Ethical Behavior In Organizational Leadership

Written Assignment

Organization leaders have greater influence in transmitting and promoting moral standards, values and ethical behavior in organization. Organization leadership should pay attention to promoting positive moral values and standards, ethical behaviors that help the organization in achieving successful results and outcomes. Ebbers contentious display of destructive unethical deviant behavior set unethical standards and negative moral values for the organization which contributed tremendously to WorldCom financial scandals that resulted in the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

According to Murphy & Enderle, 1995 descriptive business ethics literature, executive leaders set the ethical tone at the top of organization and shape

By way of the idealized influence component, Transformational leaders are thought to influence followers to develop a collectivistic orientation rather than a selfish one, to internalize moral values transmitted by the leader (Shamir, House, & Arthur, 1993). In Ebbers case there was no moral values transmitted. Things considered moral values that makes him seem a good leader are unethical because of the motive behind it. Ethical leaders are considered both “moral persons” and “moral managers” (Treviño et al, 2000). According to Treviño & Brown, 2005 “Ethical leaders are thought to be moral persons because they are honest and trustworthy, take good care of their people, and do the right things in both their personal and professional lives. They make decisions based on values and ethical decision rules, and they are fair and concerned about stakeholders’ interests and long-term outcomes”. Ebbers did not display nor demonstrated any of the above characteristics of ethical leaders, he rather displayed unethical characteristics which was not obvious but was later exposed and the outcomes was in different forms of scandals. Yes, Ebbers could have used characteristics of ethical leaders to accomplish a successful results and outcomes

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