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.

In my role as the Director of Client Success at TechCom Solutions, I faced the

difficult task of maintaining team cohesion and morale amidst a wave of downsizing

initiatives. Favoritism in layoffs and promotions, dictated by the personal biases of the

president, posed a significant threat to the integrity of our team dynamics and the fairness

of opportunity within the company. The absence of a structured and impartial HR

function was acutely felt as it could have provided a buffer against arbitrary decision-

making. My responsibility extended beyond managing client relationships to advocating

for transparency and equity within our department. The company’s pivot towards

financial survival highlighted the vulnerabilities in our human resource practices and the

urgent need for reform (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 121).

Employee engagement and general job satisfaction at TechCom Solutions

declined as a result of a lack of possibilities for staff growth and assistance, which made

the issue worse. This made me reevaluate how we approach human resources and

highlighted the necessity of having a strong HR system that can develop and utilize the

variety of skills within our team. Given the direct effect that employee emotional and

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 professional well-being has on customer satisfaction and business outcomes, it became a

major concern. My focus would have been on implementing a merit-based award system

and establishing a secure, encouraging work atmosphere to make sure that every team

member's contribution was appreciated and acknowledged. As we navigated these

challenging circumstances, it became clear how fundamentally important human

resources are to forming the organizational culture (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 125).

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

The ethical atmosphere at TechCom Solutions had a significant impact on how its

downsizing process developed. Bolman and Deal's (2021, p. 314) observations, which

emphasize the significance of moral authority and social justice in decision-making,

underline the critical role that leadership plays in forming an organization's ethical culture

(p. 314). However, partiality and personal prejudices clouded the downsizing process at

TechCom Solutions, making the ethical compass appear crooked (Bolman & Deal, 2021,

p. 321). This transgression of ethical standards damaged the organization's credibility and

jeopardized the integrity of the leadership's decision-making procedures.

Additionally, Bolman and Deal (2021, p. 321) described the president's decision-

making process as one that prioritized personal relationships over organizational fairness

and well-being. The breach of ethical standards caused a domino effect that negatively

affected the cohesiveness and morale of the team. As a result, TechCom Solutions'

unethical behavior damaged the company's brand and compromised its capacity to handle

challenging organizational issues in an honest and open manner.

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

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 A communitarian strategy based on moral values presents TechCom Solutions

with a viable framework for negotiating the downsizing process while considering an

alternate course of action. The examination of communitarianism by Bolman and Deal

(2021, p. 341) emphasizes its focus on striking a balance between the rights of the

individual and the common good, which makes it especially pertinent in situations

involving organizational decision-making. TechCom Solutions can prioritize inclusion,

transparency, and stakeholder participation during the downsizing process by taking a

communitarian stance.

The idea of group decision-making and taking the welfare of the larger

community into account is fundamental to the communitarian approach (Bolman & Deal,

2021, p. 349). In actuality, this would mean asking for feedback from workers, investors,

and other pertinent parties to make sure that choices on downsizing take into account a

variety of viewpoints and give everyone's interests top priority. In order to lessen the

effects of downsizing on impacted individuals and communities, policies and support

systems would also be put in place, exhibiting a dedication to morality and social

responsibility. In the end, TechCom Solutions may develop a culture of shared

accountability and respect by adopting a communitarian ethic, which will promote

resilience and cohesion even during periods of organizational change.

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

Upon applying an ethical lens to the TechCom Solutions scenario, it is clear that a

fundamental shift towards ethical leadership is necessary for the organization to succeed

in the future. The significance of ethical leadership in molding organizational culture and

decision-making procedures is emphasized by Bolman and Deal (2021, p. 353). Equipped

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 with this knowledge, I would fervently support the creation and strict application of a

strong code of ethics within TechCom Solutions. This framework would form the

cornerstone of the company's culture, acting as a compass for all organizational actions

and going beyond simple compliance.

Prioritizing justice, transparency, and alignment with core values in all decision-

making processes—especially in trying times like downsizing—would be crucial to this

attempt. Based on the observations made by Bolman and Deal (2021, p. 353), I would

support the establishment of a merit-based system that recognizes and compensates

workers for their contributions according to their abilities, output, and commitment. In

addition, I would work to create an atmosphere in which each person is treated with

respect and value, making sure that moral principles are integrated into every facet of

business operations. TechCom Solutions can create a culture of trust, integrity, and

accountability by fully embracing ethical leadership concepts. This will provide the

groundwork for long-term success and growth.

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 Reference or References
(Choose appropriate Title if Applicable and Delete the Rest)

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership

(7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bas