As noted by Yuk (2010), is the essence of leadership, ND powerful leaders can have a substantial impact on the lives of followers and the fate of an organization” (p. 408). The personal values and ethics of the leaders of an organization often drive the values and ethical behavior of that organization (Yuk, 2010). Thus, it is paramount the values of organizational leaders are consistent and in line with the values of their organization (Yuk, 2010).
Our team researched and evaluated the organizational values and ethics of Suttee Health. Suttee Health is a not-for-profit network of physician organizations, hospitals and other health care providers (Suttee Health, 2008). Suttee Health focuses on enhancing the well-being of individual in the communities they serve through a not-for-profit commitment to compassion and excellence in health care services (Suttee Health, 2008).
The Ethics Awareness Inventory of our team member most closely aligned with the ethical profile of character (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 2011 Character-based individuals focus on qualities such as honesty, wisdom, and integrity, while their perspectives are based on arsenal virtue (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 201 1). Similarly, Suttee Health’s six core values are centered on the values of honesty and integrity (Suttee Health, 2008).
Suttee Health’s focus on honesty and integrity drives the organization’s mission to act openly and truthfully in everything they do (Suttee Health, 2008). This similarity between our team member and Suttee Health to focus on individual qualities results in the perspectives that good individual or organizations demonstrate good actions and good intent based on good individual or organizational character is more important than good outcomes.
Suttee Health’s six core values centered on honesty and integrity focus on a commitment to the community by working to understand and best serve the diverse needs of their communities while treating others they serve and one another with concern, kindness and respect (Suttee Health, 2008). Our team member’s Ethical Awareness Inventory aligned least with equity, which is committed to fairness to all involved, a wider sense of community, and respect for diversity (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory
Assessment, 201 1 While our team member tends to look beyond an individual’s actions to examine their character when determining whether the individual’s actions are ethical, Suttee Health focuses on a set of principles that govern the ethical behavior of the organization as a whole and the individuals within to ensure as few individuals as possible with be harmed by the organization’s actions.
DIFFERING PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL DECISIONS Suttee Health’s and our team member’s values and ethical perspectives differ in certain areas because Suttee Health focuses on the greatest good for all involved while our team member focuses on the character of the individual making the decision. As a result, there are many scenarios in which a different ethical decision would be reached by our team member and by the organization. A scenario that often arises in the healthcare context is one relating to community benefits.
Community benefits are services that provide treatment and/or promote health and healing as a response to community needs, especially to the needs of special populations (Suttee Health, 2008). Many times individuals in the community that do not have a need take advantage of hose services because the qualifying presentment of a need, in many instances, requires very little evidence that a need truly exists. As a result, some individuals that do not have a need for services provided through such a program often receive services.
TEAM MEMBER’S MOST LIKELY DECISION MAKING PROCESS Based on the character-based profile of our team member, he would consider each individual situation and the character of that person before allowing services to be granted (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 2011 Our team member focuses on honesty and integrity above all else and would develop a set of rules to ensure organization’s reputation is protected and the right thing is done with those attempting to take advantage of the situation, while ensuring equal opportunity to the program is not compromised.
Moreover, because Our team member looks for evidence that an individual is really a good person-deep down inside-and that goodness is evident in their character, he believes the process of living out one’s values is more important than the outcome of a decision (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 201 1 As a result, our team member may support not granting benefits to those attempting to take advantage of the program as an opportunity to teach a lesson that honesty and integrity are more important than receiving benefits one might not deserve.
SUITES HEALTH’S MOST LIKELY DECISION-MAKING PROCESS As a not-for-profit healthcare organization, Suttee Health is focused on providing the same high-quality care and treatment at their facilities regardless of an individual’s ability to pay and the greater good (Suttee Health, 2008). According to the Teeth CICS Awareness Inventory, these commitments tend to lead to the perspective that what counts most is common agreement about that which positively affects the future of society (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 201 1).
An organization that focuses on what most positively affects society as a whole is less concerned with ensuring each individual need is scrutinized because if a need did not exist that individual would not be seeking the services being offered. Additionally, Suttee Health’s perspective is more aligned with the profile of equity, which tends to discount absolutes such as good people do good things (Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment, 201 1).
Suttee Health may lean towards the idea that good people may at times feel overwhelmed and make bad decisions, such as attempting to claim a service that is desired but not needed, but those people should not be punished for a failure to understand the difference between a need and desire. In the end, it is more important for Suttee Health to help as many people as possible, deserving or otherwise, than to turn even one person away for being soonest about whether the need existed.
