Professional Values and Ethics
Geoff
GEN-200
April 11, 2010
Professional Values and Ethics
Professional ethics is defined as the justified moral values that should govern the work of professionals (In The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy., 1999). Values are the rules by which every person makes decisions about right and wrong. The ethical values that guide the public, private, and nonprofit sectors have traditionally been seen as distinct from one another as well as from the values that guide personal relationships. Ethics are codified into a formal system or set of rules that are explicitly adopted by a group of people. In any professional setting there will be values and ethics that guide the decision and choices made by an individual on what is important. In the workplace these are important principles to go by so one could accomplish their goals. However, recent trends in the economy and employment are blurring these distinctions. As a result, the ethical rules that apply to different facets of life and work are being challenged, necessitating a rethinking of the moral boundaries and rules governing professional behavior.
Three sources of professional values and ethics are personal, career choice, and organizational. An individuals personal ethics and values can be one of the greatest influences to there professional ethics and values. For example if a person was brought up in a home in which it is believed that giving back to the community through volunteerism or public office was an important aspect of being a responsible adult. Those beliefs would overflow into a person’s professional values, for example; starting adopt a school programs in the company office. Another source of professional ethics and values is the career choice that a person makes. For example, a person who chooses to dedicate him or herself to becoming a physician, must take the Hippocratic Oath; which states the ethical guidelines that the physician must adhere...