Question

In 1 to 2 paragraphs, analyze how a person's ethics or values might affect his performance on the job.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

This question puts together two different perspectives based on different goals and metrics: economics and ethics. In economics, self interest is the driving force and productivity is one of the metrics used by managers and shareholders in measuring their profit making. In ethics, doing good for people and creating social value is the goal. The results cannot be measured anymore in units of productivity.

Peter Drucker in his famous book "Management: tasks, responsibilities, practices" says : "To know what a business is we have to start with its purpose. Its purpose must lie outside of the business itself. In fact, it must lie in society since business enterprise is an organ of society. There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer." That means to create value for society and not to maximize the profit.

I shall add a recent message sent by Richard Branson - the creator of Virgin Group - in his book "Screw business as usual" : Doing good can help improve your prospects, your profits and your business; and it can change the world." But with a condition: in that firm to exist an organizational culture based on positive values and not on profit maximization. In conclusion, ethics may impact positively on performance if and only if there is a managerial philosophy based on ethics and not on profit maximization, and on value creation. In this well-defined context profit and profitability are consequences and not driving forces of the whole business.