Republic of the PhilippinesAklan State University

School of Management and SciencesBanga, Aklan

Chapter 5: Ethical Considerations in Relating with Peers*

Marry Joy R. QuizonDiscussant

A. Ethical Issues in Peer TransactionsManagers are often interdependent and have many contacts with their peers. Mutual

cooperation and trust are essential aspects of peer relationships and are usually earned over a period of time. Ethics often play a significant role in the success or failure of these relationships and need to be tended carefully.

B. Supporting and communicating with PeersManagers who do not relate well with peers and other associates usually have a

difficult time accomplishing their goals and moving up in the organization. The interdependence of departments requires cooperation, which is best achieved by good communication and concern for the well-being of others.

Maintaining a team spirit between peers and work groups is difficult under the best of circumstances. When individuals try to take advantage of others, or to make them look bad, everyone losses. Peer relationship require a win-win attitude on the part of all concerned.

Productive relationships depend on open communication, so managers must carefully consider the needs of peers, as well as those of superiors and employees, if all the work of the organization is to be done efficiently.

The following questions may help you decide when and what you need to communicate.

What groups depend on me for communication? What do they need to know? When do they need to know it? How do I provide it?

C. Collaboration – A Beneficial and Ethical ToolCompetition between managers and between work groups sometimes gets out of

hand. When it does, questionable practices are often employed to get ahead, or to make the other party look bad. Good ethics are often suspended and the organization suffers.

Collaboration is a much better management tool. Better yet, it is ethical.

Benefits of Collaboration.

Collaboration builds an awareness of interdependence. When people recognize the the benefits of helping one another, they are more likely to work together to accomplish common goals. The effort is non-threatening.

*A report presented to Professor Arlette U. Portaje for Management 3: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility during the First Semester, AY 2013-2014

When people work together they stimulate each other to higher levels of achievement. Fresh ideas are generated and tested, and productivity increases.

Collaboration builds and reinforces recognition and mutual support. People can see the result of their effort, and the efforts of others, in their achievement.

Collaboration leads to a commitment to accomplish organizational goals. People gain personal power, in the form of confidence, when they know others share their views and are acting in concert with them.

The benefits of collaboration make it easy to understand why managers who can make it happen are considered leaders.

Collaboration can be encouraged and supported in the following ways: Identify areas of interdependence that make collaboration appropriate. Involve peers in

planning and problem-solving to help them identify where collaboration is needed. Keep the lines of communication open between everyone involved in a problem,

project or course of action. Secure positive recognition for those who participate in collaborative efforts.

D. Constructive Problem-solvingAll too often results are poor when peers are brought together to solve problems.

Reasons include concern about turf, internal politics, jealousy, and/or sacred cows. Individual ethics are often severely tested.

Much better results are obtained when a conscious decision is made to use sound group processes. When participants commit themselves to finding the best possible solution, rather than to imposing their view exclusively, sound results can be expected. Open communication encourages employees to challenge and test the usefulness of ideas in solving problems.

The following conditions support effective problem-solving: Participants readily contribute ideas and listen to the contributions of others. Conflicts arising from different points of view are considered helpful and are resolved

constructively. Participants feel free to challenge suggestions they believe are unsupported by the

facts of logic, but avoid arguing just to have their way. Poor solutions are not supported just for the sake of harmony or agreement. Differences of opinion are discussed and resolved. Coin tossing, averaging, majority

vote, and similar cop-outs are avoided when making a decision. Every participant strives to make the problem-solving process efficient and is careful to

facilitate, rather than hinder, discussions. Participants encourage and support co-workers who may be reluctant to offer ideas. Participants understand the value of time and work at eliminating extraneous or

repetitious discussions.

QUIZ

Fill in the blank.

1. _____________ often play a significant role in the success or failure of peer relationships and need to be tended carefully.

2. The interdependence of departments requires _____________ which is best achieved by good communication and concern for the well-being of others.

3. Maintaining a _____________ between peers and work groups is difficult under the best of circumstances.

4. _____________ require a win-win attitude on the part of all concerned.5. _____________ depend on open communication.6. _____________ is a much better management tool.7. _____________ encourages employees to challenge and test the usefulness of ideas

in solving problems.

Enumeration.

8-9. Give only (2) two questions that may help you decide when and what you need to communicate.10-11. Give only (2) two conditions support effective problem-solving.12-15. Ethical Considerations in Relating with Peer

ANSWER:

Fill in the blank.

1. Ethics2. Cooperation3. Team spirit4. Peer relationships5. Productive relationship6. Collaboration7. Open communication

Enumeration.

8-9. What groups depend on me for communication? What do they need to know? When do they need to know it? How do I provide it?

10-11. Participants readily contribute ideas and listen to the contributions of others. Conflicts arising from different points of view are considered helpful and are resolved

constructively. Participants feel free to challenge suggestions they believe are unsupported by the

facts of logic, but avoid arguing just to have their way. Poor solutions are not supported just for the sake of harmony or agreement. Differences of opinion are discussed and resolved. Coin tossing, averaging, majority

vote, and similar cop-outs are avoided when making a decision. Every participant strives to make the problem-solving process efficient and is careful to

facilitate, rather than hinder, discussions. Participants encourage and support co-workers who may be reluctant to offer ideas. Participants understand the value of time and work at eliminating extraneous or

repetitious discussions.12-15.

Ethical Issues in Peer Transactions Supporting and communicating with Peers Collaboration – A Beneficial and Ethical Tool Constructive Problem-solving