Profession ethics

INTRODUCTION

• The concept of work ethic has evolved from the writings of the early
20th century scholar, Max Weber (Weber, 1904-1905), who has been
frequently credited with contributing to the success of capitalism in
western society
• What Does Work Ethic Mean?
• Work ethic is a value based on hard work and diligence. It is also a
belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance
character. An example would be the work ethic. A work ethic may
include being reliable, having initiative, or pursuing new skills
• Workers exhibiting a good work ethic in theory should be selected for
better positions, more responsibility and ultimately promotion.
• Workers who fail to exhibit a good work ethic may be regarded as
failing to provide fair value for the wage the employer is paying them
and should not be promoted or placed in positions of greater
responsibility.
• Work ethic is basically the belief that work is a good moral. Its also
refers to a sets of values that are defined and characterized by
diligence and hard work. Work ethic can as well be defined as the
inherent ability of work to strengthen character.
Definition of Ethics from the Dictionary of
Psychology:

• “A branch of philosophy concerned with that which is deemed

acceptable in human behaviour, with what is good or bad, right or
wrong in human conduct in pursuit of goals and aims.”

• Ethics explores the nature of rights, of moral responsibilities, and of

how to go about addressing an ethical problem.
The Importance of Ethical Conduct in Business

• Conducting business ethically is critical to a company‟s success in the

marketplace. Customers, suppliers and employees will not support a
company that is involved in fraudulent, dishonest or unethical
practices.
• Setting high standards of integrity in business relations and promoting
their adherence by employees will enable the company to merit the
confidence and support of its customers and the public at large.
• As an employee or consultant you act as an ambassador and
represent the organization in your business dealings. The company‟s
reputation is in your hands and it therefore depends on you to do the
right thing in the best interests of the organization. High standards in
business conduct will go a long way to meriting the confidence and
support of your clients and employers.
• While business practices may change over time, our commitment to
the highest standards of integrity should remain constant and
unblemished.
• Conducting business ethically is critical to success in the marketplace.
• It means more than obeying the law; it means that high standards of
integrity must underlie every activity we undertake.
• It is up to the employee to apply these guidelines to the best of their
ability in their own individual situation.
• Many organizations provide broad principles on expected ethical behaviour
in the form of a Code of Conduct.
• However, the responsibility to apply the guidelines and use sound
judgment in situations that could compromise integrity is up to the
individual.
• It is the individual‟s choice not to commit dishonest destructive or illegal
acts – even if instructed by a supervisor, co-worker or others to act
improperly. It is no justification to claim that a higher authority ordered
illegal acts.
• In order to study work ethic, it must be disentangled from
other work-related concepts. To accomplish this objective we
adopted a measure. The measure, Multidimensional Work
Ethic Profile (MWEP), has seven Weber-associated
dimensions
Dimensions of Work Ethic
Self Reliance
Morality/Ethics
Leisure
Hard Work
Centrality of Work
Wasted Time
Delay of Gratification
1.Self-Reliance
• Self-reliance may be particularly prudent for individuals who are not
yet established in their careers since it is conceivable that they will be
observed more closely than established professionals.

• It may be necessary for them to quickly demonstrate the ability to

work independently.

• Some literature suggests that young people understand the new

environment and accept the idea that they must be self-reliant.
• Career self-reliance is essential in the modern world. Even earlier
studies seem to affirm the commitment of younger workers to self-
reliance as they exhibit a strong propensity for self-expression and a
desire to have more responsibility, to make influential decisions, and
to function autonomously.
2. Morality/Ethics
• The term morality evolved from the Latin word moralis, while ethics is associated
with a Greek-rooted word, ethos. Loosely translated, each is a reference to issues
surrounding the character, customs, and matters of behavior. Occasionally,
morality is used to describe how people act, while ethics is used to define the
study of behavior standards, specifically rules of right and wrong More
frequently, however, the terms ethics and morality are used as a way of referring
to the manner in which people act or are expected tinterchangeablyo act. In this
study of work ethic, “morality and ethics” are combined to describe the belief in a
just and moral existence
3. Leisure:
• Historically, waking hours have been dichotomized such that total time
minus working time is equal to leisure or, at least, non-working time.
• Understanding work-leisure relationships require a clear distinction
between leisure potential, leisure orientation and leisure activity. Leisure
potential is the flexibility to do what one wishes to do when he or she
wishes to do it.
• Leisure activity is participating in a non-working activity and leisure
orientation is the desire to participate in non-working activities. In the
context of this study, references to leisure are meant to refer to leisure
orientation (i.e., the importance that individuals place on leisure/non-work
activities).
• Some research suggests that an individual who is highly motivated to
seek leisure activities would receive less fulfillment from the work
that he or she performs than the individual who has a low interest in
leisure activities. In other words, a strong pro-leisure orientation may
be the antithesis of a strong pro-work ethic.
• Other studies find that a high leisure orientation and a high work
ethic are not necessarily opposite ends of a spectrum. These studies
propose that individuals who receive fulfillment from work are not
necessarily excluded from receiving fulfillment from leisure activities
and vice versa. Thus, one could have a strong leisure ethic as well as a
strong work eth
4. Hard Work.
• Hard work is a belief that one can become a better person and
achieve his or her objectives through a commitment to the value and
importance of work. An individual committed to hard work can
overcome almost any obstacle, can achieve personal goals, and
become a better person.
5. Centrality of Work
• Centrality of Work refers to the importance that an individual places
on his or her opportunity to work. It transcends the need and/or
desire for compensation and represents a major frame of reference in
ones self-identification
Another study investigated the actual work centrality concept and focused
on three conceptualizations.
• First, is the belief that work is good and it provides dignity.
• second, work centrality is a residual concept (i.e., the less interested one is
in non-work activities the greater the centrality of work)
• third, the affective interest one has in the work, the passion for the
process.
6- Wasted Time:
• Wasted time in this context refers to a continuum with one end
representing a high commitment to time management in order to
maximize productivity and the other end characterizing a low commitment
to time management.

• The efficient and constructive use of time is consistent with a strong work
ethic and it has been long understood that improved performance is
inexorably linked to efficient use of time. Poor time management and
procrastination have been identified as an obstacle to productivity
7- Delay of gratification
• reflects the ability to forgo short-term rewards in order to reap some
benefit in the future .

• It is an individual‟s ability to sustain a chosen course of action for the

achievement of a long-term goal even though there are tempting
alternatives that offer short-term gratification .While delay of
gratification has been studied relative to socioeconomic status and
impulse buying . affective decision making and perspective taking .