Most business organizational cultures are driven, in large part, by the character and temperament of the senior leader. So when the nightly news reports that another company has been spying on their employees – sometimes with and sometimes without the employees’ knowledge or consent – is the public surprised? Or is this the accepted norm in today’s business world? Surveillance in most industries is on the upswing. There are several reasons, including the huge growth in two sectors with theft and security problems – services and information technology, respectively. It is also worth noting that organizations differ in their culture on employee surveillance and that some of these differences are due to the type of business being conducted.
Assignment: Complete both parts A and B
A. Consider the following surveillance actions, and decide for each whether it would never be ethical (mark with a N), would sometimes be ethical (mark with S), or would always be ethical (mark with A). For those that you mark with an S, indicate on what factors your judgement would depend.
1. Sifting through an employee’s trash for evidence of wrongdoing.
2. Periodically reading e-mail messages for disclosure of confidential information or inappropriate use.
3. Conducting video surveillance at work.
4. Monitoring web sites visited by employees when not at work, including private postings to Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, etc… and determining the appropriateness or not of those postings.
5. Monitoring a person’s faith and religious practices.
6. Taping phone conversations.
7. Posing as a job candidate, an investor, or a customer (when the real purpose is to solicit information from the employee).
B. Write a 500 – 750 word answering the following: You have been working for an organization for a few years and you are in a position to be promoted to a position of leadership. You have recently discovered that your company has been engaging in surveillance of employees without their knowledge and consent. Given your readings on leadership character, why it matters, and its influence on organizational culture, would you be less likely to continue working for (or consider a promotion from) the leader or employer that engaged in these methods? Why or why not? As a future leader of this or another organization, which character traits speak directly to you about how you would lead? In this, be sure to draw on both journal articles assigned this week, as well as on the Kouzes & Posner text.
Case Study Rubric
Criteria Ratings
Content Knowledge
Excellent
Demonstrates exceptional knowledge, insight and understanding of the subject matter and materials, including the ability to select and apply the most appropriate, well-researched content to develop an effective approach. All essay questions and directives are addressed and responded to comprehensively and completely. Includes the application of relevant concepts from previous courses, when appropriate. Examples link directly and appropriately to the subject matter. Uses course materials as a springboard for developing original, insightful ideas.
Good
Demonstrates good knowledge, insight, and understanding of the content, including the ability to select and apply an appropriate, well-researched content to develop an effective approach. All essay questions and directives are adequately and completely addressed. Draws from and generally applies content from previous courses, when appropriate. Provides some relevant examples. Content is used to generate some original ideas.
Fair
Demonstrates basic knowledge, insight, and understanding of the content; content is not consistently appropriate or well-researched. Not all essay questions and directives are adequately and/or completely addressed. Limited use of content from other courses. Limited examples are provided and not consistently appropriate. Minimal number of original ideas.
Poor
Demonstrates limited understanding of assignment issues; content is not appropriate or well-researched. Answers are incomplete and/or absent. Connections to concepts from previous courses are absent. Examples are absent and/or not related to the subject matter. No original ideas developed from the content are apparent.
Communication and Research
Excellent
Information is presented in a logical, interesting sequence organized with smooth transitions and appropriate headings. Uses an appropriate level of highest quality research, and theories and concepts are presented accurately and sufficiently. All supportive materials are properly and flawlessly cited, and formatting is consistent with the designated style (e.g., APA). Essay is exceptionally concise, clear, with consistently proper grammar, spelling, and paragraphing. The essay strictly adheres to the guidelines and format required by the assignment. The conclusion unites the important points of the presentation and encourages future discussion.
Good
Information is presented in a logical sequence organized with generally smooth transitions and appropriate headings. Uses an appropriate level of research, and theories and concepts are generally presented accurately and sufficiently. Supportive materials are properly cited with minimal (2-3) errors, and formatting is consistent with the designated style (e.g., APA). Essay is concise, clear, with proper grammar, spelling, and paragraphing with minimal (2-3) errors. The essay generally adheres to the format required by the assignment. The conclusion unites the important points of the presentation.
Fair
Presentation of information is not consistently logical and transitions between points are not smooth and inconsistent headings. Uses an adequate level of research, but theories and concepts are not consistently presented accurately and sufficiently. Supportive materials are presented, but with errors (4+), and formatting is not consistent with the designated style (e.g., APA). Essay contains errors (4-6) in grammar, spelling, and paragraphing. The essay does not fully adhere to the format required by the assignment. The conclusion summarizes the important points.
Poor
Lacks clear and logical development of ideas with weak transitions between ideas and paragraphs, with no headings to separate and transition ideas. Research is superficial and insufficient to support the topic. Supportive materials lack proper formatting with limited details and many sources missing or incomplete. Numerous (7+) and obvious grammatical, spelling, and stylistic errors undermine reader comprehension. The essay does not adhere to the format required by the assignment. The conclusion is vague and incomplete.
Critical Thinking
Excellent
There is an exceptionally clear, arguable, well-developed, and definitive position stated. Carefully analyzes the information presented and draws appropriate, inventive, warranted, judicious, and non-fallacious conclusions supported by evidence. Identifies not only the basics issues and implications surrounding the topic, but recognizes subtle nuances. Identifies and questions the validity of key assumptions. Thoughtfully analyzes and evaluates major alternative points of view, addresses contradictory evidence, and constructs persuasive and compelling arguments.
Good
There is an arguable, well-developed, and definitive position stated. Analyzes the information presented and draws appropriate, warranted, and non-fallacious conclusions; conclusions are generally supported by evidence. Identifies all the basic issues and implications surrounding the topic. Identifies and questions the validity of assumptions. Offers analysis and evaluations of obvious alternative points of view; fair-mindedly follows where evidence and reasons lead.
Fair
A position is stated and adequately developed. Analyzes the Information presented, but conclusions do not consistently and logically derive from that evidence. Identifies some of the basic issues and implications surrounding the topic. Some underlying assumptions are identified, but are not adequately explored. Offers limited analysis and evaluations of some alternative points of view, but quickly dismisses these points.
Poor
The position is vague and not well-developed. Fails to identify conclusions, implications, and consequences of the issue. Misinterprets evidence, statements, questions, etc. and draws unsupported and fallacious conclusions; arguments are not persuasive. Identifies few if any of the basic issues and implications surrounding the topic. Does not surface and interact with underlying assumptions. Fails to identify or hastily dismisses strong, relevant counter-arguments.
Faith Integration
Excellent
Demonstrates clear knowledge of the basic themes and truths of the Old and New Testaments and the basic beliefs of Christianity. Clear statement and application of a Christian worldview. Relies on commentaries and basic exegesis to support position.
Good
Demonstrates knowledge of the basic themes and truths of the Old and New Testaments and the basic beliefs of Christianity. A Christian worldview is stated and generally applied. Relies on a commentary and/or basic exegesis to support position.
Fair
Demonstrates limited knowledge of some of the fundamental themes and truths of Scripture and the basic beliefs of Christianity. Some aspects of a Christian worldview are stated, but inadequately and/or erroneously applied. Only Biblical “proof-texting” is utilized to support position.
Poor
Demonstrates little or no knowledge of the basic themes and truths of Scripture and Christianity. Application of Christian worldview is absent. The Bible is rarely used to support a position.