Business Case

Value Alignment

BUS/475

November 28, 2011

Instructor: Ramzy Noel

UoPX

Value Alignment

The concept of values in relation toward strategies and management connected toward practical matters within organizations is the correlation between success and value alignment.

Value Origins

Personal and workplace values originate from how people are raised, the kinds of values in his or her homes, the images seen, and how they are portrayed. Evolution of personal and workplace values happen when outside influence is recognized. Perhaps a manager says something inspiring or a coworker's poor work values inspire better performance by an individual. Education can influence personal and workplace values. Applying knowledge from business courses changes individual's perspectives on his or her personal and workplace values. Personal and workplace values changes along with age, others' influence, and education. For example a 16 year-old first job working minimum-wage as a gift wrapper in his or her local department store, at such a young age it is easy to be blind to how his or her contribution toward that company would be needed. By understanding that the gift-wrapping position is only a value-added service for customers, the concept would be lost and respect toward the position would be null and void. Standards and requirements for the position would not be recognized in which would result toward poor performance and finally let go.

Individual Values

Values and ethics should be an integral part of any business. It is the how many businesses are able compete in a fair market, and it puts some social responsibility on to the company to the environment in which it resides. Many companies like NIKE have created their own code of conduct and values, and require that employees adhere to its guidelines (Nike, INC, 2011). These ethics are driven by the management team of the company and the values and ethics in which they hold will drive the direction of how that company treats ethical situations.

If Nike INC. were to face an ethical situation they would be able to fall back on the guidelines previously set. An example of an ethical situation in which the individual's values of those who run the company decisions have set a huge ethical standard is with Kaiser Permanente. Many insurance companies require a lifetime or yearly maximum that a customer can reach when the insurance company no longer covers the rest of the medical expenses. Kaiser has taken a stand from the beginning that they do not believe this is an ethical move, and they have no lifetime benefits on any of their plans. (Healthinsureance.info.com, 2011) This decision and many other decisions are made based on values and ethics that a management team will make. It is important to set these standards so a company knows how to act when situations like this arise.

Nike's Values

Nike is a United States organization in a city in the state of Oregon. Nike's mission is to become the world's foremost fitness and sport's company. Two objectives Nike faced while doing business worldwide was whether to operate and own the manufacturing company or to subcontract the manufacturing of goods using an outside source. In both situations, the manufacturing companies could be international or domestic, and the organization could be subjected to issues regardless of either choice. However, companies that choose to do business domestically are better able to deal with workplace issues, government stability, job creation, monitor, and evaluate processes, experienced workers, and labor guidelines, and procedures. Nike chose to operate globally and by doing so the managing of these facilities is a present debate.

Nike uses more than 140 countries to manufacture shoes sold. Nike is a global company producing shoes manufactured by subcontractors in locations such as Vietnam, China, and Asia. Even though Nike does not own the manufacturing companies, Nike is consistently accused of producing