In this assignment, you are required to answer 3 questions in relation to the workplace issue identified below. You will need to familiarise yourself with this identified workplace issue in order to be able to reflect and provide a quality answer. Each topic question will give you the opportunity to critically apply your knowledge and learning from three topics covered in this subject to a real-life situation. These are: organisational culture, organisational power and politics, and organisational change. Additional relevant topics that can be used in answering the questions in this assignment are related to leadership, decision making, communication, conflict and negotiation in organisations.

Use at least 3 journal articlesin answering each question(there can be journal articles that are relevant and used in answering more than one question). The more you read on the topic, more quality and insightful arguments will be included in your answer resulting in higher quality of your analysis. You may use tables, figures, graphs to present information in this assignment.

Write approximately 650 words per answer.

Workplace issue:

We have been hearing in the news lately about romantic relationships in the workplace, as well as sexual harassments. For example, QBE Insurance Group’s Chief Executive Officer Pat Regan was asked to leave the organisation by the board of directors due do his communications with a female staff member not meeting the standards of QBE’s code of ethics and conduct. Please read more on this:

Howard, L.S. (2020, September 1). QBE CEO Regan Exits After Investigation Into Female Employee’s Complaint. Insurance Journal. Available at: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2020/09/01/580924.htm

QBE Code of Ethics: https://www.qbe.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/global-policies/group-code-ethics-and-conduct

Questions:

1. Analyse organisational culture at QBE and identify what makes its ethical climate strong.
2. Choose either a or b:
   A) Discuss power imbalance between CEO Pat Regan and the anonymous female staff member who raised concerns over his improper communication. Explain how this event has affected Mr Regan’s power in the organisation.
   B) Discuss consequences of workplace harassments, and its impact on the victim’s psychological contract.

1. Explore and discuss the ethical dilemma faced by the board of QBE and stages of ethical decision making of the board – apply Rest’s individual ethical decision making model.

References:

Bebeau, M.J. (2002). The Defining Issues Test and the Four Component Model: Contributions to professional education. Journal of Moral Education, 31(3), 271-295. – see pages 283-287.

McDonald, P. (2012). Workplace Sexual Harassment 30 Years on: A Review of the Literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 14, 1-17.

Morales-Sánchez, R., & Cabello-Medina, C. (2013). The Role of Four Universal Moral Competencies in Ethical Decision-Making. Journal of Business Ethics,116, 717-734.

Stead, W.E., Worrell, D., & Stead, J.G. (1990). An Integrative Model for Understanding and Managing Ethical Behavior in Business Organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 9, 405-418.

Engage with the marker

In order to receive more meaningful feedback on your assignment, please add comments/questions for the marker on the first page of your assignment. This can include your thoughts on what you think you have done well or not so well in your assignment, questions on how to improve certain aspects of your assignment, etc.

Assessment 4 is based on topics 7-12.

RATIONALE
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SUBJECT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:

• be able to identify and explain the contemporary Organisational Behaviour (OB) theories and concepts about behaviour of people in organisations as individuals or as members of collective groups and cultures.
• be able to assess effective practices of an organisation, identify key issues and formulate and apply appropriate managerial strategies for enhancing the performance of an organisation and its people.

GRADUATE LEARNING OUTCOMES

This task also contributes to the assessment of the following Charles Sturt Graduate Learning Outcome/s:

• Academic Literacy and Numeracy (Skill) – Charles Sturt Graduates demonstrate the literacy and numeracy skills necessary to understand and interpret information and communicate effectively according to the context.
• Information and Research Literacies (Application) – Charles Sturt Graduates synthesize and apply information and data to different contexts to facilitate planning, problem solving and decision making