Overview
Part 1(a) This is a discussion post, should be between 300-500 words with in text citations. Should also be using only scholarly articles.
What are values and ethics? Where or how are they formed? Can leaders influence the values and ethics of their followers? Can integrity be taught? If so, discuss some strategies that can be implemented to do so. If not, explain why. (Do not attempt to address all of these points in your first post. Challenge yourself to develop your understanding and interaction with the course concepts as the discussion progresses.) Discussion posts should reflect scholarly analysis and interpretation of the topic as well as supporting research. Follow APA formatting guidelines (current edition) to integrate your research and cite your sources. Each post (the initial post as well as the response posts) should be between 300-500 words in length.
Part 1(b) This is a discussion response should be between 200-400 words. Should be using in text citations with scholarly articles.
Values and ethics are foundational concepts that shape individual behavior and organizational culture. Values represent deeply held beliefs about what is important, desirable, or worthwhile, serving as internal standards that guide decision-making and priorities. Ethics, by contrast, involve principles and norms that define what is right or wrong behavior within a given context, often expressed through moral philosophies, professional codes, or organizational policies (Northouse, 2022). While values are largely internalized, ethics provide an external framework for evaluating conduct.
The formation of values and ethics is a cumulative and developmental process. Research suggests that values begin forming early in life through family socialization, cultural norms, religious traditions, and educational experiences (Hannah et al., 2014). As individuals mature, life experiences, peer interactions, and professional environments further refine these values. Ethics are similarly shaped but are often reinforced through formal structures, such as laws, institutional rules, and professional standards. In organizational settings, ethical expectations are clarified through codes of conduct, leadership behavior, and shared norms.
Leaders play a critical role in influencing the values and ethical behavior of their followers. Through the lens of social learning theory, followers observe and often emulate the behaviors modeled by those in authority (Bandura, 1977). When leaders consistently demonstrate ethical decision-making, transparency, and accountability, they signal which values are truly prioritized, beyond what is stated in mission statements. Conversely, ethical lapses at the leadership level can normalize misconduct and erode trust, even when formal ethical guidelines exist.
Integrity, often described as the alignment between values, words, and actions, occupies a central place in ethical leadership. While some argue that integrity is a fixed personal trait developed early in life, evidence suggests it can be strengthened through intentional leadership practices. Leaders can foster integrity by creating environments that encourage ethical reflection, open dialogue, and accountability. Strategies such as ethics training, values-based decision frameworks, mentoring relationships, and consistent consequences for unethical behavior help translate abstract principles into daily practice (Brown et al., 2005). Importantly, these strategies are most effective when leaders themselves embody integrity, reinforcing that ethical behavior is not optional but integral to leadership effectiveness.
In sum, values and ethics are formed through a combination of early socialization and ongoing experiences, while leaders significantly influence how these principles are expressed in practice. Understanding this dynamic provides a foundation for examining integrity and ethical leadership more deeply as the course progresses.
References
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.
Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. A. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 97(2), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2005.03.002
Hannah, S. T., Avolio, B. J., & Walumbwa, F. O. (2014). Relationships between authentic leadership, moral courage, and ethical and pro-social behaviors. Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(4), 555–578.
Northouse, P. G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage.
Part 1(c) This is a discussion response should be between 200-400 words. Should be using in text citations with scholarly articles.
Values and ethics are related ideas, but they mean different things. Values are the beliefs we hold about what matters most to us. Ethics is the study of how we use those values to make good choices. In our reading, Guttmann (2006) explains that ethics helps us figure out "what is right, what is good, and what should be done to live an ethical life" (p. 39). The ancient philosopher Aristotle teaches that virtue means choosing to do the right thing for the right reason (Annas, 2002, as cited in Guttmann, 2006, pp. 2-3).
Where our values originate is worth examining. Abram (2007) studied this topic and found that moral growth means "the unfolding of the potential of the moral self" (p. 73). In simple terms, we develop our ethics over time through three main ways. First, we learn to get along with others. Second, we practice doing good things. Third, we adopt rules that guide how we act in the future. Abram (2007) also noted that as we grow, we move from thinking only about ourselves to caring about others too.
Helping followers become more ethical is a challenge for many leaders. In our reading this week, Malony and Hoagland (1984) examined this issue and found that results varied widely. About half of the ethics programs studied failed to make a lasting impact. Kohlberg, a leading researcher in moral development, acknowledged that his work is more helpful for understanding ethics than for teaching purposes (as cited in Malony & Hoagland, 1984, p. 346).
However, this does not mean leaders have no influence. Abram (2007) pointed out that making mistakes can actually help us grow. Moral failure "can be an awakening experience" that helps us better understand right and wrong (p. 83). Leaders who let people learn from their errors may help them grow in ways that direct teaching cannot.
Learning integrity is more complicated than simple classroom instruction. Virtue ethics says we learn good character "through participation in practices" (Abram, 2007, p. 74). This means we develop integrity by doing the right thing over and over, not just by hearing about it in a classroom. Frankena (1973, as cited in Guttmann, 2006) agrees that doing good for others and being fair are at the heart of professional ethics, though he admits there is no simple way to always know what is right.
References
Abram, A. (2007). The philosophy of moral development. Forum Philosophicum, 12, 71-86.
Guttmann, D. (2006). Theories of ethics. In Ethics in social work: A context of caring (pp. 39-50). The Haworth Press. https://doi.org/10.1300/5577_03
Malony, H. N., & Hoagland, D. D. (1984). Moral development: A review of empirical research. Religious Studies Review, 10(4), 343-347.
Part 2. This is a discussion post. Should be between 300-500 words with in text citations. Only use scholarly articles for references.
Discuss the leader’s role or responsibility in establishing and maintaining organizational values and ethical behaviors. Choose a particular leadership or motivational model or theory and explain how it would be implemented in order to encourage ethical behaviors in an organization. (Do not attempt to address all of these points in your first post. Challenge yourself to develop your understanding and interaction with the course concepts as the discussion progresses.) Discussion posts should reflect scholarly analysis and interpretation of the topic as well as supporting research. Follow APA formatting guidelines (current edition) to integrate your research and cite your sources. Each post (the initial post as well as the response posts) should be between 300-500 words in length.