Values in Business
Values serve as a guide in deciding which situations we should enter and what we should do in those situations (Kahle, 1980). Each of us then, may make different decisions when faced with the same or similar circumstances, depending upon the types of values we possess. According to Dr. Susan K. Fan, “if values define how much something is worth or the degree of importance something is to an individual or an organization, then ethics can be considered as the code of conduct” (2010, p. 135). A leader’s values and ethics are critically important to the influence the leader has on his or her followers. In looking at the results of the Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory (EIA ) self-assessment, uprightness and integrity are two characteristics I value in people. I also look for evidence of virtue in others, which includes honor, justice, and benevolence. In business, moral responsibility is extremely important and Kathy Kudler of Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) exercises moral responsibility not only in her own individual work ethic but also in her efforts to provide the best services and products for her customers. If I were a manager at KFF, I would strive diligently to ensure the highest quality customer service, product availability, and support to the local community.
Customer Service
Customer service and support are key features of almost any retail business. Employees must understand the importance of providing the best shopping experience for each individual customer. As a member of management at KFF, I would hire conscientious people with outgoing personalities who have demonstrated attention to detail in customer service in the past. Because my ethical profile is most closely associated with character, I tend to focus more attention on what it is good to be rather than what it is good to do. In consideration of my value system, hiring people with...