Chapter 5: Ethical Considerations in Relating with Peers share their views and are acting in concert with them.

A. Ethical Issues in Peer Transactions

Managers are often interdependent and have many contacts with their peers. The benefits of collaboration make it easy to understand why managers who
Mutual cooperation and trust are essential aspects of peer relationships and are usually can make it happen are considered leaders.
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. Collaboration can be encouraged and supported in the following
ways:
B. Supporting and communicating with Peers  Identify areas of interdependence that make collaboration appropriate.
Managers who do not relate well with peers and other associates usually have Involve peers in planning and problem-solving to help them identify
a difficult time accomplishing their goals and moving up in the organization. The where collaboration is needed.
interdependence of departments requires cooperation, which is best achieved by good  Keep the lines of communication open between everyone involved in
communication and concern for the well-being of others. a problem, project or course of action.
Maintaining a team spirit between peers and work groups is difficult under the  Secure positive recognition for those who participate in collaborative
best of circumstances. When individuals try to take advantage of others, or to make efforts.
them look bad, everyone losses. Peer relationship require a win-win attitude on the
part of all concerned. D. Constructive Problem-solving
Productive relationships depend on open communication, so managers must All too often results are poor when peers are brought together to solve
carefully consider the needs of peers, as well as those of superiors and employees, if problems. Reasons include concern about turf, internal politics, jealousy,
all the work of the organization is to be done efficiently. and/or sacred cows. Individual ethics are often severely tested.
The following questions may help you decide when and what you need to Much better results are obtained when a conscious decision is made to
communicate. use sound group processes. When participants commit themselves to finding
 What groups depend on me for communication? the best possible solution, rather than to imposing their view exclusively,
 What do they need to know? sound results can be expected. Open communication encourages employees to
 When do they need to know it? challenge and test the usefulness of ideas in solving problems.
 How do I provide it?
The following conditions support effective problem-solving:
C. Collaboration – A Beneficial and Ethical Tool  Participants readily contribute ideas and listen to the contributions of
Competition between managers and between work groups sometimes gets out others.
of hand. When it does, questionable practices are often employed to get ahead, or to  Conflicts arising from different points of view are considered helpful
make the other party look bad. Good ethics are often suspended and the organization and are resolved constructively.
suffers.  Participants feel free to challenge suggestions they believe are
Collaboration is a much better management tool. Better yet, it is ethical. unsupported by the facts of logic, but avoid arguing just to have their
way.
Benefits of Collaboration.  Poor solutions are not supported just for the sake of harmony or
agreement.
 Collaboration builds an awareness of interdependence. When people recognize  Differences of opinion are discussed and resolved. Coin tossing,
the the benefits of helping one another, they are more likely to work together averaging, majority vote, and similar cop-outs are avoided when
to accomplish common goals. The effort is non-threatening. making a decision.
 When people work together they stimulate each other to higher levels of  Every participant strives to make the problem-solving process
achievement. Fresh ideas are generated and tested, and productivity increases. efficient and is careful to facilitate, rather than hinder, discussions.
 Collaboration builds and reinforces recognition and mutual support. People  Members encourage and support co-workers who may be reluctant to
can see the result of their effort, and the efforts of others, in their achievement. offer ideas.
 Collaboration leads to a commitment to accomplish organizational goals.  Members understand the value of time and work at eliminating
People gain personal power, in the form of confidence, when they know others extraneous or repetitious discussions.
  Constructive Problem-solving
1. Ethics 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 Cooperation which is best
achieved by good communication and concern for the well-being of others.
3. Maintaining a Team spirit between peers and work groups is difficult under
the best of circumstances.
4. Peer relationships require a win-win attitude on the part of all concerned.
5. Productive relationship depend on open communication.
6. Collaboration is a much better management tool.
7. Open communication 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.
 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. Give only (2) two 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.
12-15. Ethical Considerations in Relating with Peer
 Ethical Issues in Peer Transactions
 Supporting and communicating with Peers
 Collaboration – A Beneficial and Ethical Tool