Problem
If you wish to be better prepared to make tough ethical decisions at work or elsewhere in your life, it can be extremely helpful to clarify your personal ethical values before they're seriously challenged. Following is a selected list of values (in alphabetical order). Feel free to add one or more if you have a deeply held value that is not represented on this list (it is not meant to be exhaustive). In priority order (with 1 being the most important value), list from three to five values that are most important to you personally in making decisions. That's the easy part. Next, think seriously about what happens when two or more of these values conflict. For example, what happens if you value both honesty and success and they come into conflict? Are you willing to forgo financial success in order to be completely honest with customers or suppliers? In other words, how would you prioritize your values? Next, if you're working, think about the values of your organization and how those are prioritized. Finally, list those values that you would choose to serve as the basis for business dealings in an ideal society. Be prepared to discuss.
Action orientation
Freedom
Responsibility
Altruism
Harmony
Risk taking
Authority
Helpfulness
Security
Compassion
Honesty/integrity
Self-discipline
Competence
Honor
Status
Conformity
Humility
Success
Creativity
Initiative
Teamwork
Customer satisfaction
Innovation
Tradition
Diversity
Loyalty
Wealth
Equality
Novelty
Winning
Excitement
Obedience
Experimentation
Order
Fairness/justice
Power
Family well-being
Promise keeping
Flexibility/adaptability
Respect.