In this case, there are several stakeholders including Borries, the manager, Borries' colleagues, Borries' girlfriend (Swee Lan), Swee Lan's family and the client. In the following part, it will be mainly focus on two main stakeholders - Borries and manager who are facing ethical dilemmas. What are the ethical dilemmas and what choices are available to them.
For Borries, the ethical dilemmas that he is facing are whether he should go on a holiday to meet Swee and her family, or cancel the holidays and go back to work as the client had high regard on his work.
Ethical theories Based on Egoism, an action is morally right as it serves the interests of the actor. Since the holidays were confirmed by both company and Borries, Borries have the right and should take his holidays to meet Swee. But on the other hand, if Borries cancel the holidays and back to work, he may has the chances of getting promoted and the clients appreciates him, hence to earn more.
Based on Utilitarianism, an action is to the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. Firstly, Borries will lose the time being with Swee and her family would be very upset if he gave up the holidays. Also, the colleagues may be affected as after Borries has create a precedent that means whenever you are in a holiday or not, you have to back to work once the company needs you. However, it will bring benefits to the company as the company did not lose the client.
Based on Deontology, Borries has the duty to meet Swee as he promised her. Nonetheless, Borries also has the duty to the company and colleagues as he has been working for this client for a long time and his colleagues have to take up his jobs if he consists to take the holiday.
However, Borries decided to give up the holidays, get back to the job as he has balanced what is right for the company and the client against what is right for everyone else. This is referred to Utilitarianism.
For manager, the ethical dilemmas that he is facing are whether he should accept or reject the job from client, whether he should call Borries back to work or ask for other colleagues to take up the job.
Ethical theoires Based on Deontology, the manager respects Borries and takes him as a person not a tool because manager at no point suggested that Borries would face sanction for taking his holiday and Borries has the right to take the holidays. However, being a manager, he has the duty to accept the job from the client and find Borries back to finish the job.
Based on Feminist, the manager cares about the relationship with Borries, he wants a good working relationship with others. Also, he only emphasized the importance of the client and the high regard they had for Borries' work instead of giving him punishment if Borries takes the holidays. He gave the options for Borries to choose instead.
Based on Utilitarianism, the manager should call Borries to finish the work instead of calling for others to pick it up as other colleagues have no responsibilities to help. To deal with this, the manager can compensate Borries after work. This beneficial to different parties, first, other colleagues no need to work more and second, the company will not lose the important client and lastly, this may good for Borries' career as the client had regard his work.
In my opinions, different ethical theories bring to different decision making. I think Borries should take the holidays as he promised Swee and her family and they will not be upset. Borries has the right not going back to work. On the other hand, the manager still can accept the job giving out by the client and call others to work it out, because other colleagues are also part of the company, they have the responsibilities to finish all the jobs.
After studying this module, my interpersonal communication skills and team-working skills have improved a lot.
First of all, I have learnt how to listen as we have to discuss with teammates during the lessons. We have to listen to others' opinions. Listening is not the same as hearing. It is not only listening to the words being spoken but using the techniques of clarification and reflection to confirm what the person has said and avoid any confusions or conflictions. We have to respect others.
Second, as a human being, we have different emotions every second especially when we growth up we have more duties then more problems we have to face, leads to emotions. I have learnt how to aware teammates' feelings. We have to be more careful about others as not to affect our relationship and be sympathetic to other people's misfortunes and congratulate their positive landmarks. To do this, we need to be aware of what is going on in others and keep contact with them, make them feel welcome, wanted, valued and appreciated in communications.
Apart from these, what I learnt is sharing. If no one is willing to share their ideas with each other, the team will not go far. I have learnt how to express more of my self-opinions and hold periodic meetings in which team members are encouraged to provide feedback on team activities - comments, criticism and new ideas. Thus, make the team has more alternatives and hence to make a good decision and do the tasks well.
Concerning my career, I want to be in a Human Resources discipline. I have to work as a team and have to connect with people like interviewing with candidates and solving problems by knowing what the staffs needs and how can we motivate them. Moreover, in some situation like employee union is fighting for benefits, therefore, communication skills and team-working skills are needed.
