6 Ethical Communities Worksheet - Arianna G

OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:
PCA-Ethical Communities Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the four ethical communities
2. Apply the ethical communities to your personal case situation
Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.
1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.
Starbucks began as a small coffee cart in 1971 and has since grown into a global phenomenon
known for its extensive selection of beverages and gourmet choices. Customer satisfaction is of
the utmost importance to the firm, which is supported by its commitment to creating a friendly
atmosphere. During my three-year career as a Shift Supervisor at a Drive-Thru store, I was in
charge of improving operational efficiency, leading training sessions, and building team
cohesion. I establish a pleasant tone every day by diligently following the first steps and
communicating properly. Working together with the store manager, I created an environment
conducive to continued learning and growth among employees, improving the entire Starbucks
experience.
2) Describe how the ethics of the organization influenced the situation.
As a shift supervisor at Starbucks, I see how important ethics are in molding an organization's
responses to difficult events and directing its decision-making processes. In the situation
discussed, the organization's ethical standards, or lack thereof, had a substantial impact on how
the event involving a client's late pickup was handled. The absence of clear transportation rules
demonstrates a lack of foresight and accountability, which eventually led to the sad incident.
Ethical responsibility requires not just developing norms for employee behavior, but also
ensuring that enough assistance and resources are available to protect the well-being of all
stakeholders, including clients and employees.
Also, I think that the organization's owners' reaction of reprimanding the employee without
considering the larger context demonstrates a lack of empathy and acknowledgment of human
fallibility. Instead of viewing the situation as an opportunity for positive discourse and progress,
punitive actions were implemented, eroding team confidence and morale. Ethical leadership is
identifying and fixing systemic issues, rather than blaming individual individuals for
organizational failures. Leaders who promote a culture of responsibility and continuous
development might emphasize transparency, fairness, and compassion, viewing setbacks as
chances for learning and progress rather than punishment (Bolman & Deal, 2021).
1
Finally, an organization's ethics give a framework for negotiating complex situations while also
cultivating a culture of honesty, trust, and accountability. The lack of clear policies in the
aforementioned example, as well as the organization's leadership's reflexive response, highlight
the necessity of ethical leadership in building a supportive and equitable workplace.
Organizations that adhere to ethical ideals and prioritize the well-being of all stakeholders can
build a culture of trust, resilience, and collective responsibility, which contributes to their long-
term success and sustainability.
3) Recommend how you would apply one of the ethical communities for an alternative
course of action regarding your case.
Viewing the dilemma through the lens of an ethical framework, such as virtue ethics, provides a
more sympathetic and complete way to dealing with the circumstance. Virtue ethics focuses on
the development of noble qualities such as compassion, honesty, and wisdom. When applied to
the case of a missed client pickup, the emphasis moves from punitive actions to establishing an
environment of empathy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
As a shift supervisor at Starbucks, I believe organizational leaders can take a proactive approach
that focuses on nurturing virtuous traits in employees and creating a supportive environment in
which mistakes are viewed as chances for growth and introspection. Instead of assigning
complete duty to the person in charge of the oversight, leaders should encourage team members
to work together and help one another. This includes maintaining open lines of communication,
offering ongoing training and development opportunities, and cultivating a culture of
transparency and shared accountability. Organizations can foster a healthy and encouraging work
atmosphere by recognizing and celebrating virtuous characteristics such as honesty, devotion, and
compassion (Bolman & Deal, 2021).
I also think that incorporating virtue ethics ideas into firm rules and procedures can help to
establish ethical leadership and organizational culture. Leaders can serve as role models by
demonstrating virtuous behavior and decision-making, thereby influencing staff to mimic these
traits in their relationships with clients, colleagues, and the larger community. Organizations can
cultivate a culture of trust, integrity, and mutual respect by aligning organizational goals with
ethical virtues and instilling a sense of purpose and significance in the workplace, thereby
improving employee morale, customer satisfaction, and long-term organizational success.
4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about ethics.
Given what I've learned about ethics, as a Starbucks shift supervisor, I would approach instances
like the one described with a stronger emphasis on empathy, transparency, and proactive
resolution. Recognizing the critical role that ethical leadership plays in building our corporate
culture, I would prioritize the implementation of clear policies and norms that promote
accountability, justice, and inclusivity. My goal is to avoid instances like missed client pickups
from occurring entirely by taking proactive actions to address possible areas of concern and
2
ensuring that our team members have the resources and assistance they require.
Being a shift supervisor, I am committed to creating a workplace culture based on open

communication and mutual respect, in which every team member feels empowered to raise
issues, seek assistance, and collaborate toward common goals. Understanding that ethical
decision-making is a constant process influenced by a variety of factors, including human values
and organizational standards, I am dedicated to respecting ethical principles at all levels of our
operations. I strive to deepen my understanding of ethics and its practical application in real-
world scenarios through ongoing self-reflection, learning, and meaningful dialogue, thereby
contributing to the development of a positive and ethically grounded work environment that
values integrity, trust, and respect.
3
References
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership.
John Wiley & Sons.
Starbucks. (2024). About us: Starbucks coffee company. Retrieved January, 2024, from
https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/

6 Ethical Communities Worksheet - Arianna G

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

6 Ethical Communities Worksheet - Arianna G

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

6 Ethical Communities Worksheet - Arianna G

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Ethical Communities Worksheet

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

2) Describe how the ethics of the organization influenced the situation.

Being a shift supervisor, I am committed to creating a workplace culture based on open

John Wiley & Sons.

You might also like