Values

Professional Values and Ethics Eneditra M. Johnson Hung Nguyen Redrick Jones Jose L. Carreon GEN/200 February 8, 2011 Dr. Marie D. Senegal Professional Values and Ethics What does professional values and ethics mean' Do they relate to family, education and employment' How important are they' Decisions are based on values and ethics. Sources are available that can help develop professional values and ethics, and the success of a career is caused by values and ethics. What are values and ethics' Values are the principles and beliefs, which a person makes decisions about right and wrong. A person’s values can be considered as the structure, and help shape individual elements of ethical behavior by determining what is good, bad, beneficial and important. It answers the question to why does an individual do what they choose to do' Ethics, the concept behavior is either right or wrong, deals with how individuals behave toward each other (Post, Lawrence, & Weber, 2002). A right and wrong for ethics does not exist. For people ethics are based on the foundations of rules created by society through religious, laws, family and organizations. Three sources that can help develop professional values and ethics are family, educational institutions, and the business organizations. “We all wake up one day and realize we just said something that our father did. It’s scary, but we really are a little bit like our parents” (Hodge, 2011, para. 2). Ethics and values develop at an early age. Family members, especially the parents begin the molding process of one’s thinking, between what is right, and what is wrong. This foundation leads us to the next source of professional ethics and values, which are the educational institutions. Teachers, counselors, advisors, and instructors always refer students to the student code of conduct, to stay out of trouble. Universities offer ethics classes to prepare graduates for the workforce. “Professional bodies have an important role in affecting the behavior of peers through providing better ethical conduct guidance” (McManus & Subramanian, 2009, p. 638). Once in the workforce the business organization itself is a source to develop ethics and values at a professional level. They have specific company guidelines pertaining to employee code of conduct. A corporate company always offers mentorship programs, to develop strong leaders within the company. The individual will soak up all the information the mentor would have taught him or her to be the basis of one’s first major decision. As described how Professional Values and Ethics can impact a person’s career success, values and ethics were defined. Values are the principles and priorities, which help individuals make decisions on the daily basis. Ethics is deciding what is right in a particular situation and deciding what is consistent with one’s personal or organizational value system. Combined they are ethical moralities and customaries of behavior, maintaining the moral stature of proficient groups in society. The impact of values and ethics are race, religion, and gender. Parents are the foundation of their children’s beliefs, values and ethics system teaching them the moral courage to stand up for what is right and do the right thing. As people move forward into adulthood, and head into the workplace they start to think about the fabric that their values and ethics came from and how they will use it in their daily lives. What is frequently noticed in a company is that Professional Values and Ethics make the company strive. They interview potential candidates, and select those that share the same professional values and ethics as them. In other words, for a business’ proficient values and ethics procedures to illustrate, it anticipates the member of staff to conduct himself while in employment, and present what moral principles should be met. According to the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, “Organizational support for ethical conduct is valued highly in personal selling and sales management, ethics training, and functioning through a company's ethical values and culture should prompt greater satisfaction with supervisors and coworkers. These individuals play a part in the ethical practices that impact job satisfaction in others.” Values influence the choices that people make and helps mold them into leaders and not followers. With a clear set of values comes credibility and loyalty to others, which allow individuals to have a better clarity, and focus on the directions that they may take in life. Ethics are the foundation for personal and professional excellence, and defined as a set of standards, which actions are determined to be right or wrong.  Standards are used to establish rules of conduct; created through a comprehensive framework of communication and behavioral expectation. They are critical to the success of any business. Professional values and ethics are similar. However, everyone has his or her own individual values. Decisions that are made are on values and ethics. Family, education and businesses, are sources that can help develop professional values and ethics. The impact of success of a career is caused by values and ethics. References Hodge, C. (2011, February 7). The Sources of Professional Values and Ethics [Helium]. Message posted to http://www.helium.com/knowledge/279944-the-sources-of-professional-values-and-ethics. McManus, L., & Subramaniam N.  (2009). Ethical Evaluations and Behavioral Intentions of Early Career Accountants: The Impact of Mentors, Peers and Individual Attributes.  ACCOUNTING & FINANCE, 49(3), 619-643. doi:10.1111/j.1467-629X.2009.00301.x. Post, J. E., Lawrence, A. T., & Weber, J (2002). Business and Society: Corporate Strategy, Public Policy, Ethics. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.