Organizational Behavioral Trends

Technology such as computers, scanners, fax machines and cell phones have been created and perfected to make work easier. However, because we have become so dependent upon technology, it becomes a great hassle when it fails. If the computer crashes, we typically do not have hand-written files to reference, because we entrusted the computer to keep the records.

It is impossible to make most workplace decisions without someone's ethics coming in to play somehow. People come in to conflict with themselves and others when there is not a clear cut answer as to whethera decision is right or wrong.

Organizational Behavior Trends

Ethics and technology are both very powerful forces in the business world. It is almost impossible to make a decision without the hint of some ethical or moral basis behind it. As well, it is impossible to run a successful company in today's society without heavy technological influence. In this paper, the influence of ethics in decision-making and the impact of technology on work-related stress will be examined.

Ethics often play a strong role in the decision-makingprocess in an organization. Of course, what is in the forefront of the minds of the employees and managers should be what is best for the company, but unfortunately what is best for the company and what is best for the individuals making the decisions do not always parallel.

At Talent Tree, as with any other company, ethics are challenged daily in large ways such as contemplating whether or not to send an employee on a job assignment before his or references are checked, and in smaller, less damaging ways, such as deciding whether or not to leave 30 minutes early or come in 30 minutes late, knowing that there is no one to question the behavior. Sometimes, even the best intentions can be overshadowed by momentary lapsed in judgment.

It may not seem a big concern to send an employee on a job assignment without having his or herreferences verified before-hand. Many companies do not even make a practice of checking references at all. However, with a staffing agency, the employee is being sent to another company and is a representative of the agency. It is the agency's responsibility to make sure that the most trustworthy associates are being sent to work for the client. However, it is also the responsibility of the branch to fill job orders as quickly as possible in order to make money and to keep the client satisfied. If a recent new-hire is the only person to take an assignment, and his or herreferences were not available or have not responded, should the branch lose the job order and possibly the client? "...ethical behavior is that accepted as morally "good" and "right," as opposed to "bad" or "wrong," in a particular setting. But to agree on whether or not a specific action or decision is ethical is not always an easy matter." (Schemerhorn, Hung, Osborn 2005) Some ethical issues are gray area issues that cannot be handled exactly the same way in every situation.

On the other handthere are some decisions that should not be made, based on ethical reasons, without question. If an employee is caught stealing money, no matter what the consequences, that employee should be reported. No other factors should come in to consideration.

Technology is supposed to be the savior to all the world's problems, or at least that is what it seems to claim. However, with the fierce dependence in recent years on things such as computers and cell phones, the workplace sometimes suffers as much as it is helped, and stress can be extremely elevated due to problems with technology.

Talent Tree has recently installed a new software program that is supposed to give one program to handle all daily administrative functions such as entering and maintaining employee data, job order data and records, payroll, and much more. Once the bugs have been worked out, there is no doubt that this will be a very efficient and time saving program. However, in the interim, while everyone is still training, and while the so-called bugs are being worked out, it can be very difficult, tedious, and time-consumingto do what should be very simple jobs. Error messages are very frequent in all different areas of the program, and often the error messages make no sense. It is impossible to pay someone without having the employee's job order entered and having that person attached to the job order, yet there have been times when it has taken days to get a job ordered entered because of problems with the system. Although no one has missed a paycheck because of these problems, at times it has come dangerously close.

Stress in the workplace and ethical challenges are two issues that organizations will always face. Technology has certainly played an important role over the years in making work easier for many companies and its employees but not without much trial and error and frustration. Frustration in dealing with ethical issues happens, because not everyone has the same view of what is ethical and what is not. While some may believe it is appropriate to act a certain way, others may find the same action unethical or immoral. Conflicts like these make ethics in the workplace a relevant but controversial issue. It is not always easy to figure out where the line is to be drawn.
References

Schermerhorn, J., Hunt, J., Osborn, R. (2005). Current Issues in Organizational Behavior. In J. Wiley & Sons (9^th ed.), Organizational Behavior . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved January 1st, 2006, from University of Phoenix Online Student Web.