Assessment item 4 - Contemporary case study

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Value: 40%

Due Date: 03-Jun-2022

Return Date: 28-Jun-2022

Group Assessment: No

Submission method options: EASTS (online)

TASK

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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 as well as newspapers articles identifying relevant facts for this scenario. 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.

Workplace issue:

We have been hearing in the news lately about unhealthy work conditions. For example, junior staff at Goldman Sachs claimed they had to work 100-work weeks and that they have suffered abuse. Please read more on this:

• Makortoff, K.(2021, March 18). Group of junior bankers at Goldman Sachs claim inhumane work conditions. The Guardian. Available at:
• Cohan, W.D. (2021, April 13). Bullying, booze, and choke holds: With Goldman Sachs's culture under the microscope, a former intern's abuse suit moves forward. VanityFair. Available at

Levin, T. (2021, March 18). Goldman Sachs junior bankers describe 'inhumane' working conditions where they don't have time to eat or shower in a brutal internal survey. Business Insider.

• Goldman Sachs Code of Ethics was revised in March 2021 and is available here:
• Answer any 3 out of 4 questions identified below:

Explain using the three levels of cultural analysis (observable culture, shared values, common assumptions), what the key elements of org culture at Goldman Sachs are (as seen in our scenario) and comment on the positive and negative features of the culture. Identify what makes this organisation's ethical climate strong or weak.

1. Discuss the role of social capital and power between Patrick Blumenthal and Julius Erukhimov (see Cohan's article for more information)
2. Discuss the ethical dilemma faced by the Goldman Sachs leaders as a result of the identified events, and stages of ethical decision making using Rest's individual ethical decision making model.

The events at Goldman Sachs used in this assessment demonstrate there is resistance to the existing org culture by junior analysts/bankers. Discuss how the organisation should deal with this resistance and what the risks and rewards might be.

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.

Morales-Snchez, 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.