Management as a Profession, and Ethics

I am being courageous to liaison between two of the articles. One is from Harvard Business Review in October 2008 and another one is a case from Darden Business Publishing in November 2017: “It’s time to make #Management a true #Profession and “Moral Theory, Frameworks and the Language of #Ethics and #Business,” respectively. It is vital to understand the corporate and social benefits of inculcating a rigorous code of ethics as an integral part of management: to explore different theories of ethics and applying to management decision-making as a true professional. Almost 9 years apart of studies give us a boost of confidence today, after half a decade in November 2022.

As a part of business management, one is part of something bigger than themselves. They are professionals to supervise or lead teams of people with diverse backgrounds in values, norms, cultures and understanding of what is okay and what is not okay. Before we dive into interlinking Principles and Standards of Conduct to the Education of Management; a Professional Character to Choking off Creativity; Facing Consequences with Management Embracing a Code; and, Relationships and Care with the Ethical Code, let’s recap concepts:

Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge of reality and existence: where one observes and experiences their surrounding while collecting data to make sense; once aware they interpret that data to be informed; and ultimately apply that information in circumstances to place foundations of knowledge to one's reality and the existence of everything around them. Ethics is a philosophical theory which equips one to determine what is right or what is wrong, or, what is good or what is bad; in elaboration, it provides a blueprint: how one should exist or be in a certain environment. Extending to moral philosophy, deontology is a school of thought which sets prior standards of ethics: actions are viewed as inherently good or bad, and this is how we drive norms in an environment.?

Management is all about action to achieve the set objectives of a business via setting principles and standards of conduct in carrying out business processes is not a job for anyone. I argue a manager with relevant knowledge and education in management disciplines is the only one who can produce effective standard operating procedures that are responsibly ethical. Studies, research and academic content help management to keep the right direction in the conquest to be a true ethical profession. While some will suggest it is not important for management to gain relevant education, the same will agree that management education is of high value to confirm the importance of experience or skills that can’t be easily taught such as exercising good judgement and becoming more effective. Dr Ahmed Imtiaz Faisal Siddiqi, Professor at UCP Business School, firmly believes that ethics is a behavioural aspect of one's personality, whereas managerial education teaches skills to perform. Ethics as a behaviour requires a gradual and incremental time-taking process, just like a culture such norms can’t be taught but shaped.

Management while building an ethical character might have to deal with upholding traits and qualities that define the people or the organisation itself and strategically shape themselves to an image of how outsiders see them. Character emerges out of understanding what it meant to live a good life. Character is built from childhood with influences of parents, peers, society and informational influences through globalisation. The question is: will the upholding of a strong character naming it as being professional might choke creative capacity in a business environment? The answer might vary with respect to the nature of business: management of economic enterprises vs rogue entrepreneurial management — to motivate the creative genius of professionals which will have more impact on economic progress than the vast majority of professional managers. Regardless, ethical codes practised by professionals create and sustain a feeling of community and mutual obligation that members have toward each other and toward their profession.

Management is to be seen as a true profession with expectations of the moral conduct of managers and that’s how the expectations of management itself would rise. To shape behaviour reliably, the code of conduct is motherhood which will include aspects of care and nurturing of relationships within businesses and teams. Without cultivating relationships, and responsible and careful codes, management will fail to fulfil the expectations to attain the podium of the profession. Like the character and poise of a profession, healthy relationships are a critical aspect of living well, ultimately generating positive consequences for the business. A success story of a business always trails down to the healthy relationships with stakeholders over time, that they are valued. Language of ethics in the conduct of management sustains a comfortable productive business environment with healthy and productive connections.

by Abdur Rehman , UCP Business School

It’s time to make Management a true Profession by?Rakesh Khurana?and?Nitin Nohria

Moral Theory, Frameworks and the Language of Ethics and Business by?Andrew C Wicks,??R. Edward Freeman,??Jared Harris,??Bidhan Parmar,??Jenny Mead