Cameron Gillespie

OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Ethical Communities Worksheet
Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the four ethical communities
2. Apply the ethical communities to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The organization I am employed at is called Riot Hospitality; the concept I work for is called
Farm & Craft – a trendy farm-to-table restaurant that provides a variety of dietary options
(vegan, gluten free, paleo and others) and alternative healthy drinks and cocktails. My
position as a bartender in this restaurant can get hectic at times, especially when the nice
weather calls people out to Old Town Scottsdale to party. This particular difficult situation
was influenced by myself. In short, it was a slower Friday than usual, so I played with the
thought of calling off the other scheduled bartender for the opportunity to make more money
for myself. I made the executive decision to do so. Unfortunately, I underestimated the initial
lack of foot traffic, and ultimately suffered the consequences of my decision.

2) Describe how the ethics of the organization influenced the situation.

In my situation with Farm & Craft/Riot Hospitality, the ethical framework aligns with a Human
Resource perspective, resembling an extended family as mentioned by in our textbook (Bolman
2017). This is evident in how we offer different food options for all kinds of customers and make a
cool and friendly atmosphere.

Riot Hospitality's efforts to the well-being and growth of its employees aligns with the human
resource ethical perspective. In this situation, the decision to call off the other scheduled bartender for
personal gain went against the values of collaboration and support that make up the human resource
perspective. Farm & Crafts ethical stance displays a positive work environment, and my action,
influenced by a more political mindset seeking personal advantage, does not abide by these values.

3) Recommend how you would apply one of the ethical communities for an alternative
course of action regarding your case.

To correct this situation and align with the organization's human resource ethical community,
an different course of action would be to adopt a Structural perspective, viewing the
organization as a well-organized factory (Bolman 2017). This includes following the rules

1
 Cameron Gillespie

and procedures, including the existing scheduling of staff. In this scenario, I would recognize
the importance of teamwork and reliability of my workmates.

Maintaining the efficiency of the operation should be a higher priority. Rather than making
selfish decisions based on personal financial gain, I would prioritize the overall success of
the team and organization. Communicating openly with the other bartender and collaborating
on adjusting the schedule, with the input of a manager of course, would follow the
organizations intended ethical community. This approach would align with the organization's
ethical values but also give a more cohesive and reliable team.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about ethics.

Looking back, having a deeper understanding of organizational ethics, I would approach the
situation with greater mindfulness and consideration for the ethical framework of Riot
Hospitality, specifically at Farm & Craft. Recognizing and following along with
organizational culture shown as an extended family environment, I would avoid making
decisions solely based on personal gain. Instead, I would prioritize collaboration, fairness,
and would follow to established procedures. Understanding the impact of my actions on the
team dynamic, I would avoid displaying a stance that may weaken the organization's
commitment to creating a positive workplace culture.

Moving forward, I will contribute positively to the team, align my decisions with the
organization's ethical values, and prioritize the well-being of both customers and colleagues.
This reflective approach would ensure a more in sync display of personal and organizational
ethics in future decision-making.

2
 Cameron Gillespie

Reference or References

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership
(7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass