Which of the following refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be at work?

Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer


Ethics is based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.

Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you?" Among their replies were the following:

"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong."
"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs."
"Being ethical is doing what the law requires."
"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts."
"I don't know what the word means."

These replies might be typical of our own. The meaning of "ethics" is hard to pin down, and the views many people have about ethics are shaky.

Like Baumhart's first respondent, many people tend to equate ethics with their feelings. But being ethical is clearly not a matter of following one's feelings. A person following his or her feelings may recoil from doing what is right. In fact, feelings frequently deviate from what is ethical.

Nor should one identify ethics with religion. Most religions, of course, advocate high ethical standards. Yet if ethics were confined to religion, then ethics would apply only to religious people. But ethics applies as much to the behavior of the atheist as to that of the devout religious person. Religion can set high ethical standards and can provide intense motivations for ethical behavior. Ethics, however, cannot be confined to religion nor is it the same as religion.

Being ethical is also not the same as following the law. The law often incorporates ethical standards to which most citizens subscribe. But laws, like feelings, can deviate from what is ethical. Our own pre-Civil War slavery laws and the old apartheid laws of present-day South Africa are grotesquely obvious examples of laws that deviate from what is ethical.

Finally, being ethical is not the same as doing "whatever society accepts." In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical. But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. Nazi Germany is a good example of a morally corrupt society.

Moreover, if being ethical were doing "whatever society accepts," then to find out what is ethical, one would have to find out what society accepts. To decide what I should think about abortion, for example, I would have to take a survey of American society and then conform my beliefs to whatever society accepts. But no one ever tries to decide an ethical issue by doing a survey. Further, the lack of social consensus on many issues makes it impossible to equate ethics with whatever society accepts. Some people accept abortion but many others do not. If being ethical were doing whatever society accepts, one would have to find an agreement on issues which does not, in fact, exist.

What, then, is ethics? Ethics is two things. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. And, ethical standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate standards of ethics because they are supported by consistent and well-founded reasons.

Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. So it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.

This article appeared originally in Issues in Ethics IIE V1 N1 (Fall 1987). Revised in 2010.

  • Which terms refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be?
  • What’s the meaning of HR management?
  • Who is the right to make decisions to direct the work of others and to give orders?
  • How can decisions be elaborated?
  • What is the most challenging aspect of HR?
  • What are the challenges and issues in human resources management?
  • What are the obstacles to success?
  • What are some examples of obstacles?
  • What is overcoming a challenge?
  • What is a word for overcoming obstacles?
  • How do personal challenges makes you a better person?

Ethics refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be. Ethical decisions always involve morality, matters of serious consequence to society’s well-being, such as murder, lying, and stealing.

What’s the meaning of HR management?

Human resource management

What do you understand by HRD explain the models of HR?

Prescriptive model HRD of 1991 is still relevant and its relevance can be traced in Garavan’s definition of Human Resources Development [HRD] used as a guide in this essay which states that, “HRD is the strategic management of training, development and of management or professional education interventions so as to …

What is the right to make decisions and give orders referred to as?

The right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders is known as authority. Staff authority refers to a manager’s right to advise other managers or employees, which creates an advisory relationship.

Who is the right to make decisions to direct the work of others and to give orders?

1. Line Versus Staff Authority: Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders.

How can decisions be elaborated?

To make a decision, you must first identify the problem you need to solve or the question you need to answer. Clearly define your decision. If you misidentify the problem to solve, or if the problem you’ve chosen is too broad, you’ll knock the decision train off the track before it even leaves the station.

Which of the following best defines staff authority?

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following best defines staff authority? It is the right to advise but not command others who are not subordinates in the chain of command.

What is one challenge of relying on human capital for a manager?

What is one challenge of relying on human capital for a​ manager? They must empower workers to make more decisions. You just studied 25 terms!

What is the most challenging aspect of HR?

The biggest challenges facing HR Departments today are Recruitment, Retention & Motivation, Leadership Development and Corporate Culture. Along with the changing role of HR is a move to more strategic issues and outsourcing some functions so they can best manage and grow their company cost effectively.

What are the challenges and issues in human resources management?

Top 10 HR Challenges and their Solutions

  • Competition (attracting and retaining good talent)
  • Job and Culture Fitment.
  • Compensation and Benefits.
  • Change Management.
  • Continuous Learning and Succession Planning.
  • Performance Management and Alignment.
  • Diversity.
  • Leadership Development.

How do you define challenges?

1 : an objection to something as not being true, genuine, correct, or proper or to a person (as a juror) as not being correct, qualified, or approved. 2 : a call or dare for someone to compete in a contest or sport. 3 : a difficult task or problem Memorizing the poem was a challenge.

How do challenges affect you?

Challenges and problems are important parts of life that give you experiences, make you learn and help you to become wiser and stronger. Problems make us grow and shape us. The biggest problem people have is that they hope for a life without problems. Regardless of the result, value the experience and personal growth….

What are the obstacles to success?

The 7 Major Obstacles to Success

  • Lack of Vision. Everyone is talking about the importance of having a goal.
  • Lack of Focus. The inability to properly focus all our efforts on a given task is another major obstacle to success.
  • Lack of Willpower.
  • Trying to Please Everyone.
  • Fear.
  • The Average Mentality.
  • The Pursuit of Perfection.

What are some examples of obstacles?

Personal Obstacles You Might Face

  • Lack of pain.
  • Lack of patience.
  • Lack of discipline.
  • Lack of knowledge.
  • Lack of inspiration.
  • Lack of desire and passion.
  • Lack of skill.
  • Fear of change.

What does it mean to overcome obstacles?

Overcoming obstacles means that you can work through a challenge in order to achieve a goal. For example, you come from a family that doesn’t have enough money to pay for your college….

What can you learn from obstacles?

30 things obstacles teach us

  • They open us up to change.
  • They make us examine our priorities.
  • They point us to options.
  • They engage creativity.
  • They slow us down to help us choose the right path.
  • They create new meaning around a purpose.
  • They redefine progress as a series of small steps.
  • They start us out taking small steps in a new direction.

What is overcoming a challenge?

The key to overcoming challenges is to lean into fear and find the courage and energy to act in direct opposition to the forces oppressing you. To do this, you have to change your perspective on adversity.

What is a word for overcoming obstacles?

Frequently Asked Questions About overcome Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean “to get the better of by force or strategy,” overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

How do you challenge yourself at work?

  1. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.
  2. Be competitive.
  3. Stay connected.
  4. Don’t procrastinate.
  5. Be independent.
  6. Evaluate & re-evaluate your skills & flaws.
  7. Have a positive attitude.

What challenges are you facing at work?

Workplace Challenges

  • Fitting In. Figuring out how to be part of a new work culture can at times be frustrating.
  • Being Heard. It takes time to gain the trust of coworkers to get them on board with your ideas.
  • Making Mistakes.
  • Time Management.
  • Slackers.
  • Disagreeable Coworkers.
  • Office Bullies.
  • Gossipers and Trouble Makers.

How do personal challenges makes you a better person?

Those challenging experiences make you a better person. They make you wiser, more alert, more strategic, more willing to take risks, more self-assured, more patient, more confident in your own abilities, more optimistic, more empowered (less of a victim) and more mindful in your approach to life….

Which refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be?

73) The standards an individual uses to decide what his or her conduct should be are known as social responsibility.

What is the right to make decisions and give orders referred to as?

Authority. The right to make decisions, direct others work, and give orders.

Which management function includes setting standards such as sales quotas and quality standards?

Controlling activities include setting standards such as sales quotas and quality standards and taking corrective action as needed.

Which function of the management process includes selecting employees setting performance standards and compensating employees?

planning C) motivating D) staffing Answer: D Explanation: D) The staffing function of the management process determines what type of people you should hire, recruiting prospective employees, selecting employees, training and developing employees, setting performance standards, evaluating performance, counseling ...