Ethical Theories that can be used in the Creation of a Values-Driven Culture of Integrity

Ethics alludes to principles that guide the behavior of individuals and groups of people.
Ethics play an important role in any organization. A value-driven culture must be rooted in
ethical theories (Dion, 2012). The organization needs to establish values that will
govern the behavior of all employees after the merger. The new company that will be the product
of the merger will need to establish a new culture. Employees will thus have to adopt new roles,
and with new roles come greater responsibilities. Accountability will be key to ensuring that the
merger succeeds.
One of the ethical theories that can be used in the creation of a value-driven culture is
utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that defines right and wrong through an analysis
of the outcomes. The theory states that businesses and employees should make ethical choices by
analyzing the consequences of the choices at hand (De Colle & Werhane, 2008). The choice that
produces the greatest good for the greatest number is the ethical choice. The theory is preferred
in businesses owing to the fact that it accounts for both costs and benefits. Maximizing happiness
in the workplace can help in the development of a value-driven culture. The wellbeing of all
stakeholders should come first when employees are making ethical decisions.
Another ethical theory that can be applied in the scenario is deontology. Deontology is a
theory that states that actions are either good or bad based on a set of rules. The theory is mainly
associated with Immanuel Kant (De Colle & Werhane, 2008). Deontology differs from
utilitarianism in that it does not consider the consequences of an action. Immanuel Kant states
that people should act based on their duty. Kant is against people treating others in an inhumane
manner. The theory can be used to create a suitable culture that makes the company excel in
ethics.

Organizational Programs or Processes that Can Help Achieve a Values-Driven Culture
The human resource (HR) department plays a key role in the development of a robust
organizational culture. The HR team should work towards ensuring that a values-based culture is
established. The HR department needs to work closely with senior management to ensure that it
becomes a success (Dion, 2012). Strategic thinking needs to be employed to ensure that the
company not only meets the business goals, but also the values are always upheld. The senior
members of the management team need to ensure that they act as good role models.
Decision-Making Processes that Can be Employed by the CEO
The CEO can make sure that they set important values that they will rely on in the
making of ethical decisions. In addition, the leaders can use Bowen’s Model in making ethical
and strategic decisions. The model was designed to help in issues that relate to management. The
leader must consider their key duties before making the decision.

References

De Colle, S., & Werhane, P. H. (2008). Moral motivation across ethical theories: what can we
learn for designing corporate ethics programs?. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(4), 751-
764.
Dion, M. (2012). Are ethical theories relevant for ethical leadership?. Leadership &
Organization Development Journal.