Page 253 - DMGT519_Conflict Management and Negotiation Skills

Unit 12: Ethics in Negotiation

their self-interests and the interests of others. When there is conflict between groups, it is Notes
usually because sub-cultures within a society have different ethical standards or significantly
different interests. Under these conditions, the resolution of competing group interests becomes
problematic.
Similarly, when two or more countries interact, they often find that their ethics and understanding
of social responsibility issues suggest that there is a relationship between ethics and legality. An
important distinction, however, is that ethics are complied with voluntarily as in the case of the
Body Shop, whereas compliance with the law is often involuntary. In effect, when a company
breaks a law, it is of no consequence unless detected and then enforced.

Did u know? In philosophy, the study and evaluation of human conduct in the light of
moral principles. Moral principles may be viewed either as the standard of conduct that
individuals have constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that
a particular society requires of its members.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. ..................................are broadly applied social standards for what is right or wrong in a
particular situation.
2. ............................ can be defined as the systematic attempt to make sense of individual,
group.
3. Individual character ethics maintains that the identification and responsible development
of the ............................. traits of nobility.

4. ............................... ethics maintain that the identification and responsible development of
noble, reflective, practitioner traits at work.
5. Two common forms of ............................... are white mail and lubrication bribes.

12.2 Nature and Value of Management Ethics

Ethics can be defined as the systematic attempt to make sense of individual, group, organizational,
professional, social, market, and global moral experience in such a way as to determine the
desirable, prioritized ends that are worth pursuing, the right rules and obligations that ought to
govern human conduct, the virtuous intentions and character traits that deserve development in
life, and to act accordingly. Put thing more simply, ethics refer to the study of individual and
collective moral awareness, judgement, character and conduct.

12.2.1 Individual Character Ethics

Individual character ethics maintains that the identification and responsible development of the
human traits of nobility – such as courage, moderation, justice, prudence, gratitude, sense of
humour, self-discipline, reliability, benevolence, authenticity, caring, sincerity, understanding,
and wisdom – determine both the instrumental and intrinsic value of all human ethical
interactions; for example, if as I lose my health, my wealth, and my loved ones through no fault
of my own, I retain my dignity and prospects for happiness by living a virtuous life.

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