Professional_Values_and_Ethics_Paper_Resource

Values are the basis for every culture. They guide behavior. They answer the question of why people do the things they do. Values decide for people what is good, important, pretty, useful, appropriate, ect. Values can be positive and negative, some are even destructive. Values can be defined as those things that are important to or valued by someone. That someone can be an individual or an organization. One example consists of an organization's core values in the case of the United States Air Force, “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do”, were deemed important enough to be included in Air Force basic training. When values are shared by all members of an organization, they are extraordinarily important tools for making judgments, assessing probable outcomes of contemplated actions, and choosing among alternatives. Perhaps more important, they put all members "on the same sheet of music" with regard to what all members as a body consider important. A Department of the Army pamphlet entitled Values: the Bedrock of Our Profession spent some time talking about the importance of values, and included this definition: Values are what we, as a profession, judge to be right. They are more than words-they are the moral, ethical, and professional attributes of character . . . there are certain core values that must be instilled in members of the U.S. Army-civilian and uniformed soldier alike. These are not the only values that should determine our character, but they are ones that are central to our profession and should guide our lives as we serve our Nation. What do we mean by ethics' One of the keys is in the phrase quoted above from the DA pamphlet: "Values are what we, as a profession, judge to be right." Individually or organizationally, values determine what is right and what is wrong, and doing what is right or wrong is what we mean by ethics. To behave ethically is to behave in a manner consistent with what is right or moral. What does "generally considered to be right" mean' That is a critical question, and part of the difficulty in deciding whether or not behavior is ethical is in determining what is right or wrong. Nearly every society makes some judgment of what consists of ethical behavior. In the United States of America a good deal of what is believed to be ethical is based in Judeo-Christian heritage. Cultures not only regulate the behavior of their members, but also assist in defining their cultural core values. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" represent the core American values. One major source of professional values and ethics is the initial indoctrination process for a company training regime. The foot you start on is the foot you’ll finish on. Another source is proper leaders who are willing and able to exemplify professional values and ethics. The third source is an internalized belief, committed by the individual employee. If one possesses the core values and ethics represented by the corporation you are employed through, you will at the very least be able to maintain if not progress in your employment. The trick is to ascertain the values that characterize your employer. Not all values will be presented at the start of your employment, if only for the fact that your employers are unaware they possess those values. Two examples of how professional values and ethics can influence career success are represented below: Luke Adama works at a fast food restaurant. He badly wants to be promoted, but he knows that his coworker Han Spock is also being reviewed for the promotion. So Luke decides to alter Han’s work schedule so Han will miss work three days in a row. Han felt that it was strange to be off work for three days in a row. Han decides it would be a good idea to double check his schedule. So he called his supervisor. Hans supervisor realizes what happened, terminates Luke’s employment, and Han receives the promotion. Luke valued career success over a sense of fair play. Han valued thoroughness. Jack Wayne is an Airman in the USAF. Airman Wayne wants to become an officer. He works hard at his office and goes to school at night. He doesn’t spend much time hanging out with friends and family. He continues in this manner until he achieves his Bachelors degree, at which point he applies for Officer Canidate School, and the Flight School. Eventually Airman Wayne become 1st Lieutenant Wayne and is a pilot for A-10 “Warthog” Aircraft.