ANST - Risk taking ("Ronald Day")

knotwork at juno.com knotwork at juno.com
Tue Nov 3 10:22:01 PST 1998


Geez!  Where did _that_ come from?  I do understand about  "situation
ethics" and all that.  I didn't mean to torque anybody off.  I didn't
even realize I was taking a risk. 

Joanna


On Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:14:05 -0600  "Decker, Terry D."
<TerryD at Health.State.OK.US> writes:
>> I attended a Seneschal's class where the teacher said that the art 
>of
>> politics was "keeping as many people as possible as happy as 
>possible for
>> as long as possible."  My question about doing what was _right_ was
>> summarily dismissed.  It is a comfort and a relief to know that the 
>ideal
>> of  "right" is still respected and upheld by some people in power.  
>> 
>> Joanna
>> 
>This post is not meant to denigrate anyone's choices or their opinions 
>about
>what is "right."  It does make some comments and asks some questions 
>which
>may lead to a heated exchange.  If you wish to flame me about the 
>contents,
>please direct your messages to:  terryd at health.state.ok.us  so as not 
>to
>disturb the list.
>
>I'm not so quick to say that comforting the child was "right" or 
>"wrong".
>It was a choice based on a moral dilemma, comfort the child and 
>violate the
>terms of one's employment (fealty) or ignore the child and obey the
>directions of the employer.  In the tale, the employer was displayed
>negatively, emotionally loading the choice against the employer, and 
>setting
>the reader up for the happy ending at the employer's expense.
>
>In view of the happy outcome, comforting the child may be the proper 
>action.
>If you did not know the outcome, an equally possible ending is that 
>the
>employee was charged with child molestation and McDonalds was sued.  
>Would
>the employee's actions have been proper had that happened?
>
>Let's extend the question.  You are the employee's supervisor.  You 
>are
>officially informed that the employee violated the terms of employment 
>by
>comforting the child (happy ending as per the tale).  What is the 
>"right"
>way to handle the situation?
>
>A Seneschal's dilemmas are often similar to that of the supervisor.  
>Do you
>take action or not?  If you do, what is the correct action?  Remember 
>that
>the position is constrained by law and the corporate rules.  It is a 
>public
>office and the holder needs to act for the good of the organization 
>rather
>than for the benefit of any individual.  What defines "right" for the
>actions of an office?
>
>BTW, I have been seneschal a couple of times.  I have been a manager 
>and
>supervisor.  I do not support the idea that the art of politics is 
>"keeping
>as many people as possible as happy as possible for as long as 
>possible."
>You can not do it and be effective in the long run.
>
>Bear
>
>
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