Which of the following are the sources of ethical problems in organizations?

A. Failure of personal character
B. Organisational goals Vs. Social values
C. Psychological egoism and rationalism
D. Virtue and common good conflict
E. Conflict of personal values and organizational goals

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Statements A, B and E reflect commonly recognized sources of ethical problems in organizations:

• Failure of personal character (A): Individual moral failings like dishonesty, lack of integrity, or selfishness lead to ethical issues.

• Organizational goals vs. social values (B): Conflicts arise when organizational objectives contradict broader societal norms or ethics.

• Conflict of personal values and organizational goals (E): Employees often face dilemmas when their own ethics clash with what the organization demands.

Statements C and D are more theoretical or philosophical concepts and less direct as sources of organizational ethical problems. Psychological egoism and rationalism (C) describe views about human motivation but are not direct sources of ethical issues within organizations. Virtue and common good conflict (D) is a more abstract ethical debate and not a practical source of organizational problems in itself.

Information Booster:

• Failure of personal character leads to unethical conduct such as fraud, dishonesty, or negligence within organizations. Character flaws at the individual level impact organizational culture and ethics.

• Organizational goals vs. social values: When organizations prioritize profit or efficiency over social responsibility or environmental sustainability, ethical conflicts arise.

• Conflict of personal values and organizational goals: Employees experience stress or ethical dilemmas when asked to do things contrary to their own morals, potentially resulting in whistleblowing or disengagement.

• These sources contribute to many real-world issues like corruption, exploitation, and reputational damage.

• Ethical leadership and strong organizational culture can mitigate these problems by aligning personal, organizational, and social ethics.

Additional Knowledge:

• Psychological egoism and rationalism (Statement C): These are philosophical theories about human motivation (psychological egoism states humans always act in self-interest; rationalism emphasizes reason). They are more meta-ethical concepts rather than concrete sources of ethical problems in organizational settings.

• Virtue and common good conflict (Statement D): This deals with philosophical debates in ethics regarding individual virtues versus societal welfare. While relevant to ethics broadly, it is less directly applicable as a practical source of organizational ethical conflicts compared to personal character or goal conflicts.