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Course Reflection

There were many insights gained during this course. The Fryer textbook was something

new for me, but I am glad I became accustomed to it. It took me just a bit to realize that the

textbook was sectioned out into chapters based on the different theories being explained. Rights

theory, utilitarianism, Kantian theory, Rousseau’s social contract theory, ethical relativist theory,

Aristotle’s virtue theory, discourse ethics theory, and feminine ethics are a majority of the

theories explained that provide a new perspective to explain ethical challenges in business.

Ethics is something that impacts everyone, so understanding how to navigate ethics is a

necessary skill. These theories in the textbook taught me a new set of skills surrounding ethics in

organizations. They taught how to analyze moral issues in organizations, how to apply values,

how to utilize ethical systems, how to rely on reasoned justification, and how to continue to

develop my critical thinking and self-evaluation abilities. 

The Perusall discussion format of the textbook was beneficial since it deepened and

enriched my understanding of the material. Hearing what my classmates had to say, listening to

their input, looking for their questions, and having their help readily available made the dense

material less overwhelming. I found it useful that, as students, we could all work together and

interact in real time with one another. One aspect of this course that was probably the most

engaging was the Planet Jockey Moral Minefield simulation. It was so engaging because I got to

apply the ethical theories we were learning in the textbook to actual scenarios as a COO of a

company. This gave me an idea of what business ethics looks like in real organizations and what

kind of dilemmas I might be faced with in the future. Seeing how my decisions affected the

company, and all stakeholders, really reinforced what the correct ethical approaches were and

showed me that everything you do in an organization has a positive or negative impact. 

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The dilemmas I was faced with were realistic. Being able to see ethics in the real world

and thinking about ethics practically was a big part of the case study research we did. It was

advantageous to perform some research on real-world case studies from the field we are

intending to be a part of because it led to an immediate personal connection with organizational

ethics. When I am personally invested in something, I put in more effort and tend to be more

productive because of it. Examining the varying research cases provided new knowledge and

ideas about how to look at business ethics. It got me thinking about ethical behavior in my

chosen field. Facing ethical dilemmas and studying how to do it successfully increases our

chances of becoming better leaders for organizations. 

Studying particular situations in other organizations in your industry assists with that. We

want to make the best decisions especially when it comes to moral right and wrong. I feel like I

have changed a lot in my leadership over the course of this class. I am much more aware of how

business ethics is a huge responsibility for anyone who is a part of an organization and how we

are constantly relying on it, and its different theories, to make informed decisions. Previously, I

would say that I had a narrow view of ethics compared to what I know now. It was more black-

and-white and based on ethical relativism, even though I did not know the name for this

approach. How I was raised and the culture surrounding me dictates what I see as right or wrong;

it is very societal. 

Comprehending now that there are many different approaches to ethics and how they are

formed will better my leadership ability. I can relate to more people and handle potential conflict

more efficiently because I am more conscious of differing perspectives. Being more conscious of

those differences helps indicate the actions of others and their reasoning behind those actions.

There are even more approaches to ethics and theories being developed that can help me further
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my expertise on the topic. This is a method to continue to use what I have learned for my own

personal development. I have already started expanding my focus, like accepting differing views

of ethics, for my personal development, but it needs to keep happening. 

I understand not everyone sees the world the same way as I do more than ever, and how

this creates ethical issues in organizations. My growth continues by attempting to provide myself

with the most tools possible to successfully develop, adopt, and sustain values and ethics in

organizations. Reasoned justification and sound arguments are major necessities in order to hold

a moral position. They are integral tools. Working on enhancing these two skills will be key in

my ability to evolve my ethical outlook and explain it to others as a leader.