Google Inc.’s Historical Ethical Dilemmas

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Discussion
Summary
References

Abstract

Unethical behavior is a severe problem in the modern world because numerous employees and employers get involved in ethical misconduct while performing their working duties. There are a few forms of unethical behavior, and each of them can have adverse consequences both for individuals and whole businesses. The questions of whether modern organizations are more ethical and how company-sponsored volunteer programs can positively influence organizations have been considered. Furthermore, it has been analyzed how diversity and non-discrimination within an organization can contribute to an ethical environment for this company, and the specific example of Google has been provided. An extensive literature review has been performed to identify relevant information and answer the questions above. The conclusions are helpful since they demonstrate how it is possible to establish a more ethical environment within small and large international organizations.

Introduction

In the present world, employees of various organizations face intense competition. It refers to the fact that a few candidates want to occupy a single vacant place. Both candidates and employees are usually evaluated according to many criteria, including their experience, education, skills, abilities, and others. Recently, however, ethical behavior has become another significant aspect that influences employees’ status within an organization. It is sad to say that various forms of unethical behavior are common in the workforce, and specific analysis is required to determine the impact of this phenomenon on the business industry.

Officially, unethical behavior stands for the actions that are considered wrong, either morally or legally. Zuber (2015) states that the behavior of this type is widespread for many organizations, which introduces the significance of addressing it. According to Askew, Beisler, and Keel (2015), it is necessary to eliminate unethical behavior because it can result in decreased organizational performance, reputational damage, financial losses, and others. Even though the given way of acting is prevalent, one can state that modern-day businesses are more ethical than they were previously. Company-sponsored volunteer programs have contributed to the achievement of the positive result above. Furthermore, non-discrimination and welcoming diversity are the most requested and significant examples of ethical behavior today, which is proved by the successful performance of those organizations that manage to implement these practices. Thus, the given information indicates that unethical behavior is a crucial problem for both individuals and the whole world, and it is necessary to address it to create a more ethical world.

Discussion

Unethical Behavior and Leadership

There are a few examples of unethical behavior in the modern workforce. Firstly, ineffective job performance is one of the most common unethical behaviors (Askew et al., 2015). It relates to the fact when employees can perform a task correctly, but they fail to cope with it due to subjective factors. Secondly, misusing company time also is a severe problem in the workforce. Numerous employees spend their office hours on personal businesses, such as surfing the Internet, chatting with friends, and others. As a result, this form of behavior results in decreased productivity. Lying to employers to hide some mistakes is another example of ethical misconduct in the workforce. Finally, even though sexual harassment and theft are not widespread, these forms result in the severest consequences. Thus, the information above proves that unethical behavior is a dangerous phenomenon in the modern world.

There is no doubt that it is necessary to address unethical behavior to contribute to achieving successful results for businesses. Among possible options, leadership is considered one of the best variants. Dang, Umphress, and Mitchell (2017) state that this phenomenon “may reframe subordinates’ unethical conduct” (p. 1448). It refers to the fact that effective leadership establishes the atmosphere of cooperation and trust within an organization. Consequently, employees do not feel any pressure from an employer, which makes them interested in getting results that will be advantageous for the company. In this case, they are more focused on performing their working duties without spending time on ethical misconduct. Thus, effective leadership strategies are beneficial for businesses since they eliminate numerous forms of unethical behavior.

Business Ethicality and Company Sponsored Volunteer Programs

Constant innovations in social, political, and economic spheres could not but influence all aspects of life, and business is not an exception. Over the years, it has changed significantly, referring to the ways of how business operations are performed, where employees work, and others. Some researchers, including Boda and Zsolnai (2016), state that modern businesses are not more ethical than they were previously. They stipulate that continuously changing features of the business world result in many forms of unethical behavior that are not addressed today. Nevertheless, this opinion is false because of two specific reasons. Firstly, the whole world has become more ethical, and it could not but influence the business industry. Secondly, Boda and Zsolnai (2016) mention that there have appeared various concepts and theories to address unethical behavior. Consequently, these phenomena have an impact on individual employees and whole businesses, which inevitably contributes to more ethical behavior in the workforce today.

In addition to that, one can say that company-sponsored volunteer programs are useful for organizations. These programs stand for paid activities for employees on a voluntary basis, and organizations can benefit from them in a few ways. On the one hand, these programs are said to contribute to higher collaboration rates among employees and their improved morale. Consequently, it will positively influence employees’ behavior, and they will get engaged in ethical misconduct less frequently. On the other hand, Santos and Fernández (2017) argue that these programs, apart from offering some beneficial results for individuals, have “internal benefits entailed for the company itself” (p. 121). Even though companies sponsor them, organizations can get some revenues back in the future. It relates to the fact that the benefits for individuals described above lead to employees’ satisfaction, and they do not want to leave. Thus, companies save money because they do not need to look for new employees often.

Diversity and Non-Discrimination in Organizations

As has been stated above, there are many forms of unethical behavior, and managers should do their best to address them adequately. Even though the modern world is considered democratic, discrimination has a significant impact on the current workforce and life of particular groups of people (Bell, Leopold, Berry, & Hall, 2018). That is why diversity and non-discrimination are essential phenomena for managers to comprehend in the work environment. It refers to the fact that understanding their importance leads to significant benefits for employers and whole businesses. Firstly, non-discrimination means that employers are not limited to a specific characteristic feature when looking for a new employee. In this case, the workforce of such an organization will include representatives of various ages, genders, nationalities, backgrounds, and others, which will result in a more productive working environment. Secondly, non-discrimination will lead to better employer-employee and employee-employee relationships, which, in turn, will contribute to more ethical organizations.

In the modern world, a few organizations develop and apply these principles. Many tend to believe that any international company can impress with improved diversity and non-discrimination, but it is not true. Such outstanding results are only achieved by those companies that invest many resources in managing the phenomena under consideration. Google Inc. can be a suitable example here since it is one of the most famous international corporations that gather numerous specialists from the whole world. Thus, Samaniego, Gardner, Genteel, and Greenhalgh (2017) indicate that Google “launched its Small Business Supplier Diversity program” to work with more diverse suppliers (p. 42). When the organization pays attention to the diversity of its suppliers, it means that it manages diversity and non-discrimination within its own structure.

Summary

In conclusion, the given information demonstrates that various forms of unethical behavior are relatively popular nowadays, which refers to ineffective job performance, misusing company time, lying to employers, and others. Organizations should do their best to address these phenomena, and leadership can be a useful option here. Nevertheless, one can state that modern businesses are more ethical due to the implication of relevant concepts and theories to address unethical behavior. In addition to that, company-sponsored volunteer programs are also useful for organizations and their ethicality. Finally, an ethical working environment can be achieved when companies manage to establish diversity and non-discrimination. Google is the most suitable example that has set these phenomena both among its suppliers and employees.

References

Askew, O. A., Beisler, J. M., & Keel, J. (2015). Current trends of unethical behavior within organizations. International Journal of Management & Information Systems, 19(3), 107-114.

Bell, M. P., Leopold, J., Berry, D., & Hall, A. V. (2018). Diversity, discrimination, and persistent inequality: Hope for the future through the solidarity economy movement. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 224-243.

Boda, Z., & Zsolnai, L. (2016). The failure of business ethics. Society and Business Review, 11(1), 93-104.

Dang, C. T., Umphress, E. E., & Mitchell, M. S. (2017). Leader social accounts of subordinates’ unethical behavior: Examining observer reactions to leaders social accounts with moral disengagement language. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(10), 1448-1461.

Samaniego, A., Gardner, A., Genteel, C., & Greenhalgh, L. (2017). How they did it: Google’s innovative approach to supplier diversity. Logistics Management, 56(10), 42-48.

Santos, P., & Fernández, J. (2017). 5 motivations and possible decisive factors in employee participation in corporate volunteering programs. Ramon Llull Journal of Applied Ethics, (8), 121-157.

Zuber, F. (2015). Spread of unethical behavior in organizations: A dynamic social network perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 131(1), 151-172.

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