Ethics and Values Essay

Ethics and Values
Individuals shape their lives and decisions upon personal and cultural values or ethics.   Additionally, cultural values and ethics are major influences in an individual's life because of their immediate surroundings.   Personal and professional ethical dilemmas and decisions are often checked against an individual's cultural values and personal ethics.   This paper will define personal ethics, cultural and organizational values, and discuss global business ethics and how to reconcile conflicts between employee personal values and business values.  
PERSONAL VALUES
Personal values are strong beliefs an individual has of what is right, wrong, good or bad.   Values reflect the most basic characteristics of adaptation that guide individuals in deciding which situations they should enter and what they should do in them (Nonis, 2001).   For many people, personal values probably go right along with a version of the proverb, "do unto others as you would have done unto you."   The proverb is viewed as an effective rule that most believe assists them in good and moral decision-making; that is, if the one providing the behavior specifically knows the other person will be receptive.   Thus, one should inquire of the other person how the person wants to be treated, as one individual's personal wants and desires may not be true for another.  
My personal values are important to me and are my guide for life.   Every decision I make is made by evaluating the options and looking into the future to see how the outcome of the decision may affect others and me within my circle of influence.   If all rationale fails, my gut feeling determines whether to continue or move on to another option.      
Professionally, my personal values remain at the heart of every decision.   If asked to complete transactions that are against my personal values in my work setting, I would have to decline to engage in such activity.   My freedom and finances are very important to me and do not...