Ethical Issues In The Private Sector: Article Analysis

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The Politico article that was reviewed as a guide for this assignment discussed the charges brought against two political figures in Chicago accused of attempting to fix the race for Mayor. There were clear examples of unethical behavior that could have been avoided had others around the two key figures had stepped in to question their actions. This assignment will also discuss the difference be-tween leadership and power. And whether the same behavior would have been considered unethical in the private sector.
Ethical obligations A few of the ethical obligations that will be discussed that should have been considered by Smith and Halloran, that would’ve helped them avoid the eventual charges they faced, are discussed in Northouse (2013),
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(Northouse, 2013). Attempting to bribe ones’ way into a position is a classic example of treating peo-ple as a means to an end. If a leader is able to accept feedback and listen to the ideas of their fol-lowers or subordinates’, they are able to see the value in those around them and understand that everything is not about them and that it takes a whole team for any organization to be successful. Service is another ethical obligation of a leader. leadership is about service to others also reduces the risk of unethical behavior. Service requires that you are constantly thinking of how you can improve the lives of those around you. The two main parties in the bribery scandal showed by their example that they were only looking out for themselves. By making things better for others, you’re improving your own life. That is leaders place their followers’ welfare foremost in the plans. (Northouse, 2013). Having a sense of community also fosters ethical leadership and kind of encompasses many of the other ethical obligations. A leader with as sense of community “takes into account the …show more content…
(Northouse, 2013). Being a just leader means that the individual understand the treatment of followers should treat people with fairness and justice. (Northouse, 2013). If Smith and Halloran had recognized that what they were attempting to do was not fair to the other candidates and that their behavior could also negatively affect those around them, even if they were not aware of what they were doing. The article stated Smith came up with the plan to bribe officials, while Halloran was responsible or finding people who were open to be-ing bribed. (Associated Press, 2013). Some factors that could’ve also contributed to avoiding this sit-uation would’ve been more public control on management of resources, an opacity of decision-making, while a lack of transparency in appointments and the interference of politics created an at-mosphere for the conduct of the two primary actors in the scandal. (Comite, 2011).
Differences between leadership and power A simple definition of the difference between leadership and power would be that people want to follow or listen to leaders, while the same people may feel they are required to listen or follow those with power. Whether one feels they have a choice or not to do what someone in a position of authority, determines how that person is viewed. Olivia, (2012) describes leadership as something

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