Kudler

How my values align with Kudler Fine Foods The concepts of Ethics involve identifying, differentiating, and defending what are right, what is wrong, and the growth of these values in humanity. Exploring the Ethics Awareness Inventory helped me to gain insights into the ethical perspective of decision making. I was also able to understand the three components for making Ethical decisions. According to Williams Institute, Ethical decision making involves three components – Awareness of the ethical perspectives that serve as the basis for making good ethical choices; Articulation or the ability to explain the principles that underlie the position; and Application, using the understanding of ethical decision making to put principles into action as you approach ethical choices daily. People make decisions every day. People face situations in which they must make what they believe is the right decision. However, concerning ethical decisions, some believe that people must remain impartial, value-neutral, or politically correct. People make ethical decisions based on their personal ethical values. Corporate actions, executive decisions, management functions, and individual tasks are observable behaviors in the workforce. Although each of these behaviors has different consequences throughout an organization, each behavior begins with an individual making a decision. That individual’s decision is most often based on personal attitudes, beliefs, and the value systems that the individual (Hyde & Weathington 2006). The exercise called Ethics Awareness Inventory that was developed by The William Group for Ethics and Management analyzes responses to a set of questions, and categorizes the result under four ethical perspectives: Category, Obligation, Results, and Equity (CORE). The Ethical Awareness Inventory examines in detail the effects of one’s decision on others. Based on the Inventory, my profile is most closely aligned with character of the four beliefs and looks beyond the actions to evaluate individual’s character. It focuses on uprightness and integrity as key factors of my assessment. The Ethics Awareness Inventory reflects that is not enough to comply with some preset standards or principles of right and wrong to find the solution to an ethical dilemma. I value qualities such as honesty and integrity as well as developing practical wisdom and sound judgment within individuals to guide them in their ethical decision-making. The Ethics Awareness Inventory also reflects that I may be frustrated as I begin to realize that not all people have similar values as I do. This may be due to social inequality in the society that does not present equal opportunity to everyone to develop virtues I value. I do agree that development of a character within individuals is a slow and deliberate process that has been neglected in recent years. I concluded that certain events in my life, helped shape my characteristics, and values. I realized the growing pains that not only helped to teach me the importance of developing good personal values, but also how to utilize awareness when making decisions that will affect the aspects of my life, business, and the lives of others around me. Values like self discipline, honesty, humility, and good work ethics were not easily acquired, but in the end, priceless. After reading the Strategic Plan for Kudler Fine Foods (2003), I became aware that the company is established and operates with high work ethics. The standards they set for their business shows how much they value not only the quality of product and the service they provide but also the customers they serve. When I compare Kudler Fine Foods values to those of my own, I see a premiere gourmet grocery that focuses on a highest customer satisfaction and goes above and beyond the scope of duties to provide the best customer service. Kudler Fine Foods constantly examines its perishable foods making sure that only high quality items are offered to the customers. It also serves the needs of the local community in the forms of donations to local homeless shelters and food kitchens. Kathy, the manager and owner of Kudler Fine Foods, show the characteristics of humility, and commitment. Kathy stays late to help out, and she will assist her staff working the register or stocking if needed. This also shows that Kathy not only appreciates the staff but also values the service that her business gives to the customers. These values show high level of commitment professionalism, honesty, and humility when making decisions, which correspond to the values from my self-assessment from the Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory. I believe that the similarities of ethic and values would not affect my performance as a manager at all. Instead I believe that Kathy, knowing that I share the same values and work ethic, would enable me to make some of the critical decisions while she focuses on growing the organization.