Setting the Ethical Climate in an Organization

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of how to set the ethical climate in an organization. As background, ethical business and government codes, ethical principles, and ethical values are discussed. The effectiveness of a code of ethics and a proposed ethical decisionmaking process are examined. Business codes and the military ethical climate are compared. Then, proposed elements of an ethical climate and the importance of the senior leader in setting an ethical are discussed. Six strategies to improve organizational communication, the key to an ethical climate are summarized. Finally, the importance of leaders establishing downward-flowing ethical policies coupled with an upward-flowing measurement system to assure that the organizational operating values are the same as the stated values is highlighted. The study concludes with a discussion on moral conflicts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA233983

Entities

People

  • Michor M. Gentemann

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Classification
  • Commerce
  • Communication Systems
  • Corporations
  • Defense Industry
  • Executives
  • Feedback
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Measurement
  • Personnel Management
  • Schools
  • Security
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Economics
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Systems Analysis and Design