring that employees are familiar with the company's purpose and beliefs.
what is formal reporting ? when does it happen?
formal reporting happens in environments such as meetings and conferences, also includes anonymous reporting systems.
why is nonverbal communication important?
helps in clarifying language that might be ambiguous or confusing.
why is ethical leadership "not possible without effect communication?"
how a leader communicates provides employees with a clear idea of company roles and expectations
why must ethical leaders model the organizations values?
if leaders do not actively serve as role models for the organization's core values, then those values become nothing more than lip service
what needs to occur in group decision-making in order to "yield ethical outcomes?"
if members are encouraged to speak up and create checks and balances in the team, then they are better able to hold other group members accountable.
what are the three "elemental ingredients" for leadership?
include character, stewardship and experience
how you describe an ethical leader?
include ethics at every operational level and stage of the decision-making process
why can a leader who possesses an accommodating style of conflict management create an ethical disaster?
individuals with this approach to conflict give in to the other side even if it means sacrificing their own interests and values. When a leader accommodates those in engaging in misconduct, the result can be an ethical disaster
why is a person's leadership style important to ethics and ethical decision-making?
influence many aspects of organization behavior, including employees; acceptance of and adherence to organizational norms and values
what is listening ?
involves paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal behavior.
how would you describe the third step -- Discovery?
involves proactively uncovering ethical risk areas that could lead to misconduct. Many managers are reluctant to engage in this process because they fear doing so will uncover questionable conduct that could put the firm in an unfavorable light
what is ethics continuity planning?
involves the identification of risk areas and the development of a response plan to deal with major issues; considers the ethical goals the firm wishes to accomplish
what is nonverbal communication?
is communication expressed through actions, body language, expressions, or other forms of communication not written or oral; provides major clues about an individual's emotional state
what is small group communication? why is this type of communication "important to ethical decision-making?"
is growing in organizations; this type of communication becomes increasingly important to ethical decision making; organization's ethical decisions are made in teams, and these decisions impact the ethical success of the firm
what is interpersonal communication?
is the most well-known form of communication and occurs when two or more people interact with one another
what is para-language?
is the way we talk, such as volume, inflection, tone and rhythm; provides important indicators of the person's emotional status.
what are the advantages and disadvantages of bringing ethical conflict into the open?
it enables ethical leaders to manage that conflict and bring it closer to resolution
why do leaders need feedback from their employees?
it is helpful to incorporate feedback and reports of misconduct when measuring the effectiveness of the company's ethics programs
why is the collaborative style conflict management "most in sync with ethical leadership?"
it is the role of the ethical leader to foster, model, and facilitate a collaborative conflict style.
what are the advantages and disadvantages of the compromising style when resolving ethical dilemmas?
leaders are still able to receive part of what they want, and that makes it different from an accommodating style of conflict management. on the other hand, they allow the other side a partial victory that prevents them from assuming a competing style of conflict management.
"leadership has a significant impact on ethical decision-making" for what reasons?
leaders have the power to motivate others and enforce the organization's norms, policies, and viewpoints
in order to be perceived as ethical stewards, what must leaders do?
leaders must be recognized as trustworthy are more likely to be perceived as ethical stewards.
how can one tell if an organization is taking a compliance-based approach?
leaders that adopt a compliance-based approach emphasize obedience to rules and regulations and set processes in place to ensure compliance
how we describe the compromising style conflict management ?
leaders who adopt this management style are in between the assertiveness and cooperativeness dimensions.
how would you describe the accommodating style of conflict management?
leaders who adopt this style are highly cooperative but non-assertive
what is a transactional leader? how do they lead? this style is best suited to what type of organization and which situations?
leaders who create employee satisfaction through negotiating, or "bartering" for desired behaviors or levels of performance
what is a transformational leader? how do they lead? this style is best to do to what types of organizations and which types of situations?
leaders who strive to raise employees' level of commitment and foster trust and motivation
what role does language play in modeling an organization's values?
leaders whose language and actions are contrary to the firm's values send a signal that the values are trivial or irrelevant
why is listening important?
leaders with poor listening skills or who fail to listen to concerns often overlook ethical issues; important to employee morale.
how would you describe an unethical leader? what are the characteristics of an unethical leader?
looks at laws as minimum guidelines and searches for loopholes. Unethical leaders perceive ethics codes, compliance regulations, and industry standards as optional
why does communication have "grey areas"?
lying to employees or consumers would generally be considered wrong, but some find small lies that do not damage stakeholders permissible.
if a leader is "muddling through" what are they doing?
managers that muddle through are not consistent to core values
how we describe an apathetic leader?
not necessarily unethical, but care little for ethics within the company
why should ethical leaders "have the ability to identify the conflict management styles of others?"
observing and understanding others' styles of conflict management is important in making the best decision.
what is informal reporting?
occurs when leaders interact among employees, keeping them informed about company decisions, policies, and ethical expectations
what is groupthink?
occurs when one or more group members feel pressured to conform to the groups decision even if they personally disagree.
why is there still "disagreement between company leaders and employees regarding how this process is implemented?" by process, the authors are talking about the process of empowering employees.
organizational leaders may therefore misjudge their firm's corporate cultures. for this reason, it is important organizational leaders solicit constant feedback from employees and encourage their input.
how you describe organizational politics? what are the negative effects of workplace or organization politics?
organizational politics is often perceived as trying to achieve one's own ends even if it means harming others in the organization. Gossip, manipulation, playing favorites, and taking credit for another's work are all examples commonly associated with workplace politics.
what is positive feedback? why is it important?
positive feedback is just as necessary as negative feedback. reinforcing the positive behavior and ethical decisions of employees is important for both the development of an ethical culture and the overall success of the firm
why are codes of ethics important? what are the characteristics of an effective code of ethics?
provide important guidelines for employees on how to act in different situation. They provide employees with basic ethical guidelines, training allows employees to practice these guidelines.
how would you describe the fifth step -- recovery?
recovery occurs when a firm begins to rebuild its reputation
what is group polarization?
refers to the face that a group is more likely to move toward a more extreme position that the group members might have done individually
what is a democratic leader?
relies on participation and teamwork to reach collaborative decisions. this style focuses on communication and creates a positive climate for achieving results
what does research indicate regarding transformational and transactional leadership?
research indicates that companies characterized by transformational leadership are more likely to be involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
"emotionally intelligent leaders are skilled in" what ?
self awareness, self-control and relationship building
what are the advantages and disadvantages to small group communication?
small groups can increase collaboration and generate a variety of different perspectives and opinions on a particular issue. Engaging in repetitive or routine decision making can cause small groups to overlook certain ethical issues. It is difficult to anticipate all the repercussions of the group's ethical decisions (Group think and group polarization are negative side effects)
what are the characteristics of effective training programs?
teach employees how to apply the firm's values to some of the organization's most common ethical risk areas.
what is leadership?
the ability or authority to guide and direct others toward a goal
what is emotional intelligence?
the ability to manage themselves and their relationships with other effectively, characterized by self-awareness, self-control, and relationship building
how you describe the collaborating style of conflict management? why is it most advantageous?
the collaborating style is the most advantageous. Leaders who adopt a collaborating style to conflict management are cooperative and assertive. Rather than immediately compromising, collaborative leaders collaborate with others to find a creative way to obtain a beneficial solution.
in order to "determine what is in the best interest of the firm, directors must consider" what?
the effects a decision has not only on shareholders and employees but other important stakeholders as well
what is "ethical blindness"?
the propensity to rationalize an unethical action or turn a blind eye to it
how would you describe the second step -- avoiding misconduct?
this process is an important part of risk management.
what can ethical leaders due to "mitigate power differences?" why are power differences a problem?
through frequent communication with workers. the point of this interaction is to create more beneficial relationships with employees and also reduce perceived power differences between these groups
why should ethical leaders "engage in both formal and informal systems of reporting?"
to create an open communication culture where employees feel comfortable stepping forward with concerns or suggestions.
how would you describe the first step --recognizing the firm's ethical risk areas?
to prevent misconduct is recognizing the firm's ethical risk areas. Ethical leaders must determine what issues the firm is most likely to face so controls can be implemented to limit the opportunity for misconduct
why should employees be "trained to handle conflict situations?"
training employees to recognize and resolve conflict can prevent employees from being the victims of questionable conduct such as bullying
why are transparency and reporting two major dimensions of ethical communication ?
transparency is used by developing a culture where ethics is frequently discussed, openness and leader accessibility are important in addressing and resolving ethical issues. reporting is used when a subordinate communicates to a superior. But it is more common practice to report to superiors, and less common to feel a responsibility to report to one's subordinates
why do ethical leaders "use different styles depending on the situation?"
understanding how other stakeholders manage conflicts can help ethical leaders determine whether their own style should be adapted.
how can one tell if an organization is taking and integrity-based approach?
usually have chief officers, human resources managers, and board member committees involved with the ethics and compliance program
what is an affiliated leader?
values people, their emotions, and their needs and relies on friendship and trust to promote flexibility, innovation, and risk taking.
what does the acronym RADAR stand for? what is the radar model?
when ethical misconduct or issues arise, the leader should have plans in place to answer stakeholder concerns and recover from misconduct: RADAR: Recognize Avoid Discover Answer Recover
why is leader-follower congruence?
when leaders and followers share the same vision, ethical expectations, and objectives for the company
what is normative myopia?
when managers overlook or stifle the importance of core values in their business decisions
what are ethical business conflicts? what is one benefit of ethical conflict?
when there are two or more positions on a decision that conflicts with organizational goals;
why do effective leaders "use different styles depending on the situation?"
while a collaborative style might normally be the most ethical means of managing conflict, it would be ethically questionable to collaborate with an employee caught committing serious misconduct, such as fraud or embezzlement.
why is "high assertiveness not always a problem?"
while leaders should exhibit competing characteristics in certain situations, firms must be careful they do not hire leaders willing to win so much that ethical values and the company's well-being are ignored
why do ethical communication skills "not come easily?"
while some might be better communicators than others, these communication skills take practice.
what is negative feedback? why is it important?
while sometimes difficult to convey, is important to inform employees of weaknesses and provide constructive ways for improving them.
why do many ethical leaders use a "combination of the two approaches?"
without compliance to laws and basic rules and regulations of the company and industry have set, an organization will not survive in the long-term
can emotional intelligence characteristics be taught?
yes, many emotional intelligence characteristics can be taught. example: Starbucks "latte method" where employees learn to recognize negative emotions from their customers and respond appropriately
