...Professional Values and Ethics S. Michelle Gudger, Donna Verstraete, Jared Snow, Todd White GEN-200 August 29, 2011 Jeni Smith Professional Values and Ethics The dictionary defines ethics as: the study of standards of conduct and moral judgment; moral philosophy ("Define ethics," 2011). Philosophers who think about ethics usually try to live by an ethical code, while the people who set up a code of ethics often study and think while they are doing so ("Define ethics," 2011). According to this definition, ethics can be one of two things: it can be a code that you follow and live by, or it can be something that you study and think about. Of course in our daily life it has a chance of being both. Ethics is not an easy word to define. Almost everyone wants to live an ethical life, but knowing what that means is not as simple as it sounds. Being that life is not that simple sometimes people come across what writers would call “ethical dilemma”. When a situation comes up and two ideas might seem ethical, it might be hard to choose which answer is correct. Some “ethical dilemmas” may have little consequences: for example, is it right to tell a lie when someone asks “does this dress make my butt look to big or was my steak to tough? The dilemma is what to do, lie or risk hurting the persons feeling? There is no easy answer to these questions because it depends on your definition of ethics! In sociology, the definition for values is believed to help ease the conflict between...
Words: 1078 - Pages: 5
...Professional Values and Ethics Professional values and ethics is a multi step process. From the time one is born till the day that one dies one is always learning new values and applying ethical thought in their personal or professional lives. Many of the ideas and thoughts that one applies in their daily life can be easily applied to their professional life as well. If one has a strong will to learn and to excel this only enhances one’s goal in life to be the best in whatever they are doing, whether it be personal or professional growth. Ethics is defined as a set of ideals or disciplines that define a person’s character as good or bad, right or wrong, or by one’s moral duty (ThinkQuest). One’s personal moral principles or ethics can also be defined by one’s religious views or group codes. The ideals of a person’s character can be cultivated and enriched by one’s race and cultural rituals. All of these are pieces of our character and create who we are as individuals. Values are closely related to a person’s behavior and attitudes and are based on concepts and beliefs based on rules that we decide between right and wrong, should haves and should not’s (Changing Minds). High values can be described as having qualities that are worthwhile and desirable, with a unique quality. Values as well as personal ethics can define a person’s character. By being trustworthy, honest, and hardworking, one is displaying a strong character. People possessing these strong...
Words: 1033 - Pages: 5
...Professional Ethics and Values Vanessa Thomas Gen 200 July 25, 2011 Michael Seller Professional Ethics and Values Professional values and ethics play key roles in career success whether it is how we accomplish daily tasks or the promotion we receive after years of hard work. The definition of career success is different for every individual, but in all it is in the mind of the person. One person’s professional values and ethics may be different from another but that does that not mean that in their world, they are not achieving success. Personal values can be directly related to ethics because it is a trait that an individual has that judges their outcome of his or her decisions. Therefore, making the right decisions and implementing the right professional values and ethics at work; we will not go wrong in achieving career success. When we discuss values, most people think of them as the qualities we desire. Values are not just the ideal attributes of a group or person but also can be framed by negative connotations. Positive values would include freedom, literacy, or compassion. Negative values would include tardiness, cruelty, or criminal behavior. Society places emphasis on positive values to help keep the social structure together. Ethics are the moral precepts of a group or individual. Ethics are what determine if a value is positive or negative. When someone places a moral discussion on a value, he or she is using ethics. Career success is hard to define because...
Words: 1235 - Pages: 5
...Personal and Professional Values and Ethics in Harmony and Conflict Delner S Jackson GEN/200 July 14, 2011 Deena Martin Personal and Professional Values and Ethics in Harmony and Conflict Your professional values are the forces that direct what you believe and the prevailing principles by which you decide how you will conduct yourself at work. They are guiding principles that help determine the decisions you make and each step of action along your career path. Professional values are simply the foundation of your career. These values sometimes alter after some time and during various events of life and as your central foundation of belief, should remain the same. Usually, your professional values are the off-shoots of the things you care about in your personal life; things such as: truthfulness, working as a team and “doing the right thing”. Say for instance, a pioneering chief executive officer plants a new company in a major business community which is surrounded by a needy community of varied cultures. Seeing the opportunity to drain the communities less powerful businesses, draws from his personal values to launch the convictions of his professional values and teams up with already existing businesses to reach out and develop the people. By such an example of professional values, a company may make promotions and product advertisement secondary and honorably esteems community outreach. What a testament to the company that has a value system that well rooted...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...Professional Values and Ethics Amy Surratt, Erik Hohmann, Deborah Lambert, Renee Gray, Heather Gibson Gen/200 February 28, 2011 Melissa George Professional Values and Ethics Dr. Price Pritchett once said, “We all faced painful ethical challenges before we even knew how to spell our names. There were tough choices, tradeoffs, and confusing signals regarding how to live one's life. And here we are now, today, still struggling. Still trying to sort things out. Still trying to work our way through life effectively. About the only thing that has changed is the scope of the problem. There is more at stake now. And we are in a position, as grownups, to do a lot more-good or bad-for ourselves, our organization, and our world. But we still must wrestle with our imperfect ethics.” (Pritchett, n.d.) This quote by Dr. Price Pritchett shows the struggle of personal ethics and values. Values and ethics are not a pre-written set of instructions, but rather something that we learn along the entirety of our lives. One must understand where values and ethics come from and more important how both values and ethics can impact one’s professional success. Values and ethics of professionals are moral principles and standards of conduct. Ethics are the principles of conduct that govern an individual or a group. Values are principles...
Words: 875 - Pages: 4
...Professional Values and Ethics GEN 200 November 29, 2010 Professional Values and Ethics Every day the workforce of the world makes choices that affect how their business is run, how they treat their customers, and how they interact with the community. Should a business fail in any certain area, the consumer will find a new place to purchase goods and services. These gestures could range from banks treating those with money as people and not just account numbers, to a general contractor ensuring his work was done properly and how it will be fixed if it were not. As an employee, or future employee, one will have to display a certain set of characteristics or values the employer wants. These values can be as small as how reliable someone is, or how one interacts with his coworkers or potential customers. Everything one does in their professional lives affects their success. There is a distinct relationship between professional values, ethics, and career success. These relationships have been studied by notable scholars like Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. Hard work is its own reward and will precipitate the things I seek in life. The theme of Plato’s philosophy was moral thinking has to be joined with our feelings and desires. He stated that such training has to begin with our education as children. Socrates differed slightly from the views of Plato. Socrates stressed learning a craft requires care, industriousness, and repetition. He goes on to say that laziness...
Words: 1173 - Pages: 5
...Professional Values and Ethics Professional Values and Ethics Values and ethics are the principles by which one lives his or her life. To be successful in any field an individual must possess strong values and good ethics. These are the principles on which to build a successful career. Consistently choosing to act ethically can enhance and promote ones career. Many sources defining and explaining professional values and ethics are available. They vary with careers; however they are similar in their requirement for honesty and integrity. Many companies have their own code of ethics, which employees are expected to follow. A work environment in which everyone strives for high ethical behavior becomes a pleasant place to work. A person’s career can be positively or negatively affected by the level of professional values and ethics he or she displays in the workplace. Unethical behavior is cause for dismissal in any profession and has no place in a successful career. The decisions made daily in an organization are important indicators of that organizations true value. It is important that those decisions reflect good ethics for the success of the organization. Values and ethics, can be summarized and have many meanings to everyone, but they both start off with strong definitions. In an education setting, the word value means “worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor; utility or merit” (American, 2000). When it comes down to it value, is the worth of something...
Words: 1451 - Pages: 6
...Professional Values and Ethics Abstract Everybody has a set of rules they live by. People make decisions based on these “rules,” which are also known as values and ethics. In the workplace there are also values and ethics involved in everyday decision making. So to be successful one needs to know what professional values and ethics are. As well, he or she needs to know where they come from. It is also very important to how those values and ethics can determine career success. Every company will have its own code of values and ethics that will determine what they will require from each employee. Professional Values and Ethics Values and ethics are principals that help individuals determine their actions and conduct in any given profession. Values and ethics are principals that individuals build over time. Values help an individual determine what to trust and what to ignore. These are a set of rules we have set for ourselves or have been taught as beliefs by a person or social group. Values and ethics go hand-in-hand. Ethics is a set of rules that people have set for themselves or by a group or profession. Understanding the difference between values and ethics can be tricky, but the differences are important when making a point or getting a point across to a group of people. For example: a business owner wants his or her workers to give good customer service. So he or she would have a policy set in place to help with value and ethic principals she set for his or her business...
Words: 829 - Pages: 4
...Running head: PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND ETHICS Professional Values and Ethics University of Phoenix Professional Values and Ethics What is the difference between values and ethics? Values are rules by which people make decisions about what is right versus wrong; good versus bad and what one should or should not do. The definition of values according to Dictionary.com is “the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard. These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 2009). Examples of values include: respect, empowerment, commitment and teamwork. Ethics on the other hand, are generally a formal set of rules which are openly adopted by a group of people; such as a company’s code of conduct or a code of ethics handbook. The definition of ethics according to Dictionary.com states “a theory or system or moral values; the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the member of a profession” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 2009). Examples of ethics might include: bribery is not acceptable or treatment of customers. Many people question the values and ethics of professional establishments, especially those in the financial industries. American’s today are going through...
Words: 1026 - Pages: 5
...Professional Values and Ethics GEN 200 Professional Values and Ethics Values and ethics are extremely important parts of one’s personal life. However, personal and professional ethics are very different. Different professions have different sets of ethics; examples of this would be the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. Following are some examples of types of values, ethics, and career success, and their relationships. Values and Ethics The free online dictionary defines values as “beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment” (The Free Dictionary, 2008a). Values are a part of everyday life; values make up one’s social standard. One’s values are used to determine the moral fiber of that person. For example, a person’s honesty can be in question if he or she does not tell the truth about a situation he or she faces. Honesty shows dependability and trust; people will show more respect to an honest person. In order for a team to have good working relationships among its members, the members must value each other. The members must be dependable to gain each other’s trust. One must understand that honesty and values are important to the average person. Without values, the world would be in an uproar. The definition of ethics according to the free online dictionary is “a theory or a system of moral values” or “the rules or standards governing...
Words: 1369 - Pages: 6
...Professional Values and Ethics The successes and failures of a company can often be attributed directly from their practices in upholding their values and ethics, and as the country deals with the effects of the decline of these values and ethics, in this essay we examine the role that they play in the rise and decline in career and business successes. We study the professional values of a good upstanding and moral leadership within the company to compare the company’s objective outcome. As we further discuss specific companies and business leader practices, we spotlight each situation’s outcome, good and bad, as a direct effect from their values and ethical practices applied to their every day business approach. Values are the standard to which the importance is focused in professional practices by an organization or individual (Syque, 2002-2010).. The unfortunate disconnect is that upholding professional values may not always be the ethical practice. Ethical behaviors are when these practices are to consistently doing what is right, even if they are not solely focused on what is most profitable for the company and their growth. Professional values and ethics are central to any organization and it is the responsibility of the individual employed and affiliated with that organization to uphold them. Sources of professional values and ethics are plentiful. These sources may include professional integrity, academic integrity, and personal values. Each of these sources...
Words: 1199 - Pages: 5
...Running Head: PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND ETHICS Professional Values and Ethics University of Phoenix Gen/200 Foundations for General Education and Professional Success Instructor: Christopher Mott Professional Values and Ethics Values and ethics are extremely profound attributes, and very significant when instilled within a person of determination. In knowing the desire and need to be successful, the driven nature within can empower energy, magnified by the continued success of one’s desired career path. Although both values and ethics seemingly support one another, the defining factor varies with each individual, as everyone’s core within is different. Professionally speaking, giving proper support and importance, not only in defining values and ethics, yet to also bring to light the derivative of sources, truly gives the overall impact of achieving career success. The choice one makes to practice honest values and quality ethics, allows a structured environment sustaining loyalty, for the overall business arena. In essence, professional values and ethics supports the true core of whom all are professionally and personally, as the way all choose to value themselves in doing what is right, the more often all will show positive reflection within the business world. Values are the personal ways the depths of everyone’s soul speaks to them, often urging one to stand ground and take action, enhancing direction and guidance supporting nourishment and strength...
Words: 1614 - Pages: 7
...Professional Values and Ethics GEN/200 June 13, 2011 Abstract When investigating society’s professional values and ethics one would find that there are varying opinions on what is and is not ethical. In a world of propaganda, it is a rarity to find a professional, let alone a business that has much of a conscience. In today’s society there are two ways to advance a career. It can be done the ethical way through hard work, following the rules and doing the job correctly. An in-depth look into how these two values can be an asset to a professional career is the subject of this paper. Professional Values & Ethics In a world of propaganda, it is a rarity to find a professional, let alone a business that has much of a conscience. There is a constant feel of pressure to outdo the competitors and what they have to offer. There are two characteristics that could be very pertinent, yet neglected in today’s modern business; values and ethics. Values pertain to ideals or customs held in high regard by a certain individual or group. Ethics are the principles that have been instilled within a person that, in a way dictate the decisions made by that individual. Integrity is one important source of professional values and ethics because it builds a network of trust. A majority of Americans most successful business have been built on integrity. To possess integrity as an individual offers a platform for progression in any given line of work. Consumers expect a service...
Words: 1590 - Pages: 7
...Ethic and professional values are something that we use in our everyday lives and it is used to base all of the decisions that we make in our lives. The first source of ethics and values are set in place by our families. As we grow up they are set in place so that we know the difference between right and wrong. Our families try to install good values in us as kids so that way when we are adults we are making the right decision. The second source of professional values and ethics are learned at school while you are growing. You learn ethics from your teachers and other classmates. The teachers are trying to get more involved in the children’s lives to make sure that they are doing the right things. It is up to the teacher to show good values and ethics if they notice a problem with the child to straighten it up before it goes on any further. In a way the teacher have just a much control as the parents do to make sure that a child is learning good values and ethics. There is many other places inside of a school that a child might learn good ethics and values, such as, nurses, guidance counselors, and the principle. The third source of professional values and ethics are put in place by your social network. These could be friends that can help you through obstacles that you might come across in your life. If you see your peers doing something nice you are going to follow and do something nice for someone else. It is a chain reaction that has to start somewhere and with someone...
Words: 418 - Pages: 2
...Professional Values and Ethics Paper J.J. Jones GEN/200 26 May 2009 Professional Values and Ethics Paper What does the lensatic compass and professional values and ethics have in common? The lensatic compass allows the infantryman to set a direct azimuth or path to an objective. With the azimuth set, the infantryman can readily recognize rough terrain, valleys and hills that he must negotiate to successfully reach the objective. Likewise, professional values and ethics provide both the employer and the employee a clear path to success – a compass. By adhering to Professional Values and Ethics will enable employees, employers and other professionals to avoid the many potential minefields that inundate the landscape of the business and professional worlds. To really appreciate Professional Values and Ethics, we have to look closely at the terms values and ethics. Values are principles we use to judge between what is right and wrong, good and bad, and normal and abnormal. Values are primarily developed through our personal experiences, religious background, and social environment. Ethics is defined as a theory or a system of moral values; the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.(dictionary.com) . The tasks of professional ethics are to identify moral standards and assessments, judgments and concepts, charactering people as representatives of a particular profession. Professional ethics develops norms, standards...
Words: 978 - Pages: 4
