Values Used In Business Decision Making

Abstract

This paper will identify my top five values and how they are used in business decision making. Examples will be given to explain the personal foundation of the values and justification as to why the corresponding values were place at their respected position on the list.

Values Used in Business Decision Making

Values have an influence on how we make decisions in our personal and professional lives. It is a difficult task to narrow the list of values to the top five. However, this paper will identify my top five professional values and their influences on my business decision making process. Examples will be given to explain the personal foundation of the values and justification as to why the corresponding values were place at their respected position on the list.

In the attempt to narrow the field to the top five values, I researched the definition of values so I could properly identify what my professional values were and their influences. According to Fukukawa, Shafer, and Lee (2007) values are characterized as "the determinants of specific attitudes and behavior" (p. 383). Keeping this in mind, my list became very long. After careful consideration and thought, the field was narrowed down to the following top five professional values: religion/spirituality, family, integrity, loyalty, and personal growth.

Value One – Religion/Spirituality

Religion/spirituality keeps me grounded. I was raised in the church and whenever there are situations that I must address, I turn to religion/spirituality. Knowing decisions I make will affect those around me, some more than others, I try to make the decision that I can live with both in this life and the after life.

While working at my present job, I have often been given the task of making a decision that affects the employee. For example, for the pass six months, the company I am currently working for begin reorganization and downsizing. This has placed an enormous amount of stress on the employees, to include myself. Prior to the reorganization and downsizing, the managing consulting firm informed upper management that there is a possibility of this taking place within the next several months. The rumors started at that point. A training consultant that I supervised requested a meeting with me to discuss the rumor. The employee asked if she should take a position that she was offered at another company or stay with this organization and if she stayed with the company could I guarantee her position was safe from downsizing.