Topics for break-out sessions at Ethically Speaking 9/12/09
24 07 2009Breakout Leader – Allison Gower, President / Founder of The Platform Group Gallery & qtags
How Can a Small Fish Survive in a Big Pond?
– Ethical challenges for the small business
Breakout Leader – Greg Nelson, Baker Botts
Even 800 Pound Gorillas Need to Be Concerned About Ethics
- Ethical challenges for the large business
Ray McLaughlin – Unidyn audit committee; a nanotechnology company
How the Young Professional Can Be Successful Without Losing Their Soul
– Showing ethical leadership in a sometimes hostile environment
Gary and Cynthia Briggs – Executive director of Communities in Schools Houston
Honey, The Kids Are Watching
How living a balanced life through service, faith, and family influences the decisions that our children make.
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Categories : ethics
Thoughts on Ethics
17 07 2009From Bob Gower -
When I read historic books, I realize that there was a time when ethics were considered as not important, when the goal was just to create the best arrangement for oneself. And it appeared that everyone understood this, both those being unethical and also the ones who were impacted by the unethical behavior.
And I know that many would argue that some version of this is still the case. It may be for periods of time. But it is seldom that someone can get by with unethical business conduct over the long haul. They often will become ensnared by the legal apparatus of our country, as is evident with so many business executives currently serving prison time for violations of law. But, even more likely, they will be caught and censored by their own companies. Most companies strongly discourage unethical conduct.
Being ethical is the right thing to do. We all know that. But, when the culture of the business seems to be different, it can be difficult to stay with our beliefs. But it has never been more important to emphasize that high ethical standards are critical to business success. With all the methods of rapid communications and with the difficulty of keeping secrets, we should all assume that our actions will be known at some point. It is like living in front of a live microphone.
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Categories : ethics
Why a microphone?
17 07 2009Why do we use a microphone in the logo for Ethical Houston? As a matter of fact – there has been much discussion about that among the organizers of our group. Initially we envisioned using a 3 legged stool (to represent moral, ethical and responsible) or a compass (to represent our moral direction). Here below is some of the discussion we had –
I like the microphone because as a smal business owner I feel that the context in which I operate has changed dramatically over the 12 years. It used to be that my ‘ethical’ decisions were between me and prayer and sometimes my family. But now, especially in the past 5 years, every decision I make is up for public review. There are regulations that force me to behave a certain way towards people who work for my company – and those regulations often present results that are different from what my inside moral boundaries would ask me to do. There are customers who aren’t right for my company, and that 6 years ago I could politely ‘fire’, but these days, I cannot because they may decide to air the decision on facebook. I must weigh every thing I do as if it is broadcast on twitter, facebook, CNN, the Houston Chronicle, Houston Business Journal, in the pulpit on Sunday morning… all at once, and additionally as if it is put in front of a government agency like the IRS, ICE, Texas Workforce for review.
This is I think a common experience for professionals, and perhaps even more so for younger professionals. My Dad used to say “don’t do anything you don’t want to discuss at the table with your family”. That still holds true. But today, I also have to be willing to live with a public discussion at a public table.
That’s why the image of the microphone sums it up for me. My compass is actually pretty good. It is making my compass public that is tough.
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Categories : ethics
CHRISTIAN VALUES AND ETHICS
3 06 2009As Christians, how can we live ethically and teach our children and grandchildren to be ethical?
Because of our society’s concerns about the actions of politicians, business persons, and the public in general, more and more attention is being given to the field of ethics. Organizations and professional groups are adopting ethical standards for their constituents that seek to hold one another accountable and create an atmosphere of transparency around issues of ethics. Parents are concerned about how to teach their children the difference between right and wrong values. Young people live in a world that most of us could not even imagine a few years ago. Ethics can be confusing since they are often blurry and changing. And whereas persons of good will develop a set of standards that they abide, when others break that ethical bond, the tendency of the society is to pass laws to define more fully what behavior is acceptable. But, is that the answer?
Ethical Houston seeks to provide an atmosphere of safety and trust to discuss issues of ethics that inform our lives as professionals, parents, grandparents, but most of all as Christians. As Christians, how can we live ethically and teach our children to be ethical. Be a part of the conversation and please feel free to comment on our articles or email us at franklinolson@sbcglobal.net
John Donne
All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness….No man is an island, entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
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Tags: ethical houston, mdumc
Categories : ethics
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