Human Values notes
Human Values notes
1. Personal Development
Character Building: Values like honesty, self-discipline,
and responsibility shape one's character and personal
identity.
Inner Peace: Living by values provides mental peace
and reduces internal conflict.
Decision-Making: Values act as a compass to make
morally sound choices, especially in complex situations.
2. Social Harmony
Respect for Others: Values like tolerance and empathy
help in accepting diversity and reducing conflict.
Trust and Cooperation: Societies with shared human
values build stronger relationships and collaboration.
Peaceful Coexistence: Values discourage violence,
discrimination, and injustice, promoting peace and unity.
3. Professional Integrity
Ethical Conduct: In workplaces, values ensure fairness,
accountability, and transparency.
Trustworthiness: Upholding values builds trust among
colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
Sustainable Success: Businesses based on values tend to
be more respected and sustainable in the long term.
In Summary:
Human values are needed to:
Cultivate individual integrity
Promote social and cultural cohesion
Ensure ethical progress in professional life
Foster peace, justice, and sustainability in the world
Without human values, societies risk becoming fragmented,
unethical, and unstable.
Sources of Human Values
Human values originate from various sources that influence a
person's beliefs, behavior, and moral outlook throughout life.
These sources shape how individuals learn what is right and
wrong, and how they relate to others and the world.
**1. Family
Primary Source of values during early childhood.
Teaches values like love, respect, honesty, discipline,
and responsibility through upbringing and example.
**3. Education
Schools and teachers instill moral education, civic
responsibility, fairness, and critical thinking.
Formal education often includes lessons on ethics,
cultural values, and social responsibilities.
Comparison Table:
Feature Temporal Values Universal Values
Changeable over time and Timeless and
Stability
context consistent
Limited to specific Applicable to all
Scope
cultures/situations human beings
Career success, fashion, Truth, love, peace,
Examples
nationalism justice
Practical, material, or Ethical, spiritual, or
Nature
cultural moral
Human Values Across Cultures
Human values are shared moral principles that guide behavior
and decision-making. While the core essence of values is
universal, their expression and emphasis can vary
significantly across cultures due to differences in traditions,
beliefs, religions, and social norms.
African
Community, interconnectedness, empathy
(Ubuntu)
Middle Eastern Hospitality, family honor, faith
Meaning of Morality
Morality refers to the principles or rules that guide
individuals in distinguishing between right and wrong, good
and bad, or acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It is
concerned with what people ought to do in terms of fairness,
justice, and human welfare.
1. General Definition:
Morality is a system of values and principles of conduct that
governs the distinction between right and wrong behavior.
Values vs Ethics vs Morality
These three terms — values, ethics, and morality — are
closely related and often used interchangeably, but they have
distinct meanings and roles in guiding human behavior.
🟦 1. Values
Definition:
Values are the core beliefs and principles that guide what
individuals or societies consider important, desirable, or
worthwhile.
Key Points:
Personal or cultural in nature.
Can be emotional and subjective.
Shape attitudes, priorities, and behavior.
Vary from person to person or culture to culture.
Examples:
Honesty, freedom, loyalty, love, respect, ambition
🟩 2. Morality
Definition:
Morality is a set of principles or rules that helps distinguish
between right and wrong behavior. It often reflects personal
or societal conscience.
Key Points:
Involves judgments about good and bad behavior.
Can be religious, cultural, or philosophical in origin.
Often internalized from upbringing and society.
May differ across societies or eras.
Examples:
It's morally wrong to lie or steal.
Helping others is considered moral.
🟨 3. Ethics
Definition:
Ethics is the systematic study of morality and the principles
that govern right conduct, especially in professional or
philosophical contexts.
Key Points:
More formal and structured than morality.
Often codified in codes of conduct (e.g., medical ethics,
legal ethics).
Deals with what is justifiable and fair in complex
situations.
Can be universal or profession-specific.
Examples:
A doctor maintaining patient confidentiality.
A journalist reporting truthfully and fairly.
✅ Comparison Table
Aspect Values Morality Ethics
Core beliefs Principles of right Systematic rules
Meaning about what is and wrong of conduct, often
important behavior formal
Philosophy,
Personal or Society, religion,
Origin professional
cultural or conscience
codes, logic
Professional and
Broad and Personal/social
Scope philosophical
subjective behavior
application
Example Valuing Believing lying is A lawyer
Aspect Values Morality Ethics
maintaining client
honesty wrong
confidentiality
Highly Culturally Often codified
Flexibility personal, can influenced, and expected to
vary widely somewhat flexible be followed
🟣 In Summary:
✅ Values are what you believe is important.
✅ Morality is how you personally judge right and wrong.
✅ Ethics is how you apply rules of right conduct, especially
in society or professions.
Together, they form a comprehensive framework for guiding
human thought and behavior.
Impression management is the process by which individuals
consciously or unconsciously attempt to influence how
others perceive them. It involves controlling the information
one presents in social interactions to create a desired image.
Impression Management Strategies
Impression management strategies are techniques people use
to influence how others perceive them in various social,
professional, or digital settings. These strategies can be
conscious or subconscious and are often tailored to the
audience and context.
1. Trait Approach
Focuses on identifying inborn qualities or
characteristics that make a good leader.
Traits like confidence, intelligence, decisiveness, and
integrity are considered key.
Assumes leaders are born, not made.
2. Behavioral Approach
Emphasizes leaders' actions and behaviors rather than
traits.
Focuses on what leaders do — how they interact with
followers.
Common behaviors studied: task-oriented vs people-
oriented.
4. Transformational Approach
Leaders inspire and motivate followers to exceed
expectations and achieve higher goals.
Focus on vision, charisma, and change.
Encourages followers’ personal development and
empowerment.
5. Transactional Approach
Leadership based on exchanges or transactions between
leader and followers.
Uses rewards and punishments to motivate compliance.
Focuses on routine, established goals, and performance.
Leadership Styles
Leadership styles refer to the typical way leaders behave
when interacting with their teams. Here are common styles:
Values in Leadership
Values are the core beliefs and principles that guide a
leader's behavior and decision-making.
7. Improves Decision-Making
Ethics provides a framework for making better
decisions that consider the impact on all stakeholders.
Guides leaders and employees to act responsibly, even in
complex situations.
1. Teleological Ethics (Consequentialism)
Meaning:
Teleological ethics judges the morality of an action based on
its consequences or outcomes. The right action is the one
that produces the best overall result.
Teleos means "end" or "goal" in Greek.
Focus on results or ends justify the means.
Key Examples:
Theory Description Key Proponent
Actions are right if they
Jeremy Bentham,
Utilitarianism maximize overall happiness
John Stuart Mill
or utility.
Principles:
The moral value of an action is determined by its
outcome.
Choose actions that bring the greatest good to the
greatest number.
Sometimes involves weighing benefits vs harms.
Strengths:
Practical and outcome-focused.
Encourages consideration of overall well-being.
Criticism:
Can justify unethical acts if they lead to good results.
Difficult to predict all consequences.
May ignore individual rights.
Key Examples:
Key
Theory Description
Proponent
Actions are morally right if done out
Kantian Immanuel
of duty and follow universal moral
Ethics Kant
laws.
Principles:
Certain actions are inherently right or wrong.
Follow moral rules or duties consistently.
Treat people as ends in themselves, not merely as
means.
Strengths:
Respects individual rights and justice.
Provides clear moral guidelines.
Criticism:
Can be rigid and inflexible.
Sometimes conflicts arise between duties.
Ignores consequences that may result from following
rules.
Theories of Ethics
1. Teleological Ethics (Consequentialism):
Judges actions based on their outcomes or
consequences.
The right action produces the best overall result.
Example: Utilitarianism — maximize happiness for the
greatest number.
Focus: Ends justify the means.
Meaning:
A Code of Ethics is a formal document that outlines the
principles, values, and standards of behavior expected
from members of an organization, profession, or group. It
serves as a guideline for making ethical decisions and
conducting oneself responsibly.
Examples:
Corporate Code of Ethics: Rules for employee conduct,
conflict of interest, and compliance with laws.
Medical Code of Ethics: Principles like patient
confidentiality, non-maleficence, and informed consent.
Legal Code of Ethics: Guidelines for attorney-client
confidentiality, fairness, and justice.
In Summary:
Codes of Ethics guide individuals and organizations to behave
responsibly and ethically, ensuring trust, fairness, and
professionalism in their actions.
Globalization: Meaning
Globalization is the process by which businesses,
technologies, ideas, and cultures spread across the world,
creating increased interconnectedness and interdependence
among countries.
Summary:
Globalization has transformed business by expanding
markets, increasing competition, and encouraging innovation
while also posing challenges like cultural diversity and
regulatory compliance.
Businesses must be agile and globally aware to succeed in this
interconnected world.
Values for a Global Manager
A global manager operates across diverse cultures, markets,
and environments. To succeed, they need a set of core values
that help navigate complexities and lead effectively.
Key Values for a Global Manager
Value Description
Respect and understanding of different
Cultural Sensitivity cultural norms, traditions, and
behaviors.
Consistent honesty and ethical behavior
Integrity
across all regions and interactions.
Flexibility to adjust to different cultural,
Adaptability
economic, and regulatory environments.
Willingness to learn from diverse
Open-mindedness
perspectives and embrace new ideas.
Valuing people’s dignity regardless of
Respect
background or nationality.
Effective Clear and respectful communication
Communication across language and cultural barriers.
Ability to work cooperatively with
Collaboration
global teams and stakeholders.
Taking responsibility for decisions and
Accountability
their impact globally.
Understanding global trends and their
Global Vision
implications for business strategy.
Managing one’s emotions and
Emotional
empathizing with others from different
Intelligence
cultures.
Summary:
A global manager must embrace cultural sensitivity,
integrity, adaptability, and open-mindedness to lead
effectively in the diverse and complex global business
environment.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Meaning:
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the practice
where businesses take responsibility for their impact on
society, the environment, and the economy, beyond just
making profits. It means companies act ethically and
contribute to sustainable development.
Benefits of CSR:
Builds a positive brand image and reputation.
Enhances customer loyalty and employee morale.
Helps in risk management and regulatory compliance.
Contributes to long-term sustainability and profitability.
Strengthens relationships with stakeholders including
communities, governments, and NGOs.
Summary:
Corporate Social Responsibility is about businesses going
beyond profit-making to actively improve social welfare,
protect the environment, and operate ethically, ensuring
sustainable success.
Benefits of Managing Ethics in the Workplace
Summary:
Managing ethics in the workplace creates a trustworthy,
respectful, and legally compliant environment that benefits
employees, customers, and the overall success of the
organization.
Examples of Companies with Strong Workplace Ethics
1. Patagonia
Known for environmental responsibility and ethical
sourcing.
Promotes transparency and employee well-being.
Encourages activism and sustainable business practices.
2. Google
Emphasizes respect, fairness, and diversity in its
workplace culture.
Strong focus on ethical use of technology and data
privacy.
Provides resources and policies to support employee
ethics.
3. Starbucks
Committed to ethical sourcing of coffee beans and fair
trade.
Focuses on creating an inclusive and respectful work
environment.
Invests in community support and social responsibility.
4. Johnson & Johnson
Follows the “Credo” which prioritizes ethics and
responsibility toward customers, employees, and
communities.
Has a long history of ethical decision-making, even in
challenging situations.
5. Salesforce
Integrates ethics into company values focusing on trust,
customer success, equality, and sustainability.
Transparent communication and ethical leadership are
core priorities.