In the reading “Identifying and Assessing Managerial Value Orientations”, the author James Weber looked at values that managers would see as the most important. Today’s managers place more emphasis on moral values like honesty and fairness compared to the older generations managers. They would focus on things like achievement and it shows that ethics are a part of how leaders think and operate, not something to choose when necessary.

One idea that stands out to me was how values work behind the scenes by guiding decisions. When a manager cares about helping others, it will be reflected in the way they treat their employees and customers. Weber used categories like competence and moral to demonstrate how leaders slowly shift towards choices that incorporate moral values over strictly performance. This can show that a “good” manager has to align with ethical behavior.

Seeing this shift in organizations is a positive one, it creates a positive work environment that encourages employees to make the right decisions. This could be connected to the reading “Engineering Ethics and the Boeing Scandal”, if there was an ethical manager on the project that focused their work on safety over profits that the entire scandal could have been avoided. 

Webers finding show that organizations should continue to prioritize ethical leadership. Goals/strategies are not enough if the leader in charge does not enforce them. When employees see that their management truly cares, they are more likely to feel respected and be committed. In the long run, ethical values will lead to success.

Bizjournals.com, 17 Feb. 2017, www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/02/17/guest-column-strong-ethics-provide-guidance.html. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.