Nature of Logic

Organizational Behavior Executive Summary

Companies today have to deal with new issue to be able to shine in the global marketplace today. With many corporations being caught in scandals and illegal practices, companies are taking addition steps in the board of directors to create a more ethical workplace. With the extra responsibilities in an ethical workplace, there is also an increased level of stress with employees.

The influence of ethics on decision-making

Ethics today has a big impact on the decision-making process in the workplace. With the fear of corporations such as Enron and Worldcom, companies are taking extra steps to assure employees and stockholders in these corporations' business practices are ethical and morale. Sadly, one reads in the paper or watch on television how corporations were caught in some very unethical practices.

Until a few years ago, Board of Directors and their Chief Executive Officer in major corporations ignored basic ethic codes. At one time, executive turned a blind eye on these practices, as long as it created revenue for the corporation. The Board would allow their CEO to make decision that was sometimes not only unethical but also illegal. These members of the Board would, in return, receive outrages bonuses and other outrageous compensations. In order to develop a more ethical corporation, decisions have been made to make sure that the majority of the Board of Directors in most corporations has no direct business relationship that would cause any conflict of interest. Most companies have gone a step further by making a rule that a non-executive chairperson will only be at the head of the Board. The practice of one person being both the CEO and the chairperson is no longer practiced in some corporations. Another step that corporations are making is to make sure that the Board of Directs is being held responsible for creating and enforcing the policies of an Ethics Code. It is then management's responsibility to make sure that all employees and stockholders are is of these policies. (Vogl, 2003) Another policy that companies are implementing is an Integrity Hotline. If an employee sees unfair or unethical practices in the corporation, there is a toll free number where this employee can state his or her concerns in private. There will then be a third party who will investigate the employee's concerns and grievances. The outside party will decide if additional actions need to be taken.

The Impact of Technology in the Workplace

When computers and technology were introduced in the workplace, people expected that they would soon be living in the age of George Jetson. With the help of the new technological age, employees would be able to punch buttons for a few hours and go home. People hoped that the 40-hour workweek would be reduced. Employees hope that there would be more time for themselves and for their families. The complete opposite has occurred. We now live in a world where one can work from the office, or at home. Employees feel that there is no place to get away from the stress and frustrations