Ethics As A Group Activity
How can we ALL play to win?
Presented by
Kathryn Alexander
Ethical Impact, Inc.

Systemic Aspects of An
Ethical Organization
Culture - empowering or demeaning (soil)
Values - used appropriately - or not (rain)
Structure - facilitative or blocking (ecology)
Character - developed and supported (plants)
All aspects are interrelated

Power Continuum
Influence
Control Appreciation
© Bill Smith ODI, AIC Process
Each aspect has its’ own range, strength,

limitations, and time
 And, it’s own appropriate use

Five Hidden Agendas
Self Expression
Safety
Obedience
oo
Power Relationship
Power
c
Relationship
Self Expression
Safety Obedience

Four Major Cultures
Inventive
Command &
Control
oo
Competitive Collaborative
Competitive
c
Collaborative
Innovative
Command & Control
How do these cultures relate to the Power Continuum?

Hidden Agreements on
Teams
Current Core Team #4 Current Core Team #6
Current Core Team #5 Self-
Self- Self-
Actualization
Actualization Actualization
15
20 15
10
10
10
5
Personal Power Relationship
5
Personal Power Relationship
Personal Power Relationship
0
0
0
Security Rules Security Rules
Security Rules
Current Core Team #7 Current Core Team #9
Current Core Team #8
Self- Self- Self-
Actualization Actualization Actualization
12 15 15
11 10 10
10
Personal Power Relationship 5
Personal Power Relationship 5
Personal Power Relationship
9 0 0
Security Rules Security Rules
Security Rules

Hidden Agreements on
Teams
Ideal Core Team #5 Ideal Core Team #6
Ideal Core Team #4
Self-
Self-
Self-
Actualization
Actualization
Actualization
20
20
20
15
15
10 10
Personal
10 Personal
Personal Relationship Relationship
Relationship 5
Power
5 Power
Power
0 0
0
Security Rules
Security Rules Security Rules
Ideal Core Team #8 Ideal Core Team #9
Ideal Core Team #7 Self-
Self-
Self-
Actualization Actualization
Actualization 20 20
20
15 15
15
10 10
Personal Personal
10
Personal Relationship Relationship
5 5
Relationship Power Power
5
Power 0
0
0
Security Rules
Security Rules
Security Rules

Common Lived Values
Strength One half of these
Honesty values are focused
Loyalty on protection
Honor
One half are
Inventiveness
focused on
Initiation process for
enhanced
inclusion
interaction
Tradition
Thrift Misapplication
Optimism creates corruption
Production
Jane Jacobs, Systems of Survival

Leadership Traps
Command &
Control
Directive
Obedience focused
Top down
Inflexible
Malicious compliance
Fear generating Limits risk taking
Limits inventiveness
Distrusting
Limits responsiveness
Generates self protection

Leadership Traps
Competitive
Winning most
important
Creative
Pushes limits
Deception tolerated
Secretive
Self protective
Political Crafty
Inconsiderate of others
Ends justify means
Vindictive

Leadership Traps
Relationship
Collaborative
Quality and
learning a priority
Experimentation
fostered
Relationship more
Group versus important than truth
personal win Group think
Assumes others are like minded

Leadership Traps
Innovative - Self
Expressive
Self managing
Experimental
Inventive &
creative
Independent Rebellious
Resistant to direction
Resentful of authority

What Can Accountants Do?
Where are you in
the hierarchy?
Is your boss a
bully?
What’s the culture
like?
Where are you in
your career?
Don’t stand alone!

Resources
Books
Saving the Corporate Soul, Davie Batstone
Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough &
Michael Braungart
No More Throw-Away People, Edgar Cahn
Images of Organization, Gareth Morgan
The Future of Money, Bernard Lietaer
Journals
Green Biz
Business Ethics
Ethical Impact, Inc.
5505 Valmont Rd. Suite 278
Boulder, CO 80301
303-440-5833