Running head: Discussion Posts

Discussion Posts

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Institution

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Week 7 Discussion 1: Corporate culture communicates the values, beliefs, rules, ceremonies as well as customs of the organization to the employees. These pillars of corporate culture determine the behavior of the people in an organization. If the values, beliefs and rules in a certain organization are based in morality and good ethics, then the employees in the organization will follow suit and will make decisions based on the culture. On the other hand if an organization is based on a poor culture of greed and exploitation, then the employees in the organization will make their decisions based on this culture.

Part B: Leaders in any corporation can use the different types of power that they possess to motivate ethical behavior in the organizations. Reward power can be used as an incentive for ethical behavior and people can be awarded for good behavior, these awards can be used to motivate the employees to act ethically. Coercive power can be used to penalize unethical behaviors and discourage unethical practices. If a particular employee is penalized for poor behavior, this will serve as a warning to other employees and even the offender and he is likely to avoid unethical behavior in the future.

Legitimate power can be used to ensure compliance by exerting the authority one possesses as a leader. This power that a leader holds can be used to ensure that all the people listen to the leader and do what he says. Expert power will encourage ethical behavior as the subordinates will respect the leader for his knowledge and credibility. This credibility can stem from his experience in the field and people will listen to him because they will regard him as an experienced and knowledgeable person. Referential power can be utilized by ensuring that the employees understand the connectivity of their objectives and thus encourage teamwork.

Running head: Discussion Posts Week 7 Discussion 2: The level of ethical behavior in my school is currently low and thus an organizational structure that promotes a higher level of ethical behavior is required. The centralized structure would be the most preferable structure in the school. This is because a centralized structure will encourage ethical behavior in my school more than the decentralized structure would. In the centralized structure, the ethical policies are strictly formalized and implemented. Due to this, the school will have a better and more formal way of implementing the ethical policies and behaviors and this will promote the levels of ethical behavior in the institution. Part B: Formal groups include committees, workgroups and teams, these groups consist of individuals who have been assembled in an accepted organizations structure. On the other hand, the informal groups involve individuals who have a common interest and do not have an organizational structure. In the formal groups people with different moral values are brought together and can influence each others ethical behaviors as well as the behaviors of the entire organization. The people in the formal groups can influence the ethical decision making process by presenting various alternatives based on the various opinions of the different individuals. The informal groups are formed basing on common interest and shared companionship. Their purposes are not necessarily in line with the organizational goals. In the informal groups information is shared through the grapevine and this information may be used to determine the ethical behaviors of the employees. These informal groups also serve as a means of

communication of the organizations culture and may be used to impart ethical behavior to other employees in the organization.