Multicultural Ethics
Dena L. Coffey
University of Phoenix
COM526: Managerial Communication
Dr. Jacqueline B. Shahzadi, Ph.D.
Online Faculty, University of Phoenix
December 15, 2008
Abstract
Multiple varieties of ethics exist and affect both choices and decisions made throughout life and can have a significant impact regarding global markets. Ethics can be broken down into 3 categories: personal, organizational, and cultural. Personal ethics are distinctive to each individual and only the individual can control his or her own ethics. Organizational ethics are defined by each individual organization and these values do not necessarily correlate with the personal ethics of the majority. Cultural ethics are established by the cultural society and their collective beliefs; cultural ethics are typically tied to geographical areas and religious beliefs. These ethic varietals have a global market impact because they dictate choices and decisions made on a daily basis for all people.
Multicultural Ethics
According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Unabridged (n.d.), ethics are defined as “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” Ethics affect both choices and decisions made throughout life and can have a significant impact regarding global markets. Each individual has the opportunity to observe and conform to his or her own ethics or values system whether personal, occupational, or cultural. Application of these ethic varietals determine the way an individual conducts himself or herself and directs the choices and decisions made within their everyday lives.
Personal ethics are as distinctive to each individual as eye color, fingerprint, and DNA. Regarding Webster’s definition of ethics, determination of “good” and “bad” is very subjective and open to individual interpretation. The process of being deemed “good” by one person could result in a “bad” determination by someone else. Most...