Although efficiency is a value in so many organisations and an important part of delivery to customers, often we don’t see potential risks or mistakes until something goes wrong.
Speed is different to efficiency. But speed is often the way you get to efficiency. We now have the added obstacle of being physically disconnected from our workmates and having a corridor conversation is not as quick and easy as floating ideas in the communal kitchen or obtaining other perspectives around the ‘water cooler’.
Banking and finance professionals often work in time-pressured environments with multiple competing priorities and hard deadlines. Studies have shown that time pressures can negatively affect ethical decision making by diminishing awareness. When you’re rushing, you often don’t take the time to look around you.
You’re working on a major project that will have customer impacts. The project has very tight deadlines and limited resourcing. You don’t feel there is enough time built in for reflection and consideration. However, there are KPIs tied to the delivery of this project on time and you know that time pressures are a fact of life in the industry.
What would you do?
Consider whether this situation needs addressing… and how would you do that?
We challenge you to create a healthy discussion with your colleagues and post a comment below. You could even encourage them to consider taking The Banking and Finance Oath!
Please share your ethical dilemmas with us - we can post them anonymously. You can email your dilemmas to dilemma@thebfo.org