Ethics based on values help OD practitioners guide themselves as they move along the paths of

their work and lives.

Values are set of manners that individuals learn while growing up. It is different from ethics
because ethics are publicly agreed on, and publicly stated, guidelines for a practice in a
profession. Why is it important for OD practitioners to have his/her own values? It is important
and necessary because mostly, his/her judgment will depend on his/her values. It is also
important that the OD practitioner and the organization have aligned values to that they could
be able work hand in hand and there would be purpose in what they are doing.
LIFE AND THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS: People respecting, appreciating, and loving the
experience of their own and others being while engaging in search for and the process of co-
creating a good life.
FREEDOM, RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF-CONTROL: People experiencing their freedom, exercising
it responsibly, and being in charge of themselves.
JUSTICE: People living lives whose results are fair and equitable.
HUMAN POTENTIAL AND EMPOWERMENT: People being healthy and aware of the fullness of
their potential, realising their power to bring that potential into being, growing into it, living it,
and generally doing the best they can, both individually and collectively.
RESPECT, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, WORTH, AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND
OTHER HUMAN SYSTEMS: People appreciating one another and their rights as human beings,
including life, liberty, and the Quest of Happiness.
AUTHENTICITY, CONGRUENCE, HONESTY AND OPENNESS, UNDERSTANDING AND
ACCEPTANCE: People being true to themselves, acting consistently with their feelings, being
honest and appropriately open with one another and both understanding and accepting others
who do the same.
FLEXIBILITY, CHANGE AND PROACTION: People changing themselves and acting assertively in a
continuing process whose aim is to maintain or achieve a good fit between themselves and the
external reality within which they live.
LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION: People growing in ways that bring
into being greater realisation of their potential, individually and collectively.
WHOLE-WIN ATTITUDES, COOPERATION-COLLABORATION, TRUST, COMMUNITY AND
DIVERSITY: People caring about one-another and working together to achieve results that are
good for everyone, experiencing the spirit of community and honouring the diverse that exists
within it.
WIDESPREAD, MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN SYSTEM AFFAIRS, DEMOCRACY, AND
APPROPRIATE DECISION MAKING: People participating as fully as possible in making decisions
that affect their lives.
EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, AND ALIGNMENT: People achieving desired results with an optimal
balance between results and costs and coordinating the energy of systems, subsystems, and
macro systems (especially energy, needs, and desires on human being within those systems)
In the recent years, values such as Spirituality and Community are gaining voice, Sustainability
is being raised, and Human Potential and Personal Development values are reemerging.