Question

For this discussion, you will be exploring the ethical dimensions of change management and leadership. Research ethics in leadership in the Rasmussen Library databases and choose 2 professional journal articles. Reflect on what you have learned so far in this course about being a good leader. With that information, develop and describe your own code of leadership ethics

Answer 1

Leadership is often governed by a set of ethical values that influence actions. It is through ethical values that the outcomes of change initiative can be predicted. To promote and sustain change important thing is to manage the people. Without leading people and addressing their issues, projects and programmes cannot be successful and will not produce a sustainable change. Warren Bennis states that “failing organisations are usually over-managed and under-led”.

The discussion about the Leadership and change needing a foundation of ethics dates back to the work of Barnard in the 1930's and 40's. Ethical leadership is not just following the rules and ethics codes. It is to lead people with integrity, commitment and transparency. Ethical leadership "is a two part process involving personal moral behavior and moral influence" (Johnson, 2012). If we see what will happen when Leaders ignore social and ethical responsibilities. The best example will be the unfortunate case of Global Financial Crises of 2008 which was the result of corrupt ethical Leadership.

Ethical dimension of change ensures that leaders and followers act in the interest of the many rather than a few. Leadership should practice clarity and transparency in the system of ethics and accountability and should be governed by all individuals. Barker (2001) stated that Leadership is a process of transformative change where the ethics of individuals are integrated into the mores of a community as a means of evolutionary social development.

Organisations need to train employees in ethical codes and professional conduct. They should educate them on  what is accepted and what can be called breaches. Instruction should also include reference sources that employees can access in case of doubt. Ethical behavior usually starts at the top and then flows down in an organisation. Ethical training should be conducted time to time to carry open discussions and live case studies to support the codes and ensure that all of the employees will have more liability and responsibility and that they follow a code of conduct to behave ethically.

Cloud-based project management tools should be used to help the workforce to be more productive and increases transparency. This increase in transparency and the ability to access the tool from anywhere keeps the entire team connected and updated on the progress and, thereby reduces the chances of doing any unethical reporting and hiding facts about project progress, project hindrances etc. Frankilin Roosevelt stated "economic morality" is that as a leaders of change we must nurture a new area of ethical behavior, and in doing so creating a true transformational environment.

So successful leadership or management is when in an organisation there are no subordinate passive followers and observers but all play an active role in identifying and ending unethical practices. Also through the ethical culture, change will be initiated easily and resistance will be minimized