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Ogl 345 Module 1 Case Study

This document discusses three case studies related to ethical dilemmas the author experienced in their previous role. In Case Study 1, the author's boss discriminated against them due to their ethnicity and skin color. In Case Study 2, the author witnessed coworkers disrespecting and disconnecting phone calls from Hispanic and African American individuals. In Case Study 3, human resources failed to properly investigate reports of a manager taking advantage of their position and instead fired the whistleblower. The author notes a general lack of ethical leadership and behavior at this organization.

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142 views

Ogl 345 Module 1 Case Study

This document discusses three case studies related to ethical dilemmas the author experienced in their previous role. In Case Study 1, the author's boss discriminated against them due to their ethnicity and skin color. In Case Study 2, the author witnessed coworkers disrespecting and disconnecting phone calls from Hispanic and African American individuals. In Case Study 3, human resources failed to properly investigate reports of a manager taking advantage of their position and instead fired the whistleblower. The author notes a general lack of ethical leadership and behavior at this organization.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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ETHICAL DILEMMAS 1

Module 1: Case Study Assignment

Waukera Taylor

OGL 345: Organizational Leadership

Professor Bill Erwin

April 25, 2022


ETHICAL DILEMMAS 2

What is Ethics?

Ethics is a bit difficult to define but relates to the moral principles that invisibly controls

the behavior and conducts of others. “Ethical leadership means that individuals behave according

to a set of principles and values that are recognized by the majority as a sound basis for the

common good. These include integrity, respect, trust, fairness, transparency, and honesty”

(BetterUp.com). I like this definition because in a home, it’s easy to be ethical. However, in the

workplace I have found lack of good ethics, especially in leadership roles – a lack of respect,

fairness and honesty.

What is your Chosen Profession?

My chosen profession began thirty years ago in the field of accounting. I have worked

with multiple companies in the corporate, private, governmental, and tribal sectors. I couldn’t

attend college right out of high school. College was not encouraged in my home, I felt that I was

a second parent to my siblings while my parents worked and had relationship issues. After high

school I started doing clerical work and over time, I learned accounting skills through my jobs

and through my leaders. Gratefully, I was able to grasp processes and procedures needed to

continue my growth in the accounting field without a college degree. I do enjoy accounting and

the ethical practices behind my role.

Case Study 1

The first case study I will be presenting is with my last employer, a public entity of a

school district; whom I finally had the opportunity to leave within the last month. My former

boss was a woman who was not originally from Arizona. She prided herself as a Republican. She

would talk about individuals behind their back and in their presence would act as if she never

said a bad thing about them. I knew that her leadership was not professional, but I continued to
ETHICAL DILEMMAS 3

be professional without acknowledging her behavior. I began working with the school district

due to my personal decision to go back to school to obtain my college degree; a lifetime goal that

I always wanted to pursue but lacked the finances and support. Little did I know what I was

getting myself into. Kris was very vocal in who she was supporting during election time. Soon

enough, I felt I was being discriminated against, due to my ethnicity and my skin color. When

she found out I was in school, she began micromanaging me and watching my every move. I

requested for an earlier lunch so that I can attend an online lecture. She declined my request and

began treating me unfairly. I began to become mentally drained and tired. Although I didn’t want

to give her the opportunity to feel that she got her way with my leaving the school district, I

finally did anyway. I am happier now that I left, however, I feel that I had to have had to

experience what I did in order to become a better person and future leader. To ensure that I will

do better as a leader and to have good ethical behavior and attitude.

Case Study 2

The second case study also relates to my last employer where I witnessed employees

being discriminated against because they spoke Spanish therefore have an “accent” and who

were not able to understand technology, therefore, were also discriminated against by my fellow

coworkers who were Caucasians or “white”. It was difficult having to witness my coworkers

disrespecting those who were Hispanic or African American. Although I felt the discrimination

myself, it was apparent with others as phone calls were disconnected and the remarks that came

after. I have never worked in a place that had low moral standards. This was another reason that I

felt that the school district I worked for had low regard for leadership skills and lack of ethical

moral or knowledge.
ETHICAL DILEMMAS 4

Case Study 3

The third case study also relates to the same employer who lacked leadership in what I

would think to be the most important department of any company, Human Resources. The most

obvious was a former employee who contacted Human Resources to confide that a department

manager was taking advantage of their leadership. The employee who reported the manager was

overlooked and immediately fired. Instead of investigating or listening (in accounting, there is

such a term as a whistle blower) leaders in this organization do not acknowledge their lack of

ethic morals instead act on political and unethical behavior. What made it even more difficult to

experience was the lack of leadership between two important departments, payroll and human

resources. Both departments are considered vital to any organization, but the district I worked for

disregarded the two leaders. “Leadership is one of the most studied topic in the organization

sciences, and employee engagement” (Sage Journals).


ETHICAL DILEMMAS 5

References

The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one. The Importance of Being an

Ethical Leader and How to Become One. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.betterup.com/blog/the-importance-of-an-ethical-leader#:~:text=Ethical

%20leadership%20means%20that%20individuals,fairness%2C%20transparency%2C

%20and%20honesty.

Carasco-Saul, M., Kim, W., & Kim, T. (2015). Leadership and employee engagement: Proposing

research agendas through a review of literature. Human Resource Development Review,

14(1), 38–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484314560406

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